NBC and The Office fans everywhere fielded a blow last week when Steve Carell confirmed he’ll be leaving the comedy after the completion of season 7 in May 2011. This week, it seems another leading man from the network might be following in Carell’s footsteps: 30 Rock‘s Alec Baldwin. “As much as I like acting,” a seemingly sad and sincere Emmy nominee told CNN‘s Alina Cho earlier this week (see clip embedded after the jump), “I know that I would love to have a different life. A private life. I think that doing this now for a living has become really, really hard. I would rather go do other things, and [with] whatever amount of time I have left in my life, have a normal life.” Of course, Baldwin leaving the comedy after his contract expires in 2012 isn’t exactly news — last summer in a Playboy interview, when asked how long he’d stay with 30 Rock he responded, “I’ve got three more years to go.” Yet, is it wrong that we’re still holding out hope, considering the fact that Baldwin insisted he wanted to leave the show all the way back in 2008 — and clearly didn’t? (Sure, it was probably because he couldn’t get out of his contract, but still.)
What do you think Baldwin will do after next season? Will you still watch the show if he leaves? And can you imagine a Thursday night without Carell and Baldwin? [Examiner]
Hope he stays! I need as much Jack Donaghy in my life as possible!
Maybe 30 Rock will end then too. I can’t imagine anyone filling Jackie D’s shoes.
Yeah, I’m a big fan of not letting shows drag out too long. I think 30 Rock should end with Baldwin’s departure rather than let it have a slow, sad decay.
yeah I totally agree. Another few years sounds like a nice amount of time to wrap up the show. It’s always sad to see shows continue for the sake of continuing without regard to what made them special in the first place (Scrubs did it and it looks like the Office is going that way too)
Oh I am so sick of these actors saying they are going to leave to purse other things, when all they are pursing is more $$$$. Does anyone remember Charlie Sheen?
Pursing?
Does that mean they are making purses? If so does that mean they can make the drink box one? My sister really wants one!
I hate when actors say they want a private life. If you really want it… stop acting and move to Wisconsin. Easier said than done. But no one ever does it.
Isn’t that more or less what he’s saying he’s going to do? He’s got a contract keeping him there for a while yet, so he can’t do it right this second.
Some actors want a private life but also to continue to keep acting because they love doing it and they’re good at it. Is it so wrong to want both? Why do actors have to be forced into the public consciousness all the time to feed our desire to know everything about them?
Plus, in the day of 24/7 entertainment, the Internet, Twitter, etc., do you really think people would simply leave him alone because he lives in Wisconsin and not L.A.? He’d need his own private island like Johnny Depp to have a chance at a truly private life.
I hadn’t realized that Carell had said he was leaving “The Office” for sure…
Anyway, as brilliant as he is on “30 Rock” I could actually see the show going on without him (not that I’d necessarily want to). I kinda hated the wishy-washy Jack we saw for much of last season, so maybe the writers are already running out of ideas/ways for Jack to creatively dis Liz Lemon’s wardrobe.
Certainly not the first time he’s talked about quitting, but it pains me every time.
Can I imagine a Thursday night without Carell and Baldwin?
Yes and no.
“Every time I meet a new person, I figure out how I’m gonna fight them.” – Jack Donaghy
I am an avid fan of both The Office and 30 Rock, and as humble as both Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin may be, they are the rocks that keep both shows going. The Office will not be able to replace Michael Scott and honestly should just end the show next season on a high note. Same goes for 30 Rock after Season 6… I fully believe that Baldwin and Tina Fey equally share the spotlight, but without Jack Donaghy, the show will suffer.
If 30 Rock ends in two years, that’s six seasons, which is a natural finishing point. No need to let one of the greatest shows ever carry on as a lame duck.
Personally, I think The Office should leave with Steve Carell. The Office had an awesome run, but it shouldn’t be 10+ seasons. I love the heck out of the show but Micheal Scott is vital for the show.