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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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"!

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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.

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12 DT vlogs and 2 years later, it's official.

Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos), the Penn alumni friends who moved to Austin to pursue music and swore that "real jobs were not my forte" have split up because of "real jobs".

After the jump watch their final episode where:

• Ben and Blake talk about the wisdom they've gained
• Listen to and download the 3 of their new songs
• and find out what their individual future plans are

On behalf of all Penn alumni musicians and Penn alumni daring to live out a dream, thank you Blake and Ben for letting us follow you on your journey over these past 2 years and best of luck in the future!

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(l to r: ) Michele, Sabrina and Samantha

Remember the story I did about the Penn alumni sister realtors who have their own show on HGTV?

Well, not only is their fourth season of "Selling New York" about to debut in October, but the Kleier sisters teamed up with their mom and published a new novel called Hot Property.

After the jump, learn more about the novel and find out how they managed to get Penn into the book and Penn alumni onto their show!

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Recently on DT, I featured Rebecca Cook (C'11, Counterparts) a super talented new alum who did an awesome cover of an Adele song.

Turns out over the past 2 years, Rebecca has been involved in a friendly "pop song battle" with another super talented Penn (and Counterparts) classmate of hers.

After the jump, meet Johnny Lloyd (Mortar Board, Counterparts, iNtuitons '11) and check out his soulful cover of "Bills Bills Bills" by Destiny's Child.

Also, learn about how this recent grad is transitioning to life after Penn and keeping it in the arts with some other Penn friends of his.

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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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Rob

After Rob Pearlstein (C'95, DP) and Loren Mendell's (C'95, Friars) short film was nominated for an Oscar in 2006, they went on to create a funny web series about a unique sort of adoption.

Rob had also gone on to create a short film dedicated to all the pregnant ladies out there, while Loren was focused more in the world of documentaries.

After the jump, find out about the pitch Warner Brothers just bought from Rob ...and what TV show Loren directed which airs tonight!

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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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Adam and Jim

A couple years ago I did a story on Jim Goldblum (C'07, 34th Street)'s virtual Katrina Yearbook which CNN said, of all the press coverage and all the documentaries, it was "one of the best of the best."

Jim has been working on a new compelling project with a fellow film editor Penn classmate, Adam Weber (C'06). They've teamed up to produce the feature documentary and interactive narrative, "Tomorrow We Disappear".

The project chronicles the Kathputli Colony, a tinsel slum that's been home to Delhi's acrobats, puppeteers, and magicians since the 1970s. Last year the government issued relocation permits to the colony residents; the slum is to be bulldozed, cleared for development.  Jim and Adam will capture the last remains of this culture born out of folk art and molded by poverty.

After the jump, see what great footage they've captured so far.

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After 11 DT vlogs, the duo (Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos)) who moved to Austin to pursue music is about to split up.

Why? Because Ben is going to Stanford to pursue a career in Neuroscience.

In this Penn-ultimate episode (pun intended), after the jump find out some tips about:

• how they got some new gigs
• some great resources for e-mailing booking agents
• and footage from the recent EP sessions.

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They graduated Penn and moved to Austin to pursue careers in music.

Now, 18 months and 10 DT vlog episodes later, Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos) kept the faith and finally found someone "instrumental" to their progress in Austin.

All the while, they've been preaching that "real jobs are not their forte", however after a year, Ben indeed applied to grad school.

After the jump find out if he got in, what effect that may have on all the work they've done thus far ...and which Wharton professor (and record producer!) they'll be working with.

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(l to r: Michael Sluchan, C'91, Michael Rauch, C'90)

There is no question that Penn alumni are working together all over the entertainment business (and there have been plenty of DT stories about this).

Here's another goodie sent to me by USA network executive Michael Sluchan (C'93). Not only did Michael Sluchan help develop and now oversees "Royal Pains", but he also works on the show with another Penn alum, executive producer Michael Rauch (C'90).

And on tonight's season finale, a third Penn alum you all know joins them.

After the jump, more about who, his featured song on the show ...and about executive producer Michael Rauch's writing path from Penn and beyond.

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Because this weekend is the Superbowl, I thought you'd all appreciate a viral video created by the Penn alum who created a musical interpretation of The Godfather, Tom Dimenna (C'02, Quarterback for Varsity Football Team).

In Tom's film THE PURISTS, two football coaches speak out about what is truly, "Old School".

The video stars Tom as Walter "Gibbs" Branigan and and fellow Penn alum Jeff Hatch (C'01) as Kyle Rogers, a third round draft pick out of Penn State.

After the jump, watch the short and be sure to check out these old timer's reaction to "artificial turf"!

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Much has happened since Penn alum entertainment journalist Emily Frances froze her eggs on national TV a few years ago.

Recently, Emily has decided to also put a freeze on entertainment, change careers and do what many Penn alumni do best: become an entrepreneur.

After the jump, learn about Emily's tasty new endeavor and her Superbowl themed commercial airing which just recently started airing!

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(l to r:) Sabrina and Samantha

Move over Donald, Ivanka and Don Jr., there is another New York Penn family of realtors on TV starting tonight.

More about two successful Penn alumni sisters and their family business after the jump!

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Kira and John

Over the past 4 years, DT has run a bunch of contests (from winning revolutionary water bottles to winning fantastic shaving cream).

Today, we launch a new contest to win some holiday chocolate goodness from a Penn entrepreneur doing all sorts of good in the world.

Co founders Kira Baker-Doyle (C’97, MSD’99, PHD’08) and her husband John created John & Kira’s, a socially innovative chocolate company dedicated to both making and selling world class confections and promoting positive social change.

More about her delicious chocolates and how you can enter to win a Chocolate Bee Tower after the jump!

...Or go right to the contest entry page HERE

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Last month we introduced you to Jess Garvey (C'09), DT's "Starter Reality Star" and watched her go on an actual audition for a Special K commercial.

Today, Jess brings us her next installment and you're going to see her be quite the busy actress filled with a week of auditions and meetings..

After the jump, watch Jess' video and find out about:

• the notable Hollywood table reads she was a part of and what caused her to almost "pee in her pants"
• the new play she'll be starring in
• her upcoming Sundance films
• the golfcart she tried to hijack on the Universal Lot

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Find out why Ben is crossing his fingers!

It's been over a year now since we started documenting our DT exclusive music and actor career journeys with 3 recent alumni. The key to these series has been capturing that immediate time right after college filled with hope and attainable aspirations when the world is your oyster.  I hope it has been as refreshing and inspiring for you DT readers to watch the achievements of these young alumni as it has been for me to report it.

On that note, last week we covered these 5 important lessons any actor should take to heart before getting into the business.

Now, today, Austin musicians Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos):

• sum up their year
• discuss what exciting endeavor is on the horizon 
• and share with us the production process from start to finish of one great (!) song they worked on. This should definitely be enlightening to anyone who has wondered how songs get produced.  

And find out after a year whether despite initial intentions a real job is manifesting itself for one of them...  hmmm....

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(l to r): Greg Milken (C'95) and Seth Gerson (C'95)

Time to add another tale to the 60+ DT stories about Penn alumni working together...

Years after being Penn freshmen roommates in the Quad and then later as housemates on Chancellor Street, Seth Gerson (C'95, ZBT) and Gregory Milken (C'95) formed a technology gaming company with a hot facebook game you'll want to check out done in conjuntion with a popular Las Vegas hotel!

More about their game and very Penn-centric company after the jump!

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