ALEC Baldwin, of whom you may have heard and heard and heard – especially when he’s talking about co-parenting the daughter Ireland he had with ex-wife Kim Basinger – you’re about to hear from some more. You maybe know he’s written a book about his eternal forever unending never-to-be-over fight with his divorced missus. As steamy and passionate as their early days, that’s how steamy and anguished are their last years. Anyway, St. Martin’s publishes this Sept. 23.
Alec, never one to compromise, insisted on the lousy title “Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce.” Considering he’s hot on “30 Rock,” their first printing is 200,000.
He tells us in it: “I have been through some of the worst of contentious divorce litigation . . . Wisdom has urged me to walk away from this experience . . . but I have chosen to return to it, to examine it again and share it with you.”
His Page 1 introduction: “My own high conflict divorce proceedings left me outraged over the injustices endemic to the family law system in our society . . . The pain I suffered, the fear and anger I felt toward nearly all the principals involved and the inescapable sense of helplessness and isolation exhausted me.” He talks of “abused and horrified litigants.” He likens the process to “the island of Dr. Moreau in H.G. Wells’ novel.” He says “the professionals are there to prolong the bleeding, not stop it.” He calls lawyers “antagonistic.” They “perpetuate conflict.” A word he uses for judges is “ineffectual.”
Alec Baldwin on Page 2: “To be pulled into the American family law system is like being tied to the back of a pickup truck and dragged down a gravel road late at night. No one can hear your cries, and it is not over until they say it’s over.”
Topics examined in his book include: Prenuptial agreements, how to approach the ultimate splitsville decision, strategies, attorneys, mediation vs. trial, custody and visitation how-tos, what should time with your child be like, co-parenting, the political influence on the system.
A huge hit at the book convention in LA in May, Alec’s already booked on “GMA,” “20/20,” “The View,” etc., etc., and will also speak Sept. 24 at the 92nd Street Y.
POLS eat good. Samir Billan of Mich elle’s Kitchen – 91st and Third – ca tered filet mignon on Russian bread for Obama, stuffed mushroom hors d’ouerves for McCain and gourmet sandwiches for Bloomberg’s Gracie Mansion . . . The Katie/Hillary feminist curse caught Nancy Pelosi. With 247 reviews of her new book on Amazon, 228 rated it one star . . . And let it be known that Daylight Savings time is terrible for men with five o’clock shadow. Every fall they have to set their face back an hour . . . Queen Elizabeth and PM Gordon Brown discussing Margaret Thatcher’s eventual state funeral although Thatcher, 82, is in decent health. The Daily Mail reports fears that Britain hasn’t enough troops to line the streets especially if – perish the thought – Her same-age Majesty would depart same day as Her Ladyship . . . Networks limiting their GOP convention stars. A) they think McCain’s no big draw and B) Minneapolis hotels trebled their rates, demanding an eight-day stay even if you’re only overnight.
CAROLINE RHEA and non-husband expect a child in October . . . Carla Bruni Sarkozy, everyone’s favorite idea of a naked First Lady and whose prior talents were exercised on or near Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Donald Trump, now says, “I want to dedicate my energies to fighting poverty.” Especially for herself. Only the terminally cynical will doubt her . . . With Patti LuPone copping a Tony for the 900th incarnation of “Gypsy,” now comes a bio on Gypsy Rose Lee. In case you care, it’s out in January. University Press . . . While I was away did anyone mention Elton John bought a $25,000 black-and-white diamond bracelet which actually comes with the name “The Breakup”? Could it be for his wife, David Furnish? . . . Excuuuse me, but could the NY Crimes, the paper of record, not rip off a poor lowly hardworking tabloid peon? Their podcast the other day was titled “Only in New York.” Not nice.
STAN Lee, the Marvel Comics marvel, the brain behind “X-Men,” “Wolver ine,” “Spider-Man,” “The Hulk,” etc., is now playing potsy with Walt Disney. “Hugh Jackman, who was in my ‘Wolverine,’ tells me I’ll probably have a character named for me in Disney’s new series ‘Time Jumper.’ It’s ‘Excelsior.’ That’s the name I always wrote under, and in my letters instead of ending with ‘Yours Truly,’ I always write ‘Excelsior.’ To me ‘Excelsior’ is like a secret organization of the head.” Yeah, right, OK by me.
FROM reader Gigi Harold. “In the Times Square area, I passed a home less type sitting on the sidewalk. A sign around his neck read: ‘Need money to send Brad and Angelina a gift.’ ”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.