Christmas time means classic TV repeats from Penn alumni

Lew Schneider (C'83) featured in "The Christmas Letter"

As I sit at home on Christmas morning sipping on my light egg nog and reminiscing about Hanukkah, I am enjoying a whole lot of TV marathons.



One great Christmas episode I just caught was an Everybody Loves Raymond episode, called "The Christmas Letter" written by Penn alum Lew Schneider (C'83, Mask and Wig). Lew actually is in the episode as the photographer taking the Romano family photo. (see screenshot above)



Per TV.com, here's the episode summary:

"Ray believes he has finally found the ultimate Christmas gift for his parents--if nothing else it will certainly be something they will remember forever. Ray is thrilled when he hits upon the perfect gift--a family photo that his mom and dad can treasure forever. But, when the day arrives to take the picture, Ray tries in vain to keep the peace when Debra and Marie have very conflicting opinions about the meaning of "family" in family photo."

Speaking of Lew, I just got wind that Lew is now co-Executive Producing CBS's The New Adventures of Old Christine.



NEW: Watch video of Lew talking about his career from the Penn in Pictures 2008 Event!



Click to see other Penn alumni working in TV



Click to see what other 1983 Penn grads are up to



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Jon Avnet (C'71): to direct DeNiro and Pacino / "Starter Wife" debuts

Director/Producer Jon Avnet (C'71) will direct Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Righteous Kill. According to Entertainment Weekly, Jon only (barely) reveals "They're both cops, and they're buddies".

...While we're speaking of Jon, his show The Starter Wife debuted this week. For those of you who haven't seen this on the USA network, it's kind of Sex in the City meets a bit of Desperate Housewives. Debra Messing's performance is definitely stellar here showing her Grace-like humor combined with some nice touching/authentic moments we haven't seen from her before.

From youtube, "The Starter Wife is a sexy, savvy and wickedly funny tour de force about life after divorce and one woman's quest to redefine herself after years of marriage to a Hollywood studio head. After being blacklisted from premieres to pilates, Molly Kagan (Debra Messing) searches to rediscover life after divorce. A brief respite in Malibu and some oh-so-Hollywood friends prove to be the perfect cocktail for her transformation from "Starter Wife" to her new life."

Check out a preview of the show here!

...*On another Penn related note, Chris Diamantopoulos who plays "Rodney" in the series is married to Penn alum actress, Becky Newton, C'00 (Ugly Betty)

READ MORE - Jon Avnet (C'71): to direct DeNiro and Pacino / "Starter Wife" debuts

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.

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

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!

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