Alec Baldwin will re-team with Robert Osborne for another season of "The Essentials." Credit: TCM

 Atlanta’s Turner Classic Movies announced Thursday that actor and “30 Rock” Emmy winner Alec Baldwin is returning to host a second season of  ”The Essentials” the film channel’s popular  Saturday night film series with host Robert Osborne.

Even better, when new episodes of the series return in 2010, two additional late night editions of “The Essentials” will also air with the R-rated 1970s classics “Serpico” and “Saturday Night Fever,” both favorites of Baldwin’s.

Sworn to secrecy until now, Buzz was on the Atlanta set this month when the actor and the Oscars historian reunited on Osborne’s bachelor pad TV set to film the new segments.

With self-deprecating humor, Baldwin attempted to keep up with Osborne on his vast movie knowledge. Introducing director Vincente Minnelli’s 1944 classic “Meet Me in Saint Louis” starring future wife Judy Garland, Osborne explained:  ”Technically, it was made in 1944. But it didn’t achieve a wide release until early 1945.”

Cracked Baldwin to the crew off camera: “Do you notice there’s always a tinge of ‘You fool!’ in his voice?”

Zinged Osborne back: “I have to work on my tinge.”

Replied Baldwin dryly: “Please, let’s get this right. I don’t need Liza [Minnelli] belting me with her pocketbook at [New York City restaurant[ Orso!"

It's clear that the men love working together. It's that chemistry between the tenured film professor and Baldwin's unvarnished view from the set as an actor that resulted in arguably the finest season of "The Essentials" this year.

"It's a labor of love for me," Baldwin told us between tapings. "I absolutely love this network and its mission. I joked that the only reason they invited me back was so Bob could relax since I talk so much!"

 Explaining why he chose the 1970s classics "Serpico" and "Saturday Night Fever" for the new season, Baldwin told us: "When you look at the style of film acting in those pictures, there is a through-line that goes back to Spencer Tracy and [James] Cagney. It effectively ends with [John] Travolta in 1977. And ["Serpico" actor Al] Pacino? He’s one of the main reasons I’m in this business.”

Back on the set, Osborne continued to fact-check Baldwin. While praising Hollywood producer and songwriter Arthur Freed’s long career, Baldwin slipped and said that Freed also produced the 1971 counter-culture classic “A Clockwork Orange.”

Arching an eyebrow with his voice Osborne asked “Did he?”

Turns out, Freed’s standard, “Singin’ in the Rain” was used in the flick.

Said Baldwin to Buzz laughing: “You’re never going to be able to top Robert Osborne. The best you can ever hope for is to hold your own. I learned to release that fantasy early on!”