Baldwin missed Emmys for Bennett party

NEW YORK, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Alec Baldwin says he missed the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday so he could serve as host of Tony Bennett's 85th birthday gala in New York the same night.

The absence of Baldwin, a nominee, from the Emmys show sparked rumors claiming he refused to participate because Fox, which was airing the program, cut out a joke he planned to make about network owner News Corp.

Asked about the buzz during a press conference in New York, EW.com said Baldwin replied, "I didn't skip the Emmys because of that … I skipped the Emmys because of this -- because I wanted to be here."

Baldwin said he agreed to serve as host of the Bennett gala before the date for the Emmys show was announced.