Dueling Tees

The 1957 Penn Promotional video you need to see!

2012-05-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

We've seen other stellar Penn promotional videos in the past, but this one is truly classic as this 30 minute(!) video comes from 1957!

At first I thought it was a prank where someone ran a viddy-like filter through a video, but as I got deeper into the video I realized it was the real deal! It even has that narrator's voice you'd think it would have. The biggest thing I've noticed was that the campus was much more green and lush --ivy growing on everything, huge trees on Locust Walk.

Check out some highlights of the video

11:00 - the DP staff and offices
11:38 - the lost tradition of freshmen wearing "dinks"!?
17:30 - the Quad
19:54 - Franklin Field
18:56 - Mask and Wig!
22:10 - Pre-football game activities

There's way too much goodness here...

Get transported back to 1957 after the jump!

Thanks to Juan Felipe Visser for the tip!

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Their Ode to the Ivy will take you back to your Penn days

2012-05-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Penn was swarming with reminiscent alumni returning to campus and eager seniors anticipating Monday's graduation.

Before the seniors wrap it all up, Mask and Wig delivered their annual "Ode to the Ivy" speech. Watching it definitely will take you back to your own memorable graduation week.

Check it out after the jump!

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DT Job Alert: Assistant Position at TV Agency

2012-05-01T22:01:00.005-07:00

Hey Penn alumni and undergrads who are weeks away from moving out to LA looking to break into the biz... a job is available that you'll want to check out.

More after the jump!

Thanks to Dave Cowen (C'06, TEP, 34th Street, Write On!) for the tip!

Click HERE to get more details about a Beverly Hills TV agency looking for an assistant!

Learn more about other Penn alumni Hollywood agents

Alumni post your job posts/"seeking intern" posts here:

Penn alum sings Facebook comments to Jay Leno

2012-04-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

I've covered comedian Penn alum Ethan Fixell (C'04, Off the Beat) before as he and his friend Dave doubledated through North America.

Now Ethan just got added to the list of Penn alumni who have appeared on the Jay Leno show.

After the jump, watch Jay Leno's "favorite new comedy duo" perform a very funny musical number singing about people's facebook comments (minute 1:30) on the Jay Leno Show from this past Thursday.

Congrats Ethan!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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This Penn alum Filmmaker's (and Lawyer's) fascinating documentary

2012-04-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

A few years ago Penn alum Marc Simon (C'96, SAM) produced a great documentary called "Nursery University" that I really loved about how hard it is for parents to get their children into nursery school in NYC.

Marc now has a fascinating new documentary called "Unraveled" debuting next week in NYC and LA which explores the downfall of Marc Dreier, a prominent Manhattan attorney, who was convicted of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme.

After the jump,

learn more about the film
watch Marc explain in an interview on Bloomberg TV how this project was a personal one for him
find out the most surprising thing he learned about Marc Dreier
and find out more about how he is both a lawyer and a filmmaker at the same time!

"Unraveled" is the compelling first person account of one man's audacious decent into white collar crime and the destruction left behind. Just days before Bernard Madoff captured the nation's attention as the largest Ponzi schemer in U.S. hisstory, Marc Dreier, a prominent Manhattan attorney, was arrested for orchestrating a massive fraud that netted over 750 million dollars. The film is set in the "gilded cage" of house arrest, where the Court has ordered Dreier confined until his sentencing day. Destroyed by his own hubris, Dreier attempts to grasp his own tragic unraveling. With unprecedented access, "Unraveled" exposes a mastermind of criminal deception.

Marc tells me how surprised he was about Marc Dreier's personality:

"The most surprising aspect of Marc’s personality was his ability, under house arrest and facing the potential of life imprisonment, to analytically approach his circumstances in a detached, business-like manner, in an effort to gain the information he thought he needed to prepare himself for prison. He approached the remainder of his life in a manner analogous to how an individual prepares for a vacation or business trip. The lawyerly aspects of his personality penetrated every facet of his preparation for prison, including the crafting of the arguments to the judge seeking a sentence that would allow him not to die in prison. He is not an individual who is apt to show emotion even in the harshest of circumstances."

UNRAVELED will be released on April 13th in NYC at the East Village Theater, Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in LA. Additionally, the film will premiere simultaneously on VOD. There will be Q&A talkbacks with the filmmakers that will take place after select screenings throughout opening weekend.

You have to admire Marc's passion and drive! Congrats Marc!

More Penn produced documentaries HERE

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Did you catch this Penn reference on tonight's Mad Men?

2012-04-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

It's rare when you see any glimpse of Penn featured in a TV episode but tonight you may have noticed that there was a Penn diploma hanging on Betty Draper's doctor's wall.

Check it out below and then a close up of it after the jump!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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Penn alum sings with Megan Mullally in Les Miserables flash mob!

2012-02-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

This week, on the season finale of reality show "It’s a Brad, Brad World", Bravo celebrity stylist Brad Goreski was treated to a Les Miserables flash mob arranged by his boyfriend Gary Janetti on their anniversary.

After the jump, watch the performance which also happens to star a super talented Penn alum I've covered on DT through the years!

Over the years I've talked about the musical talents of Jonah Platt (C'08, Off the Beat) and boy can you hear his great voice below!

Megan Mullally at Jonah's feet

Jonah, a co-worker of Gary's (I believe on "Family Guy") had some fantastic solos performing Les Miserables' "One Day More". Watch him sing with "Will and Grace" star Megan Mullally below!

Awesome, Jonah!

On a related note, this isn't the first time a Penn alum has appeared on a Bravo reality show!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

More Penn alumni on Broadway HERE

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Penn alumni spotted during the 2012 Oscars

2012-02-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Rich Ross (C'83) spotted on the red carpet

Elizabeth Banks (C'96) in Hunger Games commercial (also presenter in yesterday's Spirit Awards Ceremony)

Octavia Spencer thanks Stacey Snider (C'82) for "changing her life".

Muppets producer Todd Lieberman (C'95) somewhere in the back of the first level of the Oscar auditorium. Song "Man or Muppet" from Todd's film wins best original song.

Donny Deutsch (W'79) appears on the TODAY show tomorrow morning at 9:15AM talking Oscar commercials.

Check back for more updates through the night and add any Penn alumni you know at the Oscars in the comments section below!

More Penn alumni on the Oscars from years past here!

More about Penn's Hollywood mafia

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Sh#t Girls Say on Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Over the year's we've had lots of great stories about Penn love.

This year, in honor of Valentine's Day, Penn alum actress Stephanie Lynn shares her Valentine's Day PSA for guys everywhere.

After the jump, watch her in "Sh#t Girls Say on Valentine's Day"!

More Penn Love here

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Penn alum's journey from ER doctor to TV Staff Writer!

2012-02-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

For the last few years as a medical consultant on various shows Penn alum Zach Lutsky (C'96) has had the opportunity to write or re-write all the medical scenes in those shows.

After the jump find out how Zach has finally gone from a consultant to a full time writing staff member on "A Gifted Man"!

His first episode, "In Case of Blind Spots" airs tonight (Feb 3) at 8pm on CBS!

Zach tells me,

"It has been an unbelievable experience but I have been waiting eagerly for the first chance to write a script on my own. On my last show, "Miami Medical," I got close. The showrunner had me write a spec script. I was thrilled when he read it and liked it and he promised me my own script in the second season. The second season never came. When I got hired on "A Gifted Man" I again was hoping for the chance to write. The executive producer fought for me and this time I was promised one of the last scripts in the original order of episodes. I waited nervously week after week, scared that we might get cancelled before getting to my episode. Fortunately, the show and my episode made it. I got to take time off from my hospital duties and spent nearly three weeks in New York shooting a script I had written. It was amazing and surreal! I am happy to say that I have now been officially made a member of the writing staff and can't wait until I get the chance to write again."

More Penn alumni working in TV here

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What Penn's Homecoming looked like in 1967 (video)

2012-02-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Here's another blast from the past from someone who took a film during Penn's 1967 homecoming.

This audio challenged piece shows some students tailgating before the big Quakers vs. Harvard game on Franklin Field and then shows the game.

Be sure to check out some of what appears to be Spruce Street, the Penn Band and then wait for the 1967 Quaker at the end!

Hurrah, hurrah!

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Penn alum crashes your party on "30 Rock"

2012-01-30T07:42:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite singer-song writer's music was recently featured on NBC's "30 Rock"!

After the jump check out Carly Greenberg's (C'05) song "CRASH YOUR PARTY" from the latest episode.

The song was featured in the celeb-packed parody trailer of "Martin Luther King Day - The Movie!" (parodied after THIS Penn alum's films).

More Carly here

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DT exclusive: 7 Counterparts, 1 staircase and a Winter Wonderland

2011-12-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

Over the years on DT, we've had awesome holiday serenading from the Glee Club, a swingin' Penny Loafers alum and this soulful alum.

Now, a big thank you goes out to the Counterparts for rallying together during finals to create a special video treat for my DT readers that you'll find after the jump!

As we wrap up 2011, and approach DT's 5 year anniversary I wish all of my readers a happy holiday season and a healthy and happy 2012! Thank you for your contributions and support through the years!

A special thank you for the video above to Jackson Foster ('14), Maggie Grabmeier ('14), Sheetal Rajagopal ('12), Swaroop Rao ('15), Sam Hernan ('15), Chris Whitney ('14), Laura Bowes ('12) and Kelly Diamond ('13).

Check out these Christmas and Chanukkah DT favorites from Penn alumni and undergrads!

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Raise your glass to Penn alum's "New Year's Eve"

2011-12-07T22:43:00.001-08:00

If you've been seeing the New Year's Eve trailers all over TV, then you should know that a Penn alum is behind the film!

After the jump, find out which alum and watch an interview with him about the film!

Producer Mike Karz (C'89, W'89) has quite the franchise going on with developing films around key days of the year. If you recall, he last did Valentine's Day (and even had a small cameo in the film!)

Here's the New Year's Eve shpiel: "Celebrating love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in the intertwining stories told amidst the pulse of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year."

Lots of star power in this one including Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Ludacris, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Katherin Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank and Sofia Vergara.

Below, listen to Mike talk about the film's main concept of "new beginnings":

More DT stories about Penn alum film producers here

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Help these Penn alumni who help others!

2011-12-05T23:20:00.001-08:00

We've got another story of Penn alumni working together ....for a good cause!

After the jump find out more about their great idea and how we Penn alumni can vote them into becoming a "fan favorite"!

Generation Enterprise, or GEN, is a dynamic, all-volunteer, young team of social entrepreneurs who have come together to help unemployed youth start sustainable businesses in slum communities in the developing world through intensive training and microfinance.

Founded in 2009 by a Penn grad, Clara Chow (C'07), GEN is comprised of young professionals (Penn alumni including Corey Stout (C'09) and Samantha Sher (C'09)) and students on four continents dedicated to helping the world's street youth become socially responsible business owners and community leaders.

Samantha tells me:

"We are supported and endorsed by the World Bank and have won competitions hosted by Seventh Generation and Oxford University. We are currently working in Lagos, Nigeria and continue to receive invitations to implement the GEN model across the developing world. We are even in the preliminary stages of entering Delhi and Mumbai by the end of 2012."

GEN entered the McKinsey Society video contest with this 60 second pitch below which they made on zero budget on a flip cam.

In order to vote them as "fan favorite", tweet the following (click link to tweet):

"I voted for 'Generation Enterprise' for Fan Favorite in the @McKinseySociety video contest! #McKInnovate http://bit.ly/w33xtl"

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A 1986 Wedding Proposal on Franklin Field you'll want to check out

2011-12-04T22:51:00.001-08:00

Some of my favorite stories on DT have to do with Penn love.

I've covered Penn alumni getting married on campus and have even covered some great Penn proposals.

Well, I just discovered another Penn proposal from 1986 that was accomplished during the halftime show on Franklin Field with the help of the Penn Band.

After the jump, check out the video from the Penn vs. Lafayette football game and be sure to also get a blast from the past with these highlights:

Part 1
2:02 - Inspector gadget reference

Part 2
6:35 - The proposal

Part 3
0:55 - The band plays "Just a gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody". A true sign of the times!

5:38 - the 1986 version of our creepy quaker dude!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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She's singing the theme song for ANOTHER TV show!

2011-12-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

Over the past year, I've done stories on our very own "21st Century Girl" rocker, aka Carly Greenberg (C'05) and all the TV shows she's been singing the theme songs for.

After the jump, listen to a new theme song single she just launched for yet another new tv series!

Carly's song, "Here We Go Again" is featured as the theme song on the brand new WE tv series "I Do Over". (the song also features Lil Zane)

Listen to "Here We Go Again" below:

And listen to the song in this promo video:

Get the song on Itunes here

Go Carly!

More Carly here

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Listen to this Penn alum ask Taylor Swift out on a date

2011-11-30T20:42:00.001-08:00

The last time we checked in with Penn alum Hollywood actor Alex Weber (C'09, Lacrosse), he had a cameo on "The Young and the Restless".

Recently, Alex has starred in a commercial that needs your vote ...and he made a music video for Taylor Swift that you'll want to check out after the jump!

Alex tells me re: his tribute to Taylor above, "Who knows? Maybe she'll call." : )

Remember this Penn alum who also did a fantastic musical tribute ...to his childhood idol?

Besides this video, Alex produced and acted in a "Crash the Superbowl" commercial with Blake Clarke and Peter Dante from The Waterboy and 50 First Dates ...and he needs your vote.
Watch the video and vote here!

...Remember these Penn alumni who also produced "Crash the Superbowl" commercials?

More DT Original Entertainment Career paths and advice in:

Plus the best paid internship in entertainment you don't know about!

More of my Tuesday Tips HERE

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Listen to the Penn a capella song Liz Banks calls "amazing"

2011-11-28T23:40:00.001-08:00

Recently, Liz Banks (C'96) has stepped behind the camera to produce a new film called "Pitch Perfect" (based off of this book) with her Penn alum producer husband Max Handleman (C'95, AEPi), all about competitive collegiate a cappella groups.

After the jump, find out which a capella group Liz references from her time at Penn in an interview she just did with Entertainment Weekly...and listen to the great song this group did that she said was "the most amazing version" she's ever heard in her life.

From her EW article interview:

"Did you have a magical a cappella experience in college? I mean, some people are horrified the first time they see 12 dudes making music without instruments.
Quite the opposite. The big group on our campus then was the Penn Six-5000 [Banks attended the University of Pennsylvania]. I went to one of their shows and I remember watching this guy sing “Rocket Man” better than Elton John, and thinking, This is the most amazing version of “Rocket Man” I’ve ever heard in my life."

Now listen to Penn Six's 1993 version of "RocketMan" from their album "Jacket Off" (featuring Dan Cromie C'93, arranged by Eddie Matz W'93). Thank you to Penn-Sixer Scott Harris C'96 for providing the music!

Sounds great! What do you think?

And if you recall, this isn't the first time Liz has spoken about Penn in an interview.

Speaking of famous people and Penn Six, be sure to catch up on THIS famous Penn Sixer.

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Not Tonightie: a revolutionary nightgown you'll want to check out

2011-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years on DT, David Chalfin (C'96) has produced some great DT videos including THIS and THESE. Also, if you recall he also contributed THIS touching story to "Chicken Soup for the Soul".

Now, after the jump watch the latest very funny video he produced on the front page of funnyordie today ....all about a "revolutionary nightgown that lets your man know when tonight is just NOT right."

Check out more of Dave's work on his website HERE

More Penn alumni film editors HERE

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Why his muppet got cut from his own movie

2011-11-22T07:41:00.001-08:00

Since the summer we've seen some great Muppet promos, but today Todd Lieberman's (C'95, AEPi, Mask and Wig) 98% Rotten Tomatoes rated Muppet Movie finally hits theaters!

After the jump find out what Todd shared with the NY Post about how he became a stand-in puppeteer for one scene in the film ...and what caused his muppet to be cut from his own film!

Per the NY Post,

"During a scene in the film — in which every Muppet gathers in a lobby to hear a heartfelt speech from Kermit the Frog — the producer was asked to pitch in because the puppets outnumbered the puppeteers. “I learned how difficult it really is,” Lieberman said. “You’re sweating, your arm hurts. Then, in post-production, the visual effects supervisor noticed there was one Muppet in the scene that looked totally wrong. It was angled weird. It had no reaction. It was totally off. Guess what? It was my Muppet. And it got cut out.”

I spoke to Todd this morning and he's been on an exciting whirlwind media tour that included being backstage at "SNL" (with host Jason Segel) and going to the White House for a special screening for military families.

On a Muppets related note, if you recall, Todd filmed this exclusive video for us while he was on the Muppet set. (This was the day they were filming a scene with Foo Fighters' very own Dave Grohl.)

Check out this firstshowing.net interview with Todd and his producing partner David Hoberman:

And finally, read Todd's responses to "5 Things You need to know about the new Muppet movie" HERE

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He's a bitter lawyer and stand-up ...and he's telling all!

2011-11-20T13:33:00.001-08:00

I've covered stand-up Matt Ritter (L'02) on DT before and all the great viral videos he's created (my favorite one being THIS one).

If you recall, like many Penn alumni making career changes, Matt has transitioned careers from being a lawyer to a standup.

After the jump check out "Bottom Rung", his new web series based on his experiences working in "document review" at a big LA firm ....and find about his other Penn alumni co-stars and some of his unbelievably(!) true working experiences that will be feeding into this series.

In Matt's new series "Bottom Rung", Matt plays Dave, a doc review “dreamer” who thinks he’s passing through on his way to comedy greatness. He gets a rude awakening as he learns the rules of the workplace from his draconian boss, Nicole, played by Hailey Boyle. But he also meets his new crush, Paige.

So what are the juicy real life experiences that fed into developing this series?

Per Matt,

"Until I moved out to LA in 2010, I worked as a big firm corporate associate in New York and had never heard of document review. A former lawyer and TV writer told me that if I was short on cash, document review was an easy way to earn a stress-free paycheck, allowing me to focus on my comedy work. The reality? Some document reviews can be pleasant and a good fit for someone trying to focus on an alternative career. Other document reviews can be as bad as anything I’ve experienced as an adult.

When you get stuck on a project with a nightmare for a boss, it can ruin your life. I was on one project where the project manager—or warden— tried to make us sign in and out of the room every time we went to the bathroom. I was on another one where we were specifically taught the difference between a two and a five minute break. I’ve been on doc reviews with strict no talking, no internet, no phone policies. In others, the working conditions can be abhorrent—no windows, no ventilation, no personal space, sick people everywhere, no running water. Basically your standard third-world hospital waiting room. So, in this episode and during the entire season I am highlighting the doc review characters and the world of some of these darker document review projects. It’s all loosely based on the places I’ve been assigned and the people that I’ve met on some of the more hellish projects."

In the episode above, you may also recognize some other Penn alumni and DT favorites including :

Roy Vongtama (C'96, another Penn alum who juggles 2 careers)
our "Starter Actress" Jess Garvey (C'09) Jess is also co-producer of this series with Matt.

And check out a closer look at one of the characters below. Meet Tim. He's that guy who always has a get-rich quick scheme and makes a pitch that he'll be doing "something bigger" within six months. Yeah, we know this guy.

More fun stories of Penn alumni working together here

More from Matt Ritter here:
www.mattrittercomedy.com
www.facebook.com/mattrittercomedy
www.twitter.com/mattritter1

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Penn's $46M playground's got you covered

2011-11-20T11:19:00.001-08:00

Back in September, our DT correspondent Kelly Diamond (C'13), showed us exactly where Penn Park was on campus.

Recently she was walking down the Walnut Street Bridge in the rain and noticed a new athletic bubble that was built right over the park!

After the jump check out Kelly's 15 second clip of Penn's new indoor practice area!

Per Kelly, "it's supposed to be some sort of substitute for a new indoor practice area that will be up permanently for the winter."

More of DT's "15 second clips":

Catch up on Kelly's vlogs from her experiences from her summer internships in Hollywood

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Penn muggles running around with brooms in between their legs

2011-11-15T07:37:00.001-08:00

I had heard that a group of students at Penn formed a Quidditch Team at Penn -based on the Harry Potter Series but I thought it was a joke.

But the jokes on me because it's real and we now have video!

After the jump watch these Penn muggles in action and learn how the game is played.

Learn about how the roles of "Chasers", "Keepers", "Beaters", the "Seeker" and the "Golden Snitch" are incorporated into the game. Kudos to these students for keeping things fun!

DT Catch-up: Another popular game brought to life on Locust Walk here (must-see!)

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