Saturday, May 19, 2007

Jon Avnet (C'71) to serve as judge in Spielberg's On the Lot

Director/Producer Jon Avnet (C'71) will serve as 1 of 3 judges for the new Mark Burnett/Steven Spielberg moviemaking competition series On the Lot. He will serve as a judge for the series' two "audition" episodes airing Tuesday, May 22 9/8c and Thursday, May 24 9:30/8:30c on FOX. Judges for additional rounds will be announced at a later date.

Jon will be joined by actress, author and screenwriter Carrie Fisher ("Star Wars," "Postcards From The Edge"), as well as directors/producers Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour 3," "X-Men 3: The Last Stand") and Garry Marshall ("Georgia Rule," "Princess Diaries," "Pretty Woman").

...This also is a big week for Jon, as his TV series he has executive produced, The Starter Wife, starring Deborah Messing, debuts this Thursday, May 24.

Click here for a Gazette articles written about Jon.

Click here for a DP article written about Jon.


Update 5/22/07, 10:05pm:
Despite online reports, Jon was not featured on On the Lot tonight. Stay tuned for updates...

Update 5/30/07
I've been a bit behind, but I've been watching the show online and Jon is featured in Episode 2. You can watch the show online here.

Who Knew?....Becki Newton (C'00) as Amanda on Ugly Betty

upennJust when I thought I knew what most of the Penn alumni were doing here in Los Angeles, I just found out that Becki Newton (C'00) aka "Amanda" on Ugly Betty is an alum.

She is hysterical on the show as well as on the weekly Ugly Betty podcast she hosts with actor Michael Urie ("Mark" on the show)

For those of you who don't watch, click here to take a look at her best moments on Ugly Betty

Friday, May 18, 2007

Duelingtampons.com Exclusive: 45+ Alumni Weekend 2007 videos!

Starting from the Dueling Tampons, heading towards the Alumni tents in Hill Field, and ending up at the Glee Club Concert, Penn alum, friend and our special correspondent Todd Shotz (C'96) brings Alumni Weekend 2007 to Duelingtampons.com.


Click to check out all 45+ videos!






Click to check out all 45+ videos!






Click to check out all 45+ videos!

David Guarascio (C'91) & Moses Port (C'91): Aliens in America pilot gets picked up by the CW

Moses Port (left) and David Guarascio (right)
speak in Los Angeles' 2001 "Penn in Pictures" event

Penn alumni and writing partners David Guarascio (C'91) and Moses Port (C'91), (former co-producers and writers of Just Shoot Me and 2001 "Penn in Pictures" panelists) just got their pilot Aliens in America picked up on the CW Fall Schedule.

To get a sneak peek of the pilot, click here!

Per Variety,"Aliens" is set in Altoona, Wis., where Justin Hobgood is an awkward, lanky 16-year-old having trouble fitting in at school. His mom hears about the school's foreign exchange program and signs up her family, figuring the new arrival will give her son a hipness transplant.
Things don't go as planned, however, when the exchange student turns out to be a Pakistani Muslim who wears a kufi on his head and a shalwar kameez over his body.

To get a sneak peek of the pilot, click here!

Gabriel Mann music featured on Real World: Denver finale!

Gabe on tour with Alanis Morrisette


Gabriel Mann's (C'95, Off the Beat) song, "When We Are One" is featured on the Real World: Denver finale.

+ Check it out here and click on the last section "Thank You, Denver".
Gabe's music is featured for a full minute at the 8:00 minute markpoint (the clock counts down).

+ The music is edited a bit and unfortunately you can't hear the whole song.
Click here for the unedited clip.


+ Check out some more of Gabe's music:
GABRIEL MANN: Tug Of War GABRIEL MANN: Lighted Up - live in studio EP GABRIEL MANN: Gabriel Mann GABRIEL MANN: Careen


+ Click here to check out Gabe's "ok alone" music video from his tour with Alanis Morissette in Europe.


+ Click here to check out other Penn alumni music.

Also, tune in to the CW's new show Hidden Palms (Gabe's song "go up to go down" is in the july 4 episode, and "ride" (leadoff track from Gabe's new album!) is in the July 11 episode!


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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Tune in Alert: Elizabeth Banks (C'96) on Scrubs Season Finale tonight!

Catch Elizabeth Banks (C'96) on the Scrubs season finale, 8 p.m., NBC tonight.

Tonight's finale storyline:
Elliot plunges ahead with her wedding plans with Keith, while facing some doubts. Meanwhile, J.D. invites Kim (Elizabeth Banks) to stay with him, so they can bond before their baby is born.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Graduate with the Class of 2007: Entire Video!

What's over 2.75 hours long, can get very hot and is full of excitement?

...Penn's 251st Commencement of course!

Click here to check out video of the whole ceremony!

Watch the Media, Sports & Entertainment Panel at Alumni Weekend 2007!



Taken from the Penn Video Network's posting on itunes (divided above into 11 parts):

"Many Penn alumni pursue careers in the fields of media, sports, and entertainment. In this panel discussion, graduates share their stories, inspiration and practical advice, as they illustrate the appeal behind these fields. Moderated by Dr. Peter Fader, Frances and Pei-Yuan Chia Professor and Professor of Marketing at Wharton.

Featuring: Matthew Blank, W'72, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Showtime; Ben Katz, Nu'02, W'02, WG'02, Chief Executive Officer, iStyleCustom.com and Producer and Chief Executive Officer, Ben Katz Productions, credits include Johnny Was and Nailed; Sylvia Wolinsky Kauders, CW'42, Actor, Analyze That, "Law and Order" Franchise, "The Sopranos"; Joseph Rascoff, W'67, co-founder RZO Entertainment, currently producing the Police reunion tour, produced tours for the Rolling Stones, U2 and David Bowie; Mike Stiles, C'67, Vice President for Operations and Administration, Philadelphia Phillies.

Recorded on May 11, 2007."


Update:
Click here to now watch the panel!

Monday, May 14, 2007

First Video from Graduation 2007: Check it out!

Relive the march down Locust Walk as these members of the Class of 2007 show off their gowns, smiles, cell phones and cameras.

Click to check out the first video to come out of today's Graduation ceremony.

Alumni Weekend 2007: Penn Prez Amy Gutmann talking Penn's future



If you missed Alumni Weekend 2007, check out Penn's President Amy Gutmann addressing alumni (in 5 parts) about updating Penn's plans for the future -- from the campus's dramatic eastward expansion, the a revolutionary cancer-treating proton therapy center, to local and global initiatives and the University-wide campaign that will support them; followed by a question-and-answer session with Dr. Gutmann. (Images of Penn Connects -- discussed by Dr. Gutmann in this talk -- can be found at http://www.evp.upenn.edu/.) Recorded on May 12, 2007.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Alumni Weekend 2007: Class of 2018?


DTOC_20070512_0421_sRGB
Originally uploaded by
davidtoc.

More photos and videos to come....