The Alec Baldwin family reality TV series is coming whether you like it or not

Last year, we asked the pressing question, “Is an Alec Baldwin family reality show what the world needs right now?” To which most responses were a resounding “no.” Unfortunately, an Alec Baldwin family reality show is exactly what the world is going to get. The Baldwins, which will follow the famous couple raising their seven young children, has been picked up by TLC (home of 19 Kids And Counting, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo). Per Variety, the show is slated to air in 2025.

Here’s the TLC synopsis: “Alec and Hilaria Baldwin have been making headlines since they were married nearly 12 years ago. In this TLC follow-doc series, Alec and Hilaria invite viewers into the home they share with their seven growing kids. For the first time, they’re opening up their family lives and bringing everyone in to join in the nonstop love, laughter and drama.”

The couple “making headlines” is obviously putting it mildly. While this is ostensibly a “famous guy and his big family” show, the outrageous amount of drama surrounding him and his wife is obviously one of the big draws. In 2020, Hilaria was exposed for more or less faking Spanish ancestry and a Spanish accent (her birth name was Hillary Hayward-Thomas). Her husband has never been a stranger to controversy over the years, but most significantly he’s still embroiled in legal trouble over the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, when Alec was wielding what was supposed to be an unloaded prop gun. He’ll likely stand trial for involuntary manslaughter later this year. It’s unclear if the trial will end up as part of the show; surely TLC would be salivating to broadcast it, and perhaps it would be an opportunity for Alec to take control of the narrative.

Regardless, we have to assume that the Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning actor must be more or less giving up on a career comeback if he is lowering himself to reality television. But Alec previously said his current career trajectory is entirely centered around being near his young family. “So everything we did and then shows we have considered and pitches we’ve heard, and even one or two pitches we’ve made about our family and that reality show has all been so we could stay home and just work from home,” he told Kelly Ripa last year. “I’m desperate to try to work from New York.” His wish has now come true: “We’re inviting you into our home to experience the ups and downs, the good, the bad, the wild and the crazy,” Alec shared in the Instagram announcement for their upcoming series. “Home is the place we love to be most.”