Alec Baldwin sticks up for fellow MSNBC outcast Martin Bashir

1/9

“Up Late With Alec Baldwin” lasted one month. The actor’s heady outburst following his two-week suspension from the show (he allegedly used a gay slur while confronting a photographer in New York) resulted in a permanent shutdown. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

2/9

Emmy-winning “Survivor” host Jeff Probst seems to do much better in the wild than in an arm chair. His aim to feature non-celebrities on “The Jeff Probst Show” didn’t snag a following — the show lasted for one season. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

3/9

“The Ricki Lake Show,” Lake’s first return to talk TV since 2004, was nixed after one season due to flat ratings. “Always the underdog. From ‘Hairspray’ till now, I guess. I’ll take it,” she tweeted after the cancellation news broke. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

4/9

O’Donnell exited with extreme gratitude to the OWN Network when her show got canceled after one season due to low ratings: “Oprah [Winfrey] gave me an amazing shot at doing this. ... She put me back on TV. She believed in me,” she said. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

5/9

Warner Bros. Television ceased production on the show due to struggling ratings. Hunt’s focus on wholesome humor couldn’t compete with shows more interested in the down-and-dirty. (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

6/9

While the primary reason for “Tucker’s” cancellation after three seasons was low ratings, Carlson stated that his network, MSNBC, had changed, and “they didn’t have a role for me.” (Jay Paul / For the Los Angeles Times)

7/9

Comedy Central canceled the show six months in after Hughley, who often drank wine and smoked cigars on air with his guests, failed to capture audiences. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

8/9

The late-night talk show never reached a notable viewership level. Comedy Central pushed the show’s time slot later and dropped its live audience before finally canceling it several months later. Carolla was on air for one season. (Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times)

9/9

“The Morton Downey Jr. Show” expanded to national syndication in 1988, but distributors had trouble marketing the show to television stations because of its controversial nature. Viewership decline led to cancellation in 1989. (Gaylon Wampler / Associated Press)

By Patrick Kevin Day

Dec. 5, 2013 5:10 PM PT

Just hours after it was announced that MSNBC host Martin Bashir was leaving the cable news network in the wake of his criticism of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, fellow MSNBC outcast Alec Baldwin jumped to his defense.

Bashir, who drew heaps of criticism over his remarks which took Palin to task for her comments comparing the national debt to slavery and suggested a slavery-like scatological punishment for her, apologized for his remarks and subsequently resigned from the network.

Baldwin, whose own departure from MSNBC came in the wake of homophobic remarks he made on a paparazzi video, took to Twitter on Wednesday to give vent to his frustrations.

In a series of tweets, Baldwin said, “I’m sorry to learn that @MartinBashir is out at MSNBC. Bashir created great television. Broadcasters on certain networks are called upon to offer analysis of events and public policy, day in, day out. Often with tremendous aggression and scalding language. If, over the course of hundreds of hours on the air, they commit a foul..... Then it’s like high-sticking in hockey or a late hit in the NFL. Throw a flag. But to end someone’s job? I wish @MartinBashir the best of luck. Some of these cable venues really are Off-Off Television. And their need for a reliable, even forced, homogeneity is more apparent than ever. Whatever side of the political aisle they line up on.”

The next day, Baldwin followed up with, “You can disapprove of Bashir’s single remark and still acknowledge his talent.”

Baldwin’s Friday night talk show, “Up Late With Alec Baldwin,” aired just five episodes on MSNBC to low ratings before Baldwin and the network parted ways. Bashir had been with the network since 2010.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bashir said, “I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers -- who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences.”

Alec Baldwin sticks up for fellow MSNBC outcast Martin Bashir

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times