This may be the juiciest "Penn Alumni You Should Know About" edition yet!

After the jump, check out exciting news about the latest from 19 Penn alumni with projects in TV, film, stage, web, apps, and print.

Plus, more stories of Penn alumni working together on entertainment projects ....an alum who dishes on what happens backstage as a Jeopardy contestant ....and an alum who is body doubling for a major Hollywood star!

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Not only does his high-larious next Harold and Kumar movie debut in a couple of months, but we're now just getting a first glimpse of writer/director Jon Hurwitz's (W'00) take on the next installment of the American Pie franchise.

And it looks wrong, and funny!

After the jump, hold onto your socks and check out this NSFW trailer for his American Reunion movie!

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Remember in the movie Up how the old man got his house to fly using balloons?

Well, Penn alum Vin Marshall (ENG '00, WQHS) actually accomplished this on the new show he is hosting on the National Geographic Channel called "How Hard Can It Be?" and it premieres this Sunday October 2nd.

After the jump watch this AWESOME clip of a "bonafide flying house" from the show and find out what 2 other captivating episodes of his will also be airing this week!

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Penn alum screenwriter Jon Hurwitz's (W'00) trailer for his upcoming A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas was just released and you must watch it!

After the jump, see some high-larious scenes which include:

• a unique spin on using 3D in movies 
• claymation! 
• a musical interlude by Neil Patrick Harris 
• ...and a fantastic NSFW reinterpretation of the famous Christmas Story tongue-frozen-on-pole movie scene!

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Have you been watching Penn alum Becki Newton's (C'00) new "Love Bites" show on NBC? If you have, on last week's episode, Becki shared the screen opposite another Penn alum and DT favorite, Vanessa Mizzone (C'99).

After the jump, watch the scene!

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Last year, I did a post about how a Penn writer and Penn producer came together to create a big movie hit.

Tonight that Penn writer wins for his screenplay and he accepts sporting an awesome blue tux.

After the jump reacquaint yourself with the movie and check out a cameo in the film by our Penn alum writer!

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Over the past couple of years here on DT, we've seen Ben Pace (C'00) play some really fun characters.

On the remaining hours of this St. Patrick's Day, after the jump, watch Ben get his Leprech-on with this day's most famous character and find out more about his, um, "ravaged coin sack".

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Since Vijay Chattha (C'00) lived on the bottom floor of 4010 Spruce his senior year, he has always been into music and nightlife.   Back in 1999 he co-founded and later sold Philly2nite, an online nightlife and entertainment portal with fellow Penn alum entrepreneur Nihal Mehta (C'99, Pi Lam).

Now, as a rapper and executive producer for a group called BlackMahal, he has created something you'll all want to check out this weekend.

After the jump watch the very unique (and catchy) Bhangra-style Steelers anthem and music tribute video he produced.

After you watch it, you'll be in the Superbowl spirit for sure!

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This weekend Ivanka Trump (W'04) got a bit reminiscent on twitter about her days at Penn...

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Last week the major networks had their upfronts and announced their official 2010-2011 television schedules.

Consequentially, there are 3 very happy Penn alumni with shows you'll want to check out....

Check out episode previews after the jump!

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Since he graduated Penn in 2000, Rob Sachs (C'00) has spent the past 10 years working in radio and has now recently branched out into the world of publishing.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/11), Rob returns to the Penn bookstore from 6-7 pm to discuss his new book What Would Rob Do?: An Irreverent Guide to Surviving Life's Daily Indignities.

Rob's book is the product of his own podcast of the same name and offers tips on lessons ranging from how to get past a nightclub bouncer to what to do you when you get a big zit or how to avoid going to a chick flick.  This book gives Rob's take on life's awkward and embarrassing moments as well as tips he's received from experts including Erik Estrada ("How to act around a celebrity"), Fabio ("What to do when you're underdressed for a party"), Air Supply ("How to write a love song") and Tom Wopat aka Luke Duke ("How to avoid stage fright").

For all of you aspiring journalists and authors, Rob tells us exactly what his career path has been from Penn until now...

Per Rob,

"My career in radio started at Penn - I was a DJ on WQHS and eventually went on to become the station manager.  I also started working for WXPN on the program Kids Corner and worked doing basketball and football games for Penn Sports.   It was through a conference that WXPN paid for me to attend that I made connections at NPR.  I've been working here for 10 years doing everything from reporting to directing to producing to hosting my own podcast which became the basis for my book."

Below, in one of Rob's segments from his site, he talks about how to avoid embarrassing moments when getting a professional massage.

Get Rob's book HERE

Rob's website HERE

More Penn Authors HERE

More Penn Journalists HERE



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Some Penn in Hollywood bits and pieces for you ranging from a Penn alum TV show which debuts tonight to a Penn alum screenwriter in franchise heaven!:

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Josh with John Cusack

You've been seeing the funny commercials for it on TV for months now and tomorrow, Hollywood screenwriter Josh Heald's (W'00, Editor-in-Chief 34th Street Magazine ('99), Penn Jazz) Hot Tub Time Machine hits theaters nationwide.

The film is about 4 friends who travel back to the 80s after they discover that their ski resort hot tub ends up being a time machine.

Sounds pretty brilliant to me! Can't wait to see it!

After the jump, learn more about:

• how the movie got made
• where Josh would be at Penn if he took the hot tub back to the year 2000
• and what other Penn alum produced this film!

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Harold and Kumar writers Jon Hurwitz (W'00) and Hayden Schlossberg have been tapped by Universal to write a new script to reboot the American Pie film franchise.  And by reboot, I mean not direct-to-DVD, but back in the theaters!

I'm excited to see what Jon and Hayden will do to top that memorable pie scene!

More Jon Hurwitz DT posts HERE

More Penn Alumni TV and Film writers HERE

More Hollywood Bits and Pieces about Penn Alumni HERE



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With the recent news of "Ugly Betty" being canceled, Penn alum Becki Newton (C'00) is quite the hot property!

She has received 11 offers since the show got canceled and will be starring in a new dramedy pilot for NBC called "Love Bites". The show weaves together modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating."

In the show, Becki will play Annie, an upbeat social worker virgin.

More of my Becki Newton posts HERE



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Last month I introduced all of you to actor Ben Pace (C'00) and his fun "Elevator" series in which he stars as "Harold the Janitor".

This web series which was developed in the HBO Lab and has recently been bought by Break Media, launched a fun, campy, "Halloween" mini-series this week.    In the 4 episodes, "Harold" (Ben) figures out a new way to get the girl.

Watch these 4 very short videos through and I think you'll agree with me that Ben is indeed a great, slick comedic actor.

Part 1
Harold reveals a bloodthirsty secret when he gets his 25 years of service award.

Part 2
Vampire Harold has a passionate exchange with his beloved and Chris is caught in the middle.

Part 3
Robert shares his own monstrous secret to Vampire Harold. Harold is not amused.

Part 4
Something is killing employees all over the building. Vampire Harold has to come clean to stop the murders.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Other DT Halloween Posts:

• Find out Liz Banks' (C'96) favorite Halloween costume as she reported to Jay Leno HERE (VIDEO)
• Watch "The Office Vampire" starring Vanessa Mizzone (C'97) HERE
• This male model is on the packages of almost every Halloween costume you've been trying on!  See the photos HERE
• Their Halloween Costumes Would Make Ralph Macchio Quiver HERE

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Actor Ben Pace (C'00) has performed Shakespeare in the Kennedy Center in DC, stand-up comedy at the Hollywood Improv, appeared in another Penn alum's film Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon ...and just became a finalist for something he needs your help with!

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Some recent juicy Penn Hollywood alumni tidbits for y'all...

Click HERE for the scoop!

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• Elizabeth Banks (C'96) has signed on for a potentially recurring role on ABC's critically-praised new fall sitcom, "Modern Family". More HERE

• Todd Lieberman (C'95) will be producing a film based on the comic book "Alibi". More HERE

• Speaking of Liz and Todd above, have you seen the new poster for their upcoming film Surrogates?

• "Harold and Kumar" creators Jon Hurwitz (W'00) and Hayden Schlossberg will be directing the comedy "One Night Stan".   Per The Hollywood Reporter, '"Stan" plays out a scenario about which many men fantasize on the cusp of marriage. When Stan learns his fiancee, Julie, has had more sexual partners than he, he gets her blessing for one night to play catch-up. Unfortunately, his plans for a sex buffet don't come together quite the way he had hoped."'
  

...Actually, Jon will be working on this project with Mike Karz (C'89, W'89), another Penn alum who will be in part producing the film.

My past "Hollywood Bits and Pieces" posts HERE

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What do you think a guy who DJed in his senior year (under the name Metafizik) and hosted weekly parties at 4010 Spruce (a house known as "Browntown") went on to do?

While he's not a DJ anymore, Nihal Mehta (C'99, Pi Lam fraternity, see picture to left) is still tapped into everything "nightlife" and is sharing it you with his web based and mobile free service called buzzd.

buzzd is the premier location-sensitive city guide and social network for your mobile phone.  buzzd answers “what’s going on around me right now?™” by delivering up-to-the-minute info on bars, restaurants, concerts and events in a specific set location. buzzd features listings from Flavorpill, Time Out, Citysearch, ZAGAT, Upcoming as well as real-time posts (“buzzes”) from members of the buzzd community. Create a profile, add/invite friends and – if you post a “buzz” – it is sent as a text-message to your nearby friends in the network.

Recently, Nihal released a new BlackBerry application in that has been among the most downloaded apps since its release, and was covered in such outlets like the New York Times. (Mehta received funding from Blackberry Partners Fund, who are interested in funding entertainment ventures that are on the mobile phone. )

On a related note, Nihal had another "nightlife" company before buzzd.  In 1999, Nihal started his entrepreneurial career by co-founding (and later selling) Philly2nite an online nightlife and entertainment portal with fellow Penn alum Vijay Chattha (C'00, see picture to right) while they both lived on the bottom floor of 4010 Spruce (side note: I actually lived exactly there my senior year too!).  Browntown, as the house was known was famous for its many evening gatherings featuring open mic sessions with many future media alums like John Stephens, now John Legend (C'99), Aaron Jones (W'99)  of Hip-Hop Act Dujeous, Ted Chung (W'99), who is running Snoop's Label, DJ Bunnylove,  Paras Shah (C'99), Nimo Patel (W'01) and Swapnil Shah (C'99) of Rap Group Karmacy,  Sumit Bothra (W'99), now President of Embargo Management and Max Blumenthal (C'99), MC and current writer for TheDailyBeast and Huffington Post.

Years later Nihal started the first mobile marketing firm which was bought by Omnicom Group in 2005.  From there, Nihal got the idea for buzzd, which he founded in 2006 which was essentially his first idea: Philly2nite on a phone.

Nihal is yet another example of Penn friends working together as he continues to work with Vijay who is an investor and advisor in the company.



Get Buzzd!: www.buzzd.com

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What does it mean to be an actor in Los Angeles?

Perhaps boasting about your training ....or exhibiting the extremes to which actors will go to "bring it".

Check out the above very funny "Office"/documentary-ish video on what it means to be an LA actor. In this short, a documentary crew follows around a group of LA actors (co-starring Penn alum Jill Magilone C'00) trying to rehearse for an Industry Showcase. Things get out of control when Ben and Renee show their true colors...

Jill is great in this. Her tone reminds me of a cross between Anna Faris and Julie Hagerty (from Airplane! fame). Very castable!

(Be sure to check out the Joaquin Phoenix reference in there...or at least I think it's a reference as the guy looks like him!)

Check out:

• my Penn Actors Headshot Gallery HERE!
• the new Penn Actor Video Reel section HERE (add yours HERE)
• Advice for the actor who wants to move out to LA HERE

Check out my other Funny Friday posts here!

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