Ad Campaign for Alec Baldwin's New MSNBC Show Revealed

It’s official: “Alec Baldwin to host MSNBC Friday night talk show,” MSNBC itself reports — and for once, a story coming out of NBC might be accurate:

Alec Baldwin will join MSNBC as the host of a current events and culture talk show beginning Fridays in October.

The award-winning actor has hosted the podcast “Here’s the Thing” on WNYC since 2011 where he has interviewed an array of politicians, policy-makers, and performers, ranging from David Letterman and Dick Cavett to Republican campaign strategist Ed Rollins.

“After two seasons of my WNYC podcast, I’ve developed a fondness for hosting a show that involved talking with smart, talented, and engaging people in every imaginable field,” Baldwin said. “I’m grateful to MSNBC for helping me bring a similar show to television.”

Up Late w/ Alec Baldwin will air Fridays from 10-11 p.m. ET.

I’ve seen the new ad campaign that MSNBC has assembled for the upcoming show, and I must say, it’s everything that Baldwin himself is.

Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC couldn’t be more pleased to have Baldwin aboard. When speaking with NPR in 2011 about that year’s addition to the MSNBC lineup, the NBC executive gushed, “I’m a big fan of the Reverend Sharpton. I’ve known him quite a bit. he’s smart. He’s entertaining. He’s experienced. He’s thoughtful. He’s provocative, all the things I think that MSNBC is.” Griffin is similarly effusive about the equally pugilistic Baldwin:

“I’ve been talking with Alec for a while and can’t wait to bring his personality and eclectic interests to MSNBC,” said Griffin in a statement. “He’s got such passion for ideas and what’s going on in the world — he’s going to be a great addition to our lineup.”

Or perhaps a police lineup.

No doubt, gay rights, diversity and tolerance will be an early topic of the Baldwin show:

As will an exploration of the left’s call for a new civility in the wake of the horrific incident in Arizona in early 2011. As Baldwin himself asked at the Huffington Post in January of that year:

Oh, and speaking of the Huffington Post, Baldwin will be relying on his previous experience there and the goodwill he built up with its readership to help bring in potential viewers to his ratings-starved new network:

The actor turned blogger turned newsreader promises keen insights into the men who shape our times:

In short, Baldwin really is a great addition to the MSNBC lineup. Or as Jim Treacher asks today, ” Is Alec Baldwin now the sanest member of the MSNBC lineup?”