Alumni with New Films, TV & Music + His Recurring Role on a Popular Soap Opera!

Some Hollywood bits and pieces from our Alumni this week:

• New sci-fi film being produced.
• New reality TV show debuting in May.
• New music featured on a TV show.
• New TV guest appearances on 2 popular shows (one tonight!).

Dig into the details HERE.

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Reality honcho Mark Cronin (ENG'86), debuts his next VH1 reality show, "New York Goes to Work"

More details here
My past posts about Mark and all his reality shows here

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Todd Lieberman (C'95) will produce the film (based on the book) Grandma's Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast. Per Variety, "The story revolves around a boy who goes to visit his hippie grandmother for the first time and discovers that her inn caters to vacationing aliens, a secret that she has been able to keep from her small town."

My past posts about Todd and his films here

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Actor Roy Vongtama (C'96) will appear on tonight's "Dollhouse" (April 3) at 9 pm (playing a yoga instructor)!

Roy will also be recurring on "Days of Our Lives" starting April 21st and 22nd on NBC at 1pm as Doctor Richman! As you may recall from my earlier posts, Roy is actually a doctor in real life. How great is that!

My past posts about Roy here

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Matt Kap's (C'97) band's (The Moving Picture Show) song "The Boy Who Lives Backwards" was featured this season in minute 10 of "The Real World: Brooklyn" episode above.

Listen to "The Boy Who Lives Backwards" here:



The story behind the song?   Per Matt:

"The Boy Who Lives Backwards" basically came out of a regret. I was going to take some summer classes at NYU and met a girl the first day in the dorm through a friend. She'd had a bad day and her friend wasn't around so I decided to try and cheer her up. We had a really incredible night but I was so shy at the time and thought she had a boyfriend so I didn't ask her out. Years later I thought of that while singing a melody and began thinking about regrets we have in life - the person we didn't kiss, the bully on the playground we didn't stand up to, the clever comebacks that we wished we'd said in an argument and that's what the song is about. It also really reminds me of New York City in the fall which is my favorite time of year."

Check out Matt's performance at our very own Pennfest 2007:

My past posts about Matt here

More about The Moving Picture Show

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Past "DT Hollywood Bits and Pieces" posts here

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READ MORE - Alumni with New Films, TV & Music + His Recurring Role on a Popular Soap Opera!

DT HB&P: His Big Job Change, Their New Films, Shows & Channel, She's a Broadway Doll

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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DT HB&P: She's Splitting with Spielberg, He's Making a Ton of TV

A Penn alum splitting from a major studio and another Penn alum continues to be a TV making machine!

Click here for your delicious dose of this week's scoop.

Check out my October Contest and win cool swag!

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Stacey Snider (C'82) and Steven Spielberg leave Dreamworks to work at their new Reliance Big Entertainment backed movie company ..and need a line of credit! More here

My past posts about Stacey here

More of my Penn "Film Producer" posts here

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Mark Cronin (Eng'86) is a reality TV making machine!

• His second installment of "Charm School" Premieres on Sunday, October 12 at 9:00 PM ("Rock of Love Charm School") where he's putting 14 of the most memorable contestants from "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels" through Etiquette school with Sharon Osbourne.
  

• And then on October 20 at 9:00PM, Mark spins off more of his previous contestants into a show of their own. This one takes 'Real' and 'Chance' from "I Love New York" and puts them in a new show called "Real Chance of Love"

Per VH1.com, 

"The tables have turned for these horse-breeding, music-producing entertainer brothers known as the "Stallionaires" who were just seen in the high stakes show "I Love Money" where they duked it out in an attempt to win the grand prize of $250,000. Real tried to find love on "I Love Money" after proposing to Hoopz but was sadly turned down once again. Now, Real and Chance are the ones in control and this time it'll be a gamble for 17 young ladies who will move into their ranch house to fight for their hearts."

My past Mark Cronin posts here

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READ MORE - DT HB&P: She's Splitting with Spielberg, He's Making a Ton of TV

DT Hollywood Bits & Pieces

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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DT Hollywood Bits & Pieces

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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His TV Show's Sexy New Poster

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!

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Meet the cast here!

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READ MORE - His TV Show's Sexy New Poster

He's Giving Reality Contestants What They Really Want ...No, Not Love

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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READ MORE - He's Giving Reality Contestants What They Really Want ...No, Not Love

This Penn Producer Just Sold His Company in a 200 Million Dollar Deal

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."

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READ MORE - This Penn Producer Just Sold His Company in a 200 Million Dollar Deal

Love Week: His Unsatiable Flavor of Love

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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READ MORE - Love Week: His Unsatiable Flavor of Love

Mark Cronin (Eng'86) at it again with Gotti's Way: OCTOBER 15

Lately, it seems like I'm posting new stories about the next Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) reality show every week! Well, I guess it's that time again.

Last week I announced these 2 shows...

This week there's:
....a third that's coming out on Monday, October 15!
...and a fourth coming out in 2008!

Mark (pictured left) is the powerhouse of reality TV!

Click here to read more about Mark's 2 new shows

FYI, there's another Penn big wig in the reality TV world as well. Check back in the coming weeks for more about this mover and quaker...

Click here to check out the extended trailer from Mark's new show, Gotti's Way!

From the NationalLedger.com:

"Hip-hop mogul Irv Gotti spent years defending himself on charges that his music company was being used to launder drug money -- years that tore apart not only his business but also his family life. He tells us now he's a changed man since being acquitted in 2005, and he wants people to see he's a good guy. That's why he's done VH1's "Gotti's Way," which premieres Oct. 15. "You got to realize that I never was tried for anything in my life (before)," notes Gotti, who runs The Inc. -- which he tells us will slowly be going back to its original name, Murder Inc., for his rap artists.

'To go in there facing 20 years against the federal government, it was a very enlightening experience. It made me realize who is really with me in life. I don't want to have to go through that again to realize it, but at the same time, it made me open my eyes.'

He notes, "When I was going through it, it stripped me of working because no one would come near me with a 10-foot pole. It put like a cloud over my head, and no one would do business with me. Now that it's over, it's like I'm back in business."

Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at Gotti's business on his reality show, which features his artists Ja Rule, Lloyd and Vanessa Carlton. Cameras also follow him as he juggles his family life and works on his relationship with wife Debbie, from whom he's separated. "I let them shoot everything."

...As for the other show I reference above, VH1 has ordered a second season(!) of the Rock of Love with Bret Michaels to air sometime in early 2008. This show seemed to do very well in the ratings.

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READ MORE - Mark Cronin (Eng'86) at it again with Gotti's Way: OCTOBER 15

Reality is good to this Penn Alum...

Another season, another 2(!) Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) VH1 Celebreality shows! (one previously covered here)

America loves to watch crazy and you'll find some of that in New York....aka Tiffany Pollard, the contestant who has been dumped twice on Mark's past shows Flavor of Love and I New York.

This time, in the upcoming I Love New York 2, from the press release, "A freshcrop of twenty men will compete for her heart and this time the selection process has a twist….some of the chosen contestants have been hand-pickedby online users and some have been chosen by Tiffany’s outspoken mother,Sister Patterson. Will the viewers’ choices for Tiffany be her perfectmatch or does mother know best?"

As with all reality shows, it's all about the casting. Click here to get a sneek peek at what promises to be another compelling season of VH1 reality!

Tune in to "I Love New York 2 Casting Preview″ running on October 3, 1:30 am (set your Tivos and also check your local listsings) and then catch the first episode on Monday, October 8 at 9:00 PM.

Click to check out Mark's past reality shows

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Mark Cronin (Eng'86) brings "Himbos" and "Bimbos" to TV on October 9!

What do you get when you mix America’s Next Top Model and Beauty and the Geek?

You get Mark Cronin's (Eng '86, Mask and Wig) new VH1's celebreality show, America’s Most Smartest Model series to debut October 7, 9 pm ET/PT.

Per realityrumors.com: "The 14 contestants competing on America’s Most Smartest Model will consist of seven men and seven women. During each installment of the 10-episode series, the “himbos” and “bimbos” will have to pass a series challenges designed to test both their brains and beauty.

Only one will claim the show’s $100,000 grand prize as well as the grammatically incorrect title of “America’s Most Smartest Model.”

Fashion expert Mary Alice Stephenson and comedian Ben Stein will serve as hosts for America’s Most Smartest Model, which was one of several new reality shows VH1 ordered in June to help the network expand to a third night of original programming."

Click to see my other posts about Mark Cronin

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Mark Cronin's (Eng'86) Rock of Love debuts this Sunday night!

Tune in this Sunday, July 15 when Mark Cronin's (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) Rock of Love with Bret Michaels follows the lead singer of rock band Poison as he chooses a wife from a group of 25 young ("15 minutes of fame" craving) women. Check your local listings.

Click here to see a commercial for Rock of Love!

Click here to catch up on all of Mark's great "celebreality" shows

READ MORE - Mark Cronin's (Eng'86) Rock of Love debuts this Sunday night!

What happens when you combine beauty with smarts on TV?

...You're going to find out in late 2007 when Penn Alum Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) debuts his next VH1 celebreality show!

On the heels of reporting last week about Mark Cronin's Rock of Love show, VH1 announced today that it will debut another one of Mark's shows: America's Most Smartest Model.

Add this notch to Mark's belt of other VH1 show successes including My Fair Brady, The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love, and Charm School to name a few.

READ MORE - What happens when you combine beauty with smarts on TV?

Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) brings Rock of Love to VH1

Penn Alum Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) has come up with another great VH1 celebreality show!

From vh1.com:
"This summer Poison's Bret Michaels will get his Flav on as the ladies pictured above vie for his attention in the Celebreality elimination-based dating show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.

"We knew women vying to date a rock star would make great entertainment but Bret brought outrageousness and excitement to the show that exceeded our wildest expectations,” said show executive producers Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego. “From motorbike wrecks to Vegas rock concerts, it’s a show where you can’t miss a single moment.”

Tune in on July 15 at 9/8 c on VH1!

READ MORE - Mark Cronin (Eng'86, Mask and Wig) brings Rock of Love to VH1