AceShowbiz -

Establishing himself as leading man of TV shows, Alec Baldwin is talking retirement from the industry in 3 years. The actor who plays the slick Jack Donaghy on "30 Rock" plans to give it a rest after the show. "I'm done in 2012. In March 2012 I'll wake up and say, 'What am I going to do now? Am I done?' I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I'm retiring at the wrap party," he said in an interview with Playboy.

He also talked about TV-related issues such as why he won't do "Today Show" a favor or why he would rather go to "The View". About the former he stated that it was his infamous angry voice mail to his daughter that becomes the underlying subject of him not returning to the morning news and talk show.

He said, "I'm on an NBC show, and Today was considered vital. But when that voice-mail tape thing happened, Matt Lauer interviewed (Harvey) Levin before he even called me. Lauer put Levin on Today, and they never phoned me. When it's in their interest to reach me, they know how. I saw that and said, 'My relationship with the Today show is over.' I'll never do Today again, ever. Life's too short."

On why he preferred to go with ABC's "The View", Baldwin reasoned, "Whoopi Goldberg is a friend. I called her and said, 'Do you think I can get a fair shake?' Because when you talk about family law and parental alienation, there is this unfortunate gender-based dynamic. Could I walk into a show with a strong female audience? Would they understand my point of view? I trusted Whoopi and Barbara Walters. Whoopi is an impeccably decent person, and I am grateful she gave me a forum."

"30 Rock" is confirmed for fourth season although is benched until midseason 2010. Meanwhile the complete interview with Playboy can be read when the magazine hits the stores on June 19.