The evening, produced by Scott Mauro, included remarks by Baldwin's friends and colleagues, as well as numerous scenes from his career. Presenters at the event included Tim Curry, Edie Falco, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, and Alexandra Wentworth.

Baldwin has appeared on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire, Loot, and Twentieth Century. He received an Academy Award nomination for The Cooler and has won two Emmy Awards for his work on NBC's 30 Rock.