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!

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As you've seen on DT, I continue to focus on juicy alumni journeys in entertainment.  To recap, we've covered journeys in acting (from a guy's and girl's perspctive), music, TV and Film production and TV writing.  And we even have advice on how to use DT in your entertainment career search.

Today, I've got an interesting tale about a 2010 grad who got a good taste of working in one of my favorite daily television shows and is now changing careers and changing coasts for a career in law. All with the plan of hopefully returning to entertainment one day.

This is "entertainment"/"law" path is a common one that I've seen over the years , but wanted to highlight it as there will continue to be Penn graduates who will contemplate this decision.

After the jump, find out about Corey Singer (C'10, Penn Players (Chair ’09-’10), Penn Singers, Quadramics) and...

• his path from Penn to working in an entertainment career
• which NY based show he worked on (hint: see headline and picture above : ) ) and his unique(!) responsibilities on the show 
• his career advice 
• and where he sees himself in 10 years!

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This Sunday night, July 10, 10 pm ET/PT, reality mega producer Mark Cronin's (Eng '86) new show "Famous Food" debuts and it's like "Surreal Life" meets Planet Hollywood ....and it's got all the trashy reality star celebs you love to hate. (including nutjob Danielle Staub from "Real Housewives of New Jersey"!)

After the jump, learn more about the show and find out what percentage of the new Sunset strip restaurant our entrepreneurial Penn alum Mark owns!

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A few weeks ago at the start of alumni weekend, Penn alumni working in reality TV from both sides of the camera came back to Penn to discuss what is "real" and what it takes to make it in the business.

The "Getting Real: From Campus to Camera" panel was moderated by Katherine Sender, Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication. Panelists included:

• Mark Cronin (ENG '86), writer and producer of "celebreality" shows such as "The Surreal Life" and "Flavor of Love"
• Kristin Haskin Simms (C'93), contestant on the eighth season of "Project Runway"
• Charlie Herschel (C'01), contestant on the seventeenth season of "Survivor"
• Greg Goldman (C'96), producer of reality television shows such as "Don't Forget the Lyrics", "Secret Millionaire" and "Shaq's Big Challenge"

Overall the contestants on the panel discussed the application process, the submission videos they created, the psych tests they had to take, how closely the edited version was to real life, and recognition in the real world.

The real juice on the panel however came from the producers (especially Mark Cronin) including what they look for in a contestant (and their casting tape) and the true "manipulating" roles they serve as producers on the show.

After the jump, watch the video and check out 10 juicy highlights I've boiled down from the panel that you'll be interested in for sure!

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In years past, Penn's commencement speakers included Jon Huntsman Jr (C'87), Google chairman Eric Schmidt, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

If you didn't plan on coming to Penn's Reunion/Graduation 2011 weekend, you may be enticed after you find out which big Hollywood star will be giving this year's commencement address.

After the jump, find out who and what other tv stars and producers will be speaking during the weekend!

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We've see such hits as "The Surreal Life" and "Rock of Love" from mega reality TV Penn producer Mark Cronin (ENG'86, Mask and Wig), but Mark's new show debuting tonight (11/28/10) takes the (reality wedding) cake.

More matrimonial madness after the jump!

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A bunch of Hollywood bits and pieces about Penn alumni deals to report on including

• a new VH1 reality show
• a new half hour NBC comedy
• a new atypical role for Elizabeth Banks

More after the jump!

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Last week, I showed a video of Dr. Zach Lutsky (C'97) teaching Dr. Oz and us how to save a life.

After I did that post Kiera Reilly (C'93) emailed me to let me know that Dr. Oz is also a Penn alum.

Who knew!

The very ambitious Dr. Mehmet Cengiz Oz actually graduated from Penn Med (M'86) and Wharton Business School (WG'86)!

Learn more about Dr. Oz in an extensive article from the NY Time’s magazine supplement HERE (Penn referenced on page 3)

More from my "Who Knew?!" series HERE



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Being the proud Mask and Wig alum that I am, it is no secret that I love promoting anything having to do with this group which is so rich with history (dating back to 1889!).

On that note, last summer I showed you a great clip of the Mask and Wig Club being referenced in a 1937 Warner Brothers film.  And now, as part of my "Blast from the Past" series, I have another classic Mask and Wig clip!

The club has been doing their signature "kickline" forever and for years, even when I was in college, I had heard they were once on "The Ed Sullivan Show".

Well now I have video proof!

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This could be one of my favorite "Now and Then Thursdays" series posts thus far...

There is a 1937 film called Varsity Show which references Penn and The Mask and Wig Club (thanks Anthony Maggio C'09!). As you'll see in the short somewhat hokey clip above, the group of band players chant Mask and Wig's age old song, "There's Only Room For One."  Of course I have a particular appreciation for this as I was in Mask and Wig myself.

That said, watch the tradition continue with the following video clip I also got my hands on thanks to Neil Radisch (C'86, Mask and Wig)....a video of the 1985 Mask and Wig group's rendition of the same chant!  The clip was from their annual show of "Irreverance Of Things Past".

As you may recall I once compared 2 Mask and Wig videos before from 1994 and 2007 (see the post HERE). As you'll note in both sets of videos in this post, it's fascinating to me that while traditions are maintained, each generation takes that tradition and makes it their own.

...Speaking of how things don't change, check out my other favorite Now and Then Thursday post:
My Dorm Room 15 Years Later (side-by-side photo comparison!)

Other Penn traditions caught on video HERE

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Some good Penn alumni Hollywood news in my roundup this week:

• Big Wig makes big job change
  
• Mogul announces new TV show
  
• Chairman debuts new channel
  
• TV and Film Producer with 2 new films in the work with big name attached
  
• Actress appears in Oscar nominated film and is now on Broadway
  
• Actress with new DVD out
  

Click here for the scoopage

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Per Cynthia’s Cynopsis, after 19 years with the Sundance Film Festival (he’s been the Director most recently), Geoffrey Gilmore (C'74, Penn in Pictures 2002 panelist) just changed jobs and joined New York-based Tribeca Enterprises as CCO where "he will lead the company's international content strategy, development efforts and brand expansion. Geoffrey will also be a part of Tribeca's Board of Directors."

More of my posts about Geoffrey here

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Rich Ross (C’83, Penn in Pictures 2003 panelist) announces a new Disney channel for boys.

More of my posts about Rich here

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Mark Cronin (ENG ’86) picks Ricki Lake as headmistress of the next installment of “Charm School 3”.

Mark's beginnings in showbiz

More posts about Mark's abundance of reality shows here!

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Mike Karz (C’89, W'89) will produce the film Valentine’s Day: “a love story which revolves around five relationships in Los Angeles, all of which are put through the paces over the course of one Valentine's Day.

Mike will also be producing the romantic comedy “Five Killers” starring Katherine Heigl. Per Screamingdemon, “Story kicks off when a woman meets the man of her dreams while on vacation. Married bliss is turned upside down when they discover that their neighbors may be assassins hired to kill them.”

Past posts about Mike's film projects here

More of my Penn "Film Producer" posts here

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Kate Jennings Grant (C’92, Counterparts) plays Diane Sawyer in the Oscar Nominated film Frost/Nixon.









She is also now starring as Sarah Brown in the Guys and Dolls revival on Broadway with Lauren Graham.

Look for more about Kate on DT in the near future!

More of my Penn alumni actor posts here

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Liz Banks' (C’96) W is now out on DVD

More of my scintillating Liz posts here

More of my Penn alumni actor posts here

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Past Hollywood Bits and Pieces posts here

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Lots of Penn news happening this week on-campus and off!...

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Catch This Alum's Film on DVD!

Jon Hurwtitz's (W'00) Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay now on DVD

My past posts about Jon here

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He's On a New Show and He's Looking for an Agent

Tom Christensen (W'03, Mask and Wig) just landed a co-starring role on the new series, Leverage, an Ocean's-11-Meets-A-Team series set to air on TNT in the next 6 months. Tom will play a "sweet, corn fed" guy from the Midwest" He is marrying a mob-boss's daughter, and that wedding is the setting for the episode. 

When Tom arrived in LA five years ago, fellow Mask & Wig member Brian Appel (C '01) introduced him to the show's casting director. After cutting his teeth with M&W, Tom still performs sketch and improv several improv groups around LA. You can see his upcoming shows on his website, http://www.tom-christensen.com

He is currently looking for an agent. Any alumni agents out there who will take a meeting? Contact Tom via his website!

Tom's Headshot
More Penn Actor Headshots!

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Another Reality Show Debuts for This Alum

Mark Cronin's (Eng'86) next VH1 reality show, New York Goes to Hollywood premieres on Monday, 8/4.

More here
My past posts about Mark here

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This Alum Counterchecks Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel mega-hit, said in an interview the other day that the upcoming season of “Hannah Montana” could be the last one. “We’re thinking this is our last season,” she told E! Online.

Rich Ross (C'83), president of Disney Channels Worldwide, told the New York Post, “I fully expect we will continue production (beyond this season)—and I can stand by that.” Ross said Disney has a option for a fourth season of the show.

More here

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Wish They Had This When I Was an Undergrad!

The Kelly Writers House and the Fine Arts Department of the School of Design (at the University of Pennsylvania) are pleased to announce ArtsEdge, a new collaborative residency project to encourage the careers of emergent writers and artists.

Through ArtsEdge, the Kelly Writers House and the Fine Arts Department will subsidize the rent of a shared live/work space near Penn’s campus for an emergent writer and artist.

More here and here

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Lots of Penn news happening this week on-campus and off!...

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Marc Platt (C'79) has extended his contract with Universal Pictures for five years and has several projects of in the works, including a film version of the Broadway show Wicked, a remake of the 1973 Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice film "Jesus Christ Superstar" and a new motion picture about the life of the late composer George Gershwin.

More here
My past posts about Marc here

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Mark Cronin's (Eng'86) Rock of Love comes back for a third season ...this time on a tour bus!

More here
Past posts about Mark Cronin here

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Roy Bank's (C'94) upcoming reality show "Jingles" has reportedly been delayed due to its own lack of jingle time... More here

Check out who will be hosting this new show currently in production! More here
Past posts about Roy here

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According to Cynthia's Cynopsis, Nancy Glass Productions made several exclusive talent and development deals with Penn's Off the Beat a capella group! Anyone know anything more about this?

Past posts about Off the Beat here

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While many people graduate after Penn from business schools or law schools, I bet Adam Gertsacov (C'86) is the only one to graduate from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College!

That's right.

Adam made it on the cover of The Charleston City Paper, but he also got profiled in the New York Times' wedding section.

Read and watch the New York Times' coverage on him and his bride!



Watch these promos for Adam's Flea Circus:

Clip 1: Flea circus video- Toronto, Canada

Clip 2: Flea Circus Video-- Acme Miniature Flea circus



Other Penn performers here

Newspaper and Magazine Gallery: Featured Penn undergrads and alumni!


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A few weeks ago I announced Mark Cronin's (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) new reality show I Love Money.

The show will have contestants from Flavor of Love, I Love New York and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels competing in physical and mental challenges in an attempt to win $250,000.

Check out the poster which just came out!

Earn additional entries to win the Cloverfield DVD in our May Contest

Sign up for the Dueling Tampons newsletter!



Meet the cast here!

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Check out what else is happening on campus

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Last week my Penn reality-TV based posts had been centered around Roy Bank (C'94). Now I've got some news from another Penn reality TV big time producer Mark Cronin (Eng'86)...

VH1 recently announced that they are prepping another spinoff to Flavor of Love called I Love Money.

Per Variety, the new show will feature "past contestants from "Flavor of Love," "Rock of Love" and "I Love New York" squaring off against one another in a series of reality show competitions. While "Flavor" and its past offspring were constructed to help celebrities such as Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav find "love," the new show will focus on the pursuit of cash prizes."

It seems Mark's contestants won't be the only ones loving money.

Speaking of Love, have you checked out my Penn "Love Series" here?

Mark's beginnings in showbiz

More posts about Mark's reality shows here

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Which alum just sold his production company in a deal valued at 200 million dollars(!) and said this?

"It's about exploiting our content and taking what we own and doing more with it ...We haven't done nearly enough with our shows."

Click here for the details!

Per today's Variety:
"In a deal valued at upward of $200 million, Endemol USA has acquired Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin's (Eng '86, Mask and Wig) 51 Minds Entertainment, the reality factory that perfected the celebreality genre with nonscripted comedies such as "Flavor of Love," "I Love New York" and "The Surreal Life."

Read the complete article here

More of my Mark Cronin posts here

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Is there a better way to kick off our Love Week than to promote one our alum’s shows about a man who despite two unsuccessful attempts at finding love will be going back for one final time?

Click here to find out more about this show which debuts tonight!


That’s right, your favorite bachelor, Flavor Flav is back for a final time to find a his love. The third and final season of "Flavor of Love", produced by mega-reality producer Mark Cronin (Eng’86, Mask and Wig) premieres on VH1 tonight (Monday, February 11) at 9:00 PM.

This time, the woman Flavor Flav's looking for will be all about sophistication…

Per Tradingmarkets.com:

“This season, every challenge Flav poses, from nursing his broken heart on a hospital gurney, to composing a hip-hopera about Flavor Flav's life, will be engineered to make those women, who truly have love for Flav, shine. Whether it's jumping out of a plane at 30,000 feet, or swimming with sharks, these women will constantly be put to the test. The last two remaining contestants will travel to the international city of love in a final showdown for Flav's heart. In the end, Flavor Flav will pick the girl he believes is the one true love that he can finally settle down with. Hopefully, this time it will stick.

To help Flav find true love, he enlisted the help of his fans. Last summer, women from across the country uploaded profiles to VH1's Flavor of Love casting site and five were chosen through online voting to vie for Flav's love.”

Check out all the other reality shows Mark Cronin has produced!

Check out all my posts from the DuelingTampons' "Love Week" series

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