Dueling Tees

Biden Gives 2013 Penn Commencement Address (VIDEO)

2013-05-13T14:38:00.003-07:00

Today was the 257th Commencement and honorary speaker Vice President Joe Biden had lots of advice for the new graduates.

Some more fun highlights from his speech:

apparently Joe's son Beau went to Penn (C'91, Lightweight Football) and his granddaughter Naomi is a student there now.
On a more comical note, in his speech, Vice President Biden mentioned that The Washington Post said no man has entered the office of Vice President with fewer assets than Joe Biden.

...After the jump, watch the entire speech and find out why (minute 1:33). : )

Watch previous Penn commencements here

Penn 2013 Commencement photos (300+) here

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Studying for Finals never got more musical

2013-05-01T10:06:00.003-07:00

For a while, this form of expression was pretty popular all over Penn.

It's finals season now and Penn students are getting creative again.

In an unsuspecting study lounge at the University of Pennsylvania, two star-crossed studiers need someone to watch their stuff and they ~~interrupt~~ entertain all those around them.

After the jump, watch the video!

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It Ain't Easy Being Conrad Bain (the Penn Six song you want to hear!)

2013-01-17T11:55:00.002-08:00

Earlier this week we lost the beloved actor Conrad Bain, aka Mr. Drummond from "Diff'rent Strokes".

Some Penn alumni encouraged me to post Penn Six's popular song "Conrad Bain" from their 1993 album "Jacket Off" album however I couldn't find it anywhere online.

After chatting with a Penn Six alum friend, I was able to locate the song ...and after the jump you can now listen to it!

Jason Downie (C'93) - lead singer
Ed Matz (C'93) - lyrics

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Hollywood Penn Alumni you should know about: Vol. 6

2013-01-07T10:29:00.002-08:00

I've got some more alumni who are blowing up in the world of entertainment that you should know about!

After the jump, learn about alumni who are appearing on, writing for and creating some great new TV shows.

...Plus one alum who is writing about his experience producing one very newsworthy Broadway show.

Happy new year everyone!

1) Mask and Wig alum Tom Christensen (W'03) is certainly on a hot streak! He was recently on "2 Broke Girls" and this coming week he's going to be on two hit shows!

"Happy Endings" last night, 1/6, 10 PM on ABC.
In Happy Endings, Tom plays "Jamie," the male version of Eliza Coupe's character, Jane. She tries to set her friend Max up with someone who turns out to be way too much like her.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" on Tuesday, 1/8, at 9:30, also on ABC.
In Don't Trust the B, he plays the Pear Vendor at the farmer's market. The two female leads are looking for a possible mate, they see Tom, and Dreama Walker's character imagines what I'm like to date.

2) DT correspondent Jess Garvey (C'09) booked a role on the upcoming CW show "The Carrie Diaries".

More about her appearance in the coming months!

3) We've covered comedian Matt Ritter (Penn Law '05) in the past and a few weeks ago, Matt debuted a new show he co-created and co-executive produced on MSNBC called "Chained to My Ex". As such, "Chained to My Ex" follows couples who find themselves living together and miserable but stuck for many reasons including emotional ties, children and financial limitations. Being married and living together can be tough. Being divorced and still living together… pure hell.

This show is based on Matt's deeply personal experience watching his parents live together for two whole years, though divorced and full of spite because they couldn't sell their Long Island house. This real-life "War of The Roses" inspired him to create a docuseries highlighting this growing trend.

Check out this clip:

And this segment from "The Today Show":

4) ER doctor and TV writer (and staff writer of "The Mob Doctor") Zach Lutsky's (C'97, AEPi) episode of "The Mob Doctor" aired this past Saturday night on Fox. Here is a synopsis of his episode titled "Resurrection":

Constantine decides to go to extremes to protect his estranged son Luke but...but at what cost?! Luke is deep in debt to the dangerous and ruthless Nogales Cartel. Constantine gets the help of his Chicago mob friend Al Trapani (played by Mike Starr from "Goodfellas"). In order to payback the favor Constantine asks Grace to check out Trapani’s girlfriend. This new patient has a shocking secret and is experiencing unexplainable pain. Grace also helps Olivia and Dr. White race against the clock to solve the mystery of a man's dying heart before it is too late.

Zach tells me that after having spent several years learning real medicine at medical school in Chicago, it was a surreal and incredible experience spending time back there to create a world of fake medicine for a TV show.

5) Reality producer Greg Goldman (C'96) just got an awesome new Hunger Games-like show greenlit on the CW called "The Hunt". Per Deadline, "The Hunt" is an intense wilderness competition taking place over one month, as 12 teams of two are provided no food, water, or shelter, but must compete in a game where they’ll rely on their physicality, survival skills, and hunting skills to endure their conditions, capture one another, and ultimately win a huge cash prize." Listen to Greg and other Penn alumni working in reality TV here.

6) Roy Bank (C'94) partnered with Logo to executive produce Logo's first live program "That Sex Show", a daily late-night relationship and sex advice show. The series debuts Monday, February 4. (more here)

7) Remember last fall when TV writer Meredith Stiehm (C'90) won an Emmy for Best Drama for "Homeland"? Well after this brilliant last season it is so very clear that "Homeland" will be winning another season next fall. If you haven't seen this, watch the clip below where Meredith discusses the personal story surrounding writing for a bipolar character.

8) If you recall, there was quite some hoopla around some of the problems surrounding the first iteration of the Broadway show "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark". Glen Berger (C'89, Mask and Wig) who wrote the book for the show will now be writing another book --this one a tell-all book called "Song of Spider-Man: The Inside Story of the most Controversial Musical in Broadway History". Look for it next year! (source) Should be a good read.

9) While this isn't airing on TV, I love this viral video that Aaron Karo (W'01) created called "Brutally Honest Answers to Teenage Girls' Questions". Just watch it!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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Check out this exclusive from Penn Producer's new zombie film!

2012-12-20T11:10:00.003-08:00

If you think you've seen all the Zombie film and TV premises, think again!

On February 1, Penn alum producer Todd Lieberman (C'95, Mask and Wig, AEPi) releases his film Warm Bodies and it looks awesome!

After the jump, check out the exclusive photo Todd supplied us with from the film, learn more about the film's unique premise ...and find out the big project Todd's about to start in a few weeks!

In the image above, (l to r) "M" (Rob Corddry) and "R" (Nicholas Hoult) are highly unusual zombies who are becoming increasingly more human in Warm Bodies. (By the way, if you're a fan of the TV show "Children's Hospital", you may not recognize Rob Corddry without his clown makeup)

Here's the shpiel about the film:

After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human setting off an exciting, romantic, and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.

Todd tells me they shot the film in Montreal and a big chunk of the movie in an abandoned airport there: "I love the way the movie turned out. It's very unique and blends many genres together."

More info about the movie here:
http://warmbodiesmovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WarmBodiesMovie
http://warmbodiesmovie.tumblr.com/

In a few weeks, Todd is about to start shooting Muppets 2 in London! (remember when Todd's muppet got cut from his last muppet movie?)

Follow Todd on Twitter here

Hurricane Sandy Hits UPenn (VIDEO)

2012-11-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected this week on the east coast by Hurricane Sandy.

Apparently, the storm didn't seem to keep the students at Penn down... '

After the jump, check out this video of Hurricane Sandy hitting the Penn campus and see what some students did in the Quad to pass the time!

Also, see what the windtunnel did to one girl's umbrella and check out the enormous amount of leaves I've probably ever seen at one time on Locust Walk.

Remember when Hurricane Irene did this to the Penn Campus?

Hollywood Penn Alumni you should know about: Vol. 5

2012-10-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

In our latest installment of Hollywood Penn alumni you should know about, this fall season has been a busy one for Hollywood Quakers...

After the jump, check out:

the animated episode a Penn alum wrote for a new children's cartoon
a new big studio deal for one Penn alum
Penn alumni with new TV shows and promising TV pilots
a Penn alum development exec makes a big move
a Penn alum writer's assistant gets promoted to staff writer!
a Penn alum appears on a popular TV drama

1) Writer Joelle Sellner's episode of "Samurai! Daycare" can now be seen online:

2) Warner Bros Inks 2 Year First-Look Deal with Mike Karz (C’89, W’89) (more here)

3) Josh Goldsmith (C’92) and wife Cathy Yuspa will be producing two(!) pilots for two different networks!:

a pilot for NBC called "Gates". Per Deadline, “Based on the British comedy of
the same name, which premiered on Sky Living two weeks ago, Gates is an adult ensemble comedy set at the front gates of an elementary school drop-off. It revolves around the parents,
the school staff and the 15-minute social minefield they have to navigate at
the beginning and end of each school day.”

a sitcom shot and aired live each week! (more here)

4) Casting director Lesley Wolff (C'93) casts, Lifetime's "Prank my Mom". Check out the preview below!

5) Sherri Cooper Landsman (C’95) premiered her new show, "Beauty and the Beast" last Thursday night on the CW

6) Nina Wolarsky (C’97) leaves George Clooney’s production company and joins Netflix, heading up their original-series. (more here)

7) John Legend (C’99, Counterparts) is producing a comedy for Fox inspired by his life. I wonder if Penn will be featured in an episode... (more here)

8) Rob Forman (W'06) officially staffed as a writer on Lifetime's "Army Wives"

9) Last week, actress Laura Parker (C'03) appeared on "CSI:NY" playing the mother of the villian in an 80's flashback. (remember this other Penn alum who also appeared on a CSI?) Check out her clip below and also check out the commercials she has appeared on:

Laura Parker - CSI NY from Laura Parker on Vimeo.

Commercial Reel 2012 from Laura Parker on Vimeo.
More Penn alumni on TV HERE
-Penn alumni working on CBS
-Penn alumni working on NBC
-Penn alumni working on ABC
-Penn alumni working on FOX
-Penn alumni working on Lifetime

Mask and Wig alum holds up "2 Broke Girls"

2012-10-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

DT Favorite Tom Christensen (W'2003, Mask and Wig) appears as a guy in a trenchcoat holding up the diner on tonight's "2 Broke Girls".

After the jump watch the preview and tune in tonight at 9/8c on CBS!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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Penn Alum Hollywood power couple's Pitch Perfect film

2012-09-28T09:07:00.003-07:00

I'm sure you've heard all about it by now, but today, Pitch Perfect, the hot, rotten-tomatoes highly rated film by Penn film producers Elizabeth Banks (C'96) and husband Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi) comes out!

If you recall, in an interview she did promoting the film, Liz had referenced a Penn a capella group from her time at Penn that she thought was "the most amazing version" she's ever heard in her life.

On a related Penn alum note, Melisa Kirkup (C'01), Universal Pictures marketing director shared a 60-second lip-dub Pitch Perfect video her team produced, featuring the hit Nicki Minaj song “Starships”!

Check it out after the jump!

Here's the shpiel about the film:

"In the new out-loud comedy “Pitch Perfect,” Beca (Anna Kendrick) is that girl who’d rather listen to what’s coming out of her headphones than what’s coming out of anyone’s mouth. Arriving at Barden University, she finds herself not right for any clique but somehow is muscled into one that she would never have picked on her own: alongside mean girls, sweet girls and weird girls whose only thing in common is how good they sound when they sing together. The movie also stars Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, with John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks."

Penn a capella group performances

More Penn alumni working together HERE

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Lady Gaga tweeted about THIS Penn alum's video poem

2012-09-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

I've talked about my obsession with the talented and passionate Penn undergrads and alumni who specialize in spoken word. Specifically, over the years, the impassioned Caroline Rothstein (C'06, The Excelano Project) continues to wow.

And I'm not just noticing it, but today, so did Lady Gaga!

Yesterday, Lady Gaga tweeted about Caroline's performance of "Fat" to her 30 million followers!

Watch the electric video after the jump!

Keep up the great work, Caroline!

Check out more of Caroline's work on her website here

...And Gaga should know that Penn folks certainly love Lady Gaga!

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Gangnam Style Flash Mob Hits Penn

2012-09-24T22:55:00.002-07:00

I must say how impressed I've been seeing all of the organized Flash Mobs from the Penn undergrads through the years.

After the jump, check out the Gangnam Style Flash Mob that hit superblock this past weekend!

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Did you see this Penn alum win on the Emmy stage tonight?

2012-09-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

By the looks of my Facebook feed, just like previous year's Emmys, there were a bunch of Penn alumni at tonight's Emmy Ceremony.

If you caught the "Homeland" win for Best Drama tonight, you would have heard a thank you to writer and Penn alum Meredith Stiehm (C'90).

If you don't know about Meredith, she's had a great track record here in Hollywood. After the jump, find out more about the popular show that was her claim to fame.

Some more tidbits about Meredith: She was the creator and show runner for "Cold Case". Additionally she won an emmy award in 1998 for "Outstanding Writing For a Drama Sereies" on NYPD Blue.

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

The "Official Penn Rap Video" you'll want to see

2012-09-05T09:00:00.002-07:00

After the jump, check out a catchy new Penn Rap video that some Penn undergrads sent me.

Lots of great Penn references, plus some awesome Penn bling.

Favorite line, "I'm a Jew like one in three of you."

By Lizzie Sivitz and Zach Tomasovic (Cashmere Sweater Comedy). Music by Esther Baranov. Filming by Ryan P.C. Trimble and Alex Rodrigues.

Get the bling here

More uniquely placed Penn logos here

You've seen this Penn Alum's "Apple" commercials during the Olympics

2012-08-07T09:09:00.001-07:00

If you've been watching the Olympics, you probably have seen standup comedian Josh Rabinowitz's (C '10) commercial as the "Apple Genius" helping people out in some funny situations.

After the jump check out all 3 of his commercials!

Speaking of Penn alumni and the Olympics,

remember this alum's commercial from the 2008 Olympics?
And this alum who interviewed Michael Phelps?
And most notable, congratulations to Susan Francia, (C'04 G'04), who won gold last week with the US Women's Eight Rowing Team for the second straight Olympics! Francia becomes the first Penn athlete to win two gold medals since William Arthur Carr C’33 did it in track 80 years ago.

Check out Josh's standup here

7 Penn Alumni you should know about: TV edition

2012-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

After the jump, check out my DT roundup of these 7 Penn alumni making news in the TV worlds of reality, comedy and drama. Plus two more alumni nominated for Emmys!

Have you been watching Penn alum and reality tv executive producer Justin Hochberg's (C'91) "The Great Escape"?

The show drops teams of ordinary people into the middle of their own epic action/adventure movie. Each week, three pairs of players will compete for a cash prize by escaping from such locations as a seven-story castle, a deserted island, a sinking ship or a maximum security prison. Players must use their wits, skills and whatever tools they can find to overcome obstacles, evade pursuers and make their way to freedom.

Check out the show Sunday nights on TNT (and watch the clip above which features Justin in 0:58)

More Penn alumni working in reality TV here

Now she's done everything...

Elizabeth Banks (C'96) will be lending her voice on the season premiere (9/30) of "Family Guy" as the "snooty wife of Lois' ex-boyfriend Ross Fishman, who attemptes to scale Mt. Everest with her perfect family" (source)

Plus, Liz was nominated for an Emmy this year for "Outstanding Guest Actress" in a Comedy Series for her role as Avery Jessup on "30 Rock"

Remember when Kabir Akhtar (C'96) stepped in last minute and directed the opening sequence for the 2011 Emmys with Jane Lynch?

Well since then, Kabir edited Billy Crystal's opening film starring Justin Bieber for the 2012 Oscars (see clip above) ...and was nominated for an Emmy!

Check out more Penn alumni who have already won Emmys for their work...

Penn alum TV comedy writer Vijal Patel (SEAS '97) signed a two year overall deal with ABC.

Vijal had written for "The Middle" and "Til Death". Look out for the new 2013 ABC show he'll be writing on called "Family Tools."

More Penn alumni TV writers here

Our real life ER doctor and Penn alum Zach Lutsky (C'97, AEPi) is now a fulltime staff writer on the upcoming Fox show "Mob Doctor"!

Catch the Series Premiere of The Mob Doctor on MON 9/17 at 9/8c, on FOX!

Last summer, DT vlogger and LA TV writer Rob Forman (W'06), taught us all about "spec scripts" and what you do with them once you're done in order to pursue a Hollywood career.

Recently, Rob wrote an episode of "Army Wives" and you can see it above.

Synopsis: Pamela and Chase invite Roxy and Trevor to meet them in Miami, leading to a surprising opportunity for Trevor. An arrogant doctor puts Tanya's future in jeopardy after he blames her for almost causes a patient's death. Jackie learns how strained her relationship with her daughter, Sophie, has become when she visits Fort Marshall from boarding school for the first time.

More Penn alumni TV writers here

Finally, if you love all the drama of senior societies, you're going to love DT correspondent and executive producer Kelly Diamond's (C'13) latest episode of "Classless". (while Kelly isn't an alum yet, this post falls into our TV category :))

Synopsis: Steve attends a smoker for the Pharaohs Senior Society and certain members get their nemes in a twist over his presence. Featuring members of Mask and Wig, Bloomers, Philo, Friars, and Mortarboard!

More alumni you should know about here

More Penn alumni working in TV here

4 Penn Alumni you should know about: Arts and Literature edition

2012-07-27T11:18:00.001-07:00

After the jump, check out my DT roundup of these 4 Penn alumni making news on stage, literature and the arts.

We last saw Jonah Platt (C'08, Off the Beat) in a flash mob singing Les Miserables with Megan Mullally on "It's a Brad Brad World".

Jonah lends his great voice to a 2 week production of Spring Awakening at the Hayworth Theater in Los Angeles, July 20-29th (Friday-Sundays).

Listen to his rendition of "Left Behind" above.

More info about the show here
Tickets available here: https://www.plays411.net/awakening

Do you have what it takes to become a legendary Powered hero? Zach Sergi (C'10) has created a multiple-choice interactive-fiction game for your mobile devices that you'll want to check out.

In "Heroes Rise," Powered heroes have become the ultimate celebrities, and you dream of joining the A-List–but to get there, you’ll first have to take down evil Powered gangs, compete with deadly rivals, choose a worthy sidekick, team up with famous champions, and prove to all of Millennia City that you’re a true hero.

At each step, "Heroes Rise," offers a fun, multiple-choice question, putting you in control of the interactive story!

Get "Heroes Rise" here
Follow "Heroes Rise" on Facebook and Twitter

Aaron Karo's (W'01, Pennfest 2006 performer, Penn in Pictures 2010 panelist) fourth book (and first novel) Lexapros and Cons is now out.

It’s the story of Chuck Taylor, a teenager with OCD who is obsessed with Converse and prescribed the antidepressant Lexapro. According to the reviews, it’s “hilariously raunchy” and “laugh out loud.” In other words, the perfect beach reading companion to Fifty Shades of Grey.

Get his book here

Joan Myerson Shrager (College for Women, School of Education '60) runs an incredible volunteer program with a fellow artist Paula Mandel that has been recognized by Mayor Nutter and Bill Clinton and many in between.

The Stained Glass Project: Windows That Open Doors is changing the world and have impacted the lives of inner city kids in ways you would not believe.

Our latest coup was to be invited to exhibit our work at Drexel University's James E. Marks Intercultural Center(http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2012/April/Stained-Glass-Project/) and now these stained glass windows are being exhibited at LOVE Park and will then be displayed at Independence Mall Visitor Center. FIRSTRUST Bank gave us a $6000 grant to take our students to New Orleans with windows they made for The Morris Jeff Community School. The current set of windows is being donated to The Community partnership School of North Philadelphia.

Our next project is to make windows for The Ojibwa People's School in Redlake Minnesota. Our first ever windows went to South Africa and we were honored by the consul general of South Africa. We are changing the world through art.

More alumni you should know about here

3 Penn Alumni you should know about: Film Edition

2012-07-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

After the jump, check out my DT roundup of these 3 Penn alumni making news in the film world.

Penn alum and Forest Gump Hollywood producer Wendy Finerman talks "breaking into the boys club, thriving in a cutthroad business and banking some of the biggest movies in history" with Marie Claire

CBS - Eye on the Desert - Interview from Rachel Goldberg on Vimeo.

After having been selected to be a part of the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women, director and Penn alum Rachel Goldberg created NEIGHBORS, a short film that has been getting lots of attention at many of the great film festivals across the country.

NEIGHBORS celebrates the beauty of unlikely friendships. When Maggie, a quirky shut-in meets her feisty new neighbor, Lamay, a transgendered woman in an abusive relationship, the two begin a strange friendship that allows them both to break free.

Rachel tells us, "This story speaks to me because I believe in the transformative power of relationships. Whether a story is about a transgendered woman desperate for love, or a woman suffering from agoraphobia who struggles to visit her dying mother, I am compelled by their feelings of solitude and their desire to connect. Often the most beautiful stories are those that highlight people living on the outskirts of society, who wonder if there is a place for them, but who ultimately discover that someone very different from themselves can have the most profound impact on their lives. This has always been true in my own life, and I am thrilled to be able to share this story with you."

More about the film here

After co-writing, producing and directing the horror film (now cult classic) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (trailer above), Scott Glosserman (C'99, Friars) is trying to raise money through kickstarter for the prequel to the film entitled Before the Mask

Per Scott,

"We need to raise $450,000 by August 9th. As of today we are 15% of the way there, having raised just over $70,000. I'm pulling out all stops. I'm releasing never-berfore-seen footage, scenes, and stills at milestones along the way. Our fans have been tremendous about spreading the word, but we aren't going to meet our goal without some help from the fans. The item I want to stress the most, however, is our Supporter's Edition DVD that's limited (signed and numbered) only to the amount of people who pre-order it. The DVD is going to include an actual frame(s) of the film, itself. I intend to cut it up and share it with everyone who pre-ordered, because it belongs to everyone, after all."

Lend your support here

More alumni you should know about here

The biggest Penn cake I've ever seen

2012-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

Our DT Correspondent Kelly Diamond caught this Penn cake posted on the Freshman class of 2016 facebook boards. Three tiers of the red and blue!

And while there were these other Penn cakes, I still think THIS piece of Penn branded food wins!

More objects with unusually integrated Penn logos HERE

Penn Prez Amy Gutmann Takes on Charlie Rose

2012-06-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

President Amy Gutmann appeared with Charlie Rose last Friday night talking about American democracy, politicians, relationships and money as it relates to her new book The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It (co-authored with Dennis Thompson of Harvard University).

Check out a clip from the show after the jump!

More Penn authors HERE

The shpiel about Dr. Gutmann's book:

"If politics is the art of the possible, then compromise is the artistry of democracy. Unless one partisan ideology holds sway over all branches of government, compromise is necessary to govern for the benefit of all citizens. A rejection of compromise biases politics in favor of the status quo, even when the rejection risks crisis. Why then is compromise so difficult in American politics today?

In The Spirit of Compromise, eminent political thinkers Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson connect the rejection of compromise to the domination of campaigning over governing--the permanent campaign---in American democracy today. They show that campaigning for political office calls for a mindset that blocks compromise--standing tenaciously on principle to mobilize voters and mistrusting opponents in order to defeat them. Good government calls for an opposite cluster of attitudes and arguments--the compromising mindset--that inclines politicians to adjust their principles and to respect their opponents. It is a mindset that helps politicians appreciate and take advantage of opportunities for desirable compromise.

Gutmann and Thompson explore the dynamics of these mindsets by comparing the historic compromises on tax reform under President Reagan in 1986 and health care reform under President Obama in 2010. Both compromises were difficult to deliver but only tax reform was bipartisan. Drawing lessons from these and other important compromises--and failures to compromise--in American politics, Gutmann and Thompson propose changes in our political institutions, processes, and mindsets that would encourage a better balance between campaigning and governing.

Calling for greater cooperation in contemporary politics, The Spirit of Compromise will interest all who care about whether their government leaders can work together."

12 Penn alumni you should know about

2012-06-24T08:23:00.004-07:00

After the jump, check out my DT roundup of these 12 notable Penn alumni and some of their very cool projects ranging from new films, to Emmy awards, to great TV appearances.

1) Actress Elizabeth Banks (C'96) puts on her producer hat and releases a new trailer for her upcoming collegiate a capella movie. You'll also see her make a cameo in the trailer:

2) John Huss (C'98), Scott Ganz (C'01) and Andrew Samson (C'01) won Daytime Emmys for outstanding writing in animation for their work on PBS' "WordGirl"

3) Brian Cuthbert (C'06, MLA) booked a recurind role on NBC's "AWAKE" and booked a supporting lead role in a Sticky Fingaz feature "Brooklyn Knight" dur e out this summer. When he's not acting he works for 20th Century Fox TV on "New Girl"

4) Rich Garella (C'07)'s documentary "Who Killed Chea Vichea" won a Peabody Award. Vichea was a labor leader with whom Rich worked in Cambodia in the late 1990s. He was assassinated in early 2004. Directed by Bradley Cox, the film shows that the Cambodian government framed and
imprisoned two innocent men in order to cover its own tracks. It was co-produced with the Independent Television Service with funding from Corporation for Public Broadcasting (and from viewers like you, of course), and aired widely on US public television last year. Meanwhile it's banned in Cambodia. It's Rich's first documentary. Find it at www.whokilledcheavichea.com.

5) Jonathan Izak (C'10) designed AutisMate, an app to help his younger autistc brother promote functional and social skills. More here

6) Stephanie Lynn was majorly featured in a big national Nike commerical that she's singing in as well:

7) Steve Allen (C'12) debuts his song "Bully":

8) 3 Penn alumni want your vote for their small business to win $250,000:

Beverly Vosko: IneriorDesgin-ED
Adam Lebovitz (C'03): QuickFilmBudget
Kyle Schroeder (C'01): Cremo Cream

Go to: www.missionsmallbusiness.com
1. Log in (via Facebook)
2. Scroll down to Vote Local
3. Select Business Name:________:
and City: (Los Angeles for Adam, Laguna Beach, CA for Kyle, Houston TX for Beverly) --Click Search
4. When Quick Film Budget appears -- CLICK VOTE!!

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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Elizabeth Banks tells Leno about strippers at Tri-Delt

2012-06-12T07:57:00.002-07:00

Last night, Elizabeth Banks (C'96) stopped by The Tonight Show to promote her new People Like Us film. The conversation shifted from her sexy MTV movie award acceptance to her chatting about the time a policeman stripper was invited to the Tri-Delt house while she was at Penn.

Check out her appearance at minute 4:00 after the jump!

More Penn alumni who have appeared on The Tonight Show HERE

More Penn alumni on TV HERE

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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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