FROM THE NEWS DESK: More On Baldwin, NBC’s Internal Debate & Clay Aiken

First Published: April 20, 2007 1:19 PM EDT Credit: AP, NBC

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-- By McKay Heim and George Larrimore

ALEC’S PHONE TIRADE: Alec Baldwin and his handlers will have a real hard time spinning his way out of the mess caused by a phone message he left for his daughter Ireland. And the fact that the message is out there at all may turn out to be a black eye for Kim Basinger, Ireland’s mom. On the message (acquired somehow by TMZ from what they say is “a completely unimpeachable source”) an obviously angry Alec goes off on Ireland because he can’t readily get on the phone. Among other things he calls Ireland, 11, “a thoughtless little pig.”

There is some action going on (we’re not exactly sure what it is yet) involving this matter in the LA Superior Court today. We expect to have documents on that shortly. It could be that Basinger, with whom Alec has shared a long and bitter battle, could be asking that the “30 Rock” star have his visitation rights curtailed.

Is it legal for this recording to be out there? Our legal department says… maybe. Since it apparently came from Basinger’s phone she would have control over it and could object. If she chooses to. This was a statement released late today by Alec Baldwin’s spokesperson:

?In the best interest of the child, Alec will do what the mother is pathologically incapable of doing?keeping his mouth shut and obeying the court order. The mother and her lawyer leaked this sealed material in violation of a court order. Although Alec acknowledges that he should have used different language in parenting his child, everyone who knows him privately knows what he has been put through for the past six years.?

This comes on the heels of court action yesterday in which an L.A. court denied a motion by lawyers for Kim Basinger to dismiss contempt charges against Basinger. Basinger was arraigned last October on a dozen misdemeanor counts of criminal contempt for allegedly disobeying court orders concerning Baldwin’s visitation time with their daughter.

IMAGE DEBATE: Matt Lauer acknowledged on the “Today” show this morning that there has been debate even within the NBC News family as to whether NBC should air the images and words contained in a package sent to NBC News by the Virginia Tech serial killer. NBC did air parts of the material and shared it with other news entities. Apparently the audience was curious, judging by a 27 percent bump in “Nightly News” numbers last night. After a lively debate here in our office we decided to tell the story about the controversy over the tapes and documents but did not show the images of the shooter.

AIKEN-AIDE: We have not seen Clay Aiken much since his days on the “American Idol” stage, but he has quietly been working as a UNICEF Ambassador since 2004. Today we heard that Clay was visiting women and children in Afghanistan on his first trip to the country. He spent five days traveling in the central region and focused his trip on education. He also visited clinics where he administered a polio vaccine to a newborn baby. While there he launched a campaign to raise $100,000 in 10 days to support UNICEF’s lifesaving programs in Afghanistan and topped it in the first 7 days with $139,778.

CATCH AND RELEASE: We usually have fun with outrageous or colorful news releases that come our way, but this one from CBS News really gives us insight into the mind of rap star Cam’ron and makes us want to see the interview. Here’s the copy: “Rap star Cam’ron says there’s no situation — including a serial killer living next door — that would cause him to help police in any way, because to do so would hurt his music sales and violate his “code of ethics.” Cam’ron, whose real name is Cameron Giles, talks to Anderson Cooper for a report on how the hip-hop culture’s message to shun the police has undermined efforts to solve murders across the country.” That interview I will watch.

AN INVITE: One of our staffers got an interesting proposition by way of a flyer in the mail. An invite to a Mother’s Day Brunch, “in the Garden Pavilion at the Manor Hotel.” It promises “award-winning food” in a “lush garden surrounding” along with “prompt, friendly service.” All for $35 dollars a person for the buffet, $5 dollars off with the coupon. It’s at the Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Center in Hollywood. And we got all the way through that without ever mentioning…..

We’ll be grazing for news at the Salad Bar… e-mail McGeorge.news@nbcuni.com

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