Oh, the '80s: Alec Baldwin's hard nights ended with ... Galaga

by Jason Dobson { Jan 12th 2009 at 11:05PM }

Before he was a thorn in Tina Fey's side as the Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming at GE, Alec Baldwin was something of a sot, spending much of the '80s in a haze of "sex, drugs, booze." And when it came to sobering up, it wasn't coffee that was his drug of choice. It was Galaga, though we imagine blurred vision kept him from ever putting in his initials.

Baldwin writes in the book "Moments of Clarity" that evenings of debauchery would often end in a warehouse with him playing the arcade classic into the morning. "This was the only way I could go 'beta' and go into that state I needed to be, where I could calm down and take my mind off everything," recalled the actor, who confessed that God got him sober. And while the 30 Rock star oddly describes the deity as a "65-year-old retired postal worker named Lenny," we still like to think that the Galagans played their part.

See how classic arcade games, like Galaga, have been updated for the modern audience:

Tags: 30-rock, 80s, alchohol, alec-baldwin, arcade, drinking, galaga, js-twitter

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 12th 2009 11:11PM

My beard is scratchy, canteen boy.

Superstar90 @ Jan 12th 2009 11:16PM

What a hunk!

*swoons*

OMGOMG @ Jan 12th 2009 11:18PM

"Put that coffee down! Coffee is for closers only."

Putting funniness aside, this is some Grade A acting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROhlThs9qY

ToRo @ Jan 13th 2009 12:24AM

It is really good acting. I watched that movie but after that scene it gets really boring, imo.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 13th 2009 3:05AM

There's tons of grade A acting in that movie.

And the play won a Pulitzer even though that scene isn't in it. I've seen the movie several times and the play once and I don't find it boring. I guess it's not for everyone though.

fredrik dunder @ Jan 12th 2009 11:24PM

what a shitty photoshop that is...

MOT @ Jan 12th 2009 11:48PM

Yeah, you can see the seams.

Shmil @ Jan 13th 2009 12:01AM

try thinking before you type fred

Goku (aka Ska Chips Ahoy!) @ Jan 13th 2009 12:29AM

I never understood the point of drinking (or smoking for that matter).

It's bad for you. You know it's bad for you and yet people still do it to the point where they can't even stay sober.

chipotlehero @ Jan 13th 2009 12:56AM

I never understood the point of Dragon Ball Z (or anime for that matter).

It's bad for you. You know its bad for you and yet people still watch it to the point where they become obsessed and make it the subject of their avatar on a video game blog comment section.

Reader @ Jan 13th 2009 1:05AM

You'll understand when you get older.

ill trooper @ Jan 13th 2009 1:09AM

Maybe going to college will help you 'understand the point'?

Ok, jokes aside, both smoking and drinking make people feel euphoric. And the 'bad for you' health stuff takes a while to latch on and manifest itself, so most people feel like they're just dabbling, not in for the long, addictive, destructive haul.

So they do it. And a lot of people have a lot of fun and get laid, no big deal.

Moderation is a pretty cool guy; eh partys and doesn't addicted to anything.

Quattro @ Jan 13th 2009 1:47AM

There is nothing wrong with drinking casually, and most people who drink aren't going to be to the point where they can't even stay sober.

aj @ Jan 13th 2009 3:42AM

Alcohol makes the pain go away, and smoking makes you look cool. Duh.

soviet chick @ Jan 13th 2009 5:23AM

I need plenty of wholesome nutricious alcohol. The chemical energy keeps my fuel cells charged.

playwhutyalike @ Jan 13th 2009 8:01AM

@ AJ

Cookiedough ice cream makes the pain go away. While drinking of course.

offday @ Jan 13th 2009 12:00PM

Wow. I can barely read the poor guy's comment.

There must be a lot of alcoholics in here.

Comet @ Jan 13th 2009 2:06PM

Im a smoker, Im a Joker,Im a midnight toker.

ToRo @ Jan 16th 2009 1:02AM

lol I just chose the dragonball z avatar because people tend to hate on it the most. And watch the Anime Cowboy Bebop. It's better than most films out now a days.

And yes I already went to college. Alcohol isn't a necessity people.

aj @ Jan 13th 2009 3:44AM

I am not sure if I should brag about getting the "Oh, God" reference or not.

Shmil @ Jan 13th 2009 3:58AM

Is there a way to ban this guy's IP address or something? maybe some form of filter for the comments that does not allow jobtaxi.com to by typed, instead it will come in as "silly sausage"

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 13th 2009 8:05PM

sillysausage.net, or .org?

or .edu?

Shmil @ Jan 13th 2009 4:28AM

Good advertising tactics, telling your audience to eat you.

Trippy Haps @ Jan 13th 2009 4:40AM

Gotta agree with Shmil on this one, Randy. With posts like that, it will only be a matter of time before you're fired from being a blog spammer.

Don't worry though, guy, I know just the site for you.

www.jobtaxi.com/fuckyourself

Shmil @ Jan 13th 2009 5:19AM

Trippy Haps you just won the internet and inadvertently created a new meme. www.jobstaxi.com/fuckyourself has to be one of the funniest things evar.

Bass Masterson @ Jan 13th 2009 5:55AM

It amazes me how the public can thoroughly reject a turd like "30 Rock" yet it can't get canceled, no matter its low ratings, because the critics are too busy telling each other how smart they are for liking it.

aristokrat @ Jan 13th 2009 6:14AM

Yet Arrested Development got the dreaded mid-season axe. Damn you, cruel world...

soviet chick @ Jan 13th 2009 6:27AM

I really hope it sets a standard for your favorite turd in the future.

I personally like 30 Rock, but that's beside the point. If they cancel it, chances are it will just be replaced by another crappy reality show competition or a flashy-light-overly-dramatic-music-anticipation-building-luck-based game show. By NBC not canceling it, maybe it means the future will be filled with far less Firefly, Arrested Development, and Journeyman cancelations, and great shows like them with small dedicated fanbases and equally low ratings will have a chance on networks instead of being left to dry on basic and pay cable where the only people watching will be the critics and your DVR.

superklye @ Jan 13th 2009 10:01AM

30 Rock is one of the funniest shows on TV right now (at least season 1 and season 2 up until the "Lemon Party" episode before the strike kicked in and killed the show).

It's pretty quick, sarcastic humor.

I feel bad that you don't get it and therefore don't like the show. You're missing out on some grade-A comedy.

...Cajun style.