Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

Documentary filmmaker James Jones tells the unbelievable story of CEO-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in “Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn.” In 2018, the former auto executive of Nissan and Renault was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct. He then escaped prosecution by being smuggled out of the country…in a box. Jones, director of the BAFTA-winning “Chernobyl: The Last Tapes,” explores questions surrounding CEO excess and a potential corporate takedown in this four-part Apple TV+ series. Alec Baldwin speaks with James Jones about getting Ghosn to be interviewed for the series, the people who suffered collateral damage and if Ghosn, now residing in Lebanon, will ever be held accountable.

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With as many as a million plant and animal species expected to vanish by 2050, the time is now to intervene and reverse the tide…before it is too late. Andrea Crosta is the founder of the non-profit Earth League International, an “Intelligence agency for Earth,” which protects wildlife, oceans, and forests through intelligence-gathering, research and investigative operations. ELI collaborates with governmental agencies and helps bring down illegal wildlife traffickers, their networks, and those engaged in the “criminal exploitation of nature.” Their work has resulted in the arrest of a jaguar-fang ring in Bolivia and helping the Mexican government pursue the “Cartel of the Sea,” which trafficks sea cucumbers and totoaba. Alec Baldwin speaks with Andrea Crosta about the experiences that led him to this work, what it’s like meeting wildlife traffickers face to face, and why we are in a “now or never” moment for our ecosystem.

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Publishing powerhouse Michael Wolff is the bestselling author of the definitive trilogy on the Trump White House: “Fire and Fury,” “Siege,” and “Landslide.” He also has served as a columnist for New York magazine, Vanity Fair, British GQ, the Guardian and the Hollywood Reporter – and is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards. Wolff’s most recent release, “The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty,” follows up his biography of Rupert Murdoch, “The Man Who Owns the News,” with further insight into the media mogul and the behind-the-scenes machinations of the cable news network, positing that the end of its influential era may be near. Michael Wolff joins Alec Baldwin for a live event at Town Hall in New York City to discuss his latest book, his writing process, and the state of journalism today.

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Alec Baldwin speaks with two genius musicians whose artistry has contributed to some of the most memorable songs of the sixties, seventies and eighties, leaving an indelible mark on the music world. Steve Gadd, one of the most influential drummers of all time, is known for bridging jazz, rock, and blues. He has been a studio musician for countless artists from Carly Simon to Aretha Franklin – and tours with musicians like Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, as well as with his own outfit, The Steve Gadd Band. His artistry can be found on Paul Simon’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and Steely Dan’s “Aja.” Larry Carlton is a four-time Grammy winning jazz and rock guitarist who became famous for his work as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s. He has played in over 3,000 studio sessions with artists like Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton and many others. Rolling Stone named his contribution to Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” one of the best guitar solos in rock music. Carlton is also renowned for his solo work and as a member of the jazz group The Crusaders and the smooth jazz band Fourplay.

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Photojournalist Brian Hamill is known for his still photographs from movie sets and portraits of rock and roll legends, athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Everyone from Muhammad Ali to Frank Sinatra to Barbara Streisand has been the subject of his lens over the course of his five decades of work. The life-long New Yorker has captured some of the most iconic photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which were recently compiled into his 2022 book, “Dream Lovers: John and Yoko in NYC.” His work on set spans more than 75 motion pictures, including unforgettable films like “Annie Hall,” “Raging Bull,” “Big,” “Tootsie,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” Hamill’s photojournalism experience extends to capturing moments of strife and conflict, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and “The Troubles” in 1970s Northern Ireland. Alec Baldwin speaks to Hamill about growing up in Brooklyn as the child of Irish immigrants, his behind-the-scenes experiences on the world’s most memorable movie sets, and the backstory that led to taking John Lennon’s portrait.

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As the writers’ and actors' strike in Hollywood stretches into the fall, many have called this moment “existential.” After negotiations with AMPTP, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, broke down, SAG-AFTRA and WGA members took to picket lines over dwindling wages and the use of artificial intelligence, which may change the entertainment industry forever. Writer, director, and producer Justine Bateman is one guild member warning of A.I.'s potentially devastating influence. Following her roles in Family Ties and Satisfaction, among many others, Bateman transitioned to working behind the scenes as a filmmaker and author. She earned her Computer Science and Digital Media Management degree from UCLA in 2016, which has become all the more relevant facing the rise of A.I. Bateman speaks with Alec Baldwin about the threat A.I. poses to the entire entertainment industry, how the business has changed since she first started in it, and what drives her creative work.

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It’s time for the final episode in our Summer Staff Picks series, highlighting favorite conversations from the Here’s The Thing archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin’s conversation with Andrew Berman. He has been called one of the most powerful people in New York real estate, but not because he's a deep-pocketed developer. Berman is the Executive Director of Village Preservation, where he advocates for the protection and conservation of historically important buildings and sites in Greenwich Village, the East Village and NoHo, including the cultural touchstone The Stonewall Inn. Alec first spoke with Berman in 2015 regarding his background and what led him to this field, how the changing zoning laws affect his work, and his wish for the city’s future. Berman joined Alec again earlier this summer for an update on his work since last they spoke, including the recent wins that Village Preservation has achieved, the ways the city has changed since covid and the challenges involved in solving the city’s affordable housing crisis.

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Our summer tradition at Here’s the Thing continues, as staff members choose their favorite conversations from the archives for our Summer Staff Pick series. This week, we revisit Alec’s 2021 interview with Mick Fleetwood, drummer and founding member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful rock bands of all time and creators of enduring hits like “Landslide,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop.” Fleetwood talks to Alec about how his dyslexia led him to drumming, how supportive parents encouraged his talent and his move to London as a teenager, how his friendship with the band’s founder, guitarist Peter Green, evolved to a life-long friendship, and how Fleetwood Mac balanced the weight of their interpersonal dynamics and the band’s wild, over-the-top success.

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Making recent headlines is the arrest in a cold case over a decade-old, the Long Island Serial Killer. From 2010 to 2012, the remains of 11 bodies were found on or near Gilgo Beach on the east end of Long Island, New York. In July of 2023, authorities arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year old architect charged with the murder of three women in the case – and named as a prime suspect in a fourth, based on phone records and DNA evidence. True crime documentary and podcast producers Billy Jensen and Alexis Linkletter were on the hunt long before these recent developments. Their 2021 podcast,“Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer,'' uncovers a web of corruption and cover-ups perpetuated by the Suffolk County Police Department that enabled the investigation to go unresolved for so long. Alec speaks with Jensen and Linkletter about their findings, what the recent discoveries reveal – and what questions still remain.

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Acclaimed jazz musician Christian McBride has made hundreds of recordings, won eight Grammy Awards and led numerous ensembles, including the Christian McBride Band, the Christian McBride Big Band, Inside Straight and the New Jawn. The versatile bassist has collaborated with jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Chick Corea, as well as artists outside the genre like Sting, Paul McCartney and Celine Dion. Known as a child prodigy, McBride performed with Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis while still in high school, where he attended Philadelphia’s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, alongside future members of The Roots and Boyz II Men. McBride now serves as the artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival and the educational foundation Jazz House Kids. Christian McBride speaks with Alec about his influences, leaving Juilliard early to go on the road, and how being a working musician is similar to being a professional athlete. For information on upcoming tour dates, go to christianmcbride.com.

You can find a playlist featuring Alec’s favorite Christian McBride songs here.

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