Wharton Family fired up for a new "celebrity" season

Photo from nbc.com

Did you catch The Celebrity Apprentice last night?

Wharton alumni Donald Trump (W'68), Ivanka Trump (W'04), and Don Trump Jr. (W'00) are back for a seventh season (Thursdays, 9pm NBC) with a whole new twist where celebrities play to earn money for their charities.

Having been a fan of the show and a former web producer for the Yahoo! Apprentice site, I've got to say from what I can tell, this season is pretty good. Mostly because of the personalities of the attention seeking Omarosa, the somewhat cocky Piers Morgan and the crass Gene Simmons. The best part of the show so far is watching Trump and these "celebrities" (and I'll use that term loosely) interact. While these celebrities will be playing for charity, it will be interesting to see how the season pans out when the stakes to become the winner aren't as personally high to these celebrities as compared to past season's candidates. Also, I do think the show works better back in New York. What do you think?

Watch Trump explaining the business of doing favors

Click here to check out how this season will be a different Apprentice

Per NBC.com, The Celebrity Apprentice has a whole new slant this season:
"Contestants will not be vying for a job with Donald Trump, but the business-savvy celebrity contestants will be working towards a greater goal -- as they raise over a million dollars for their various charities throughout the season. Not only will the final winner be crowned the first 'Celebrity Apprentice,' but he or she will also have the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to their designated charity.

All 14 celebrities will be competing in business-driven tasks around New York City, using their fame along with their proven business acumen to win challenges, while ultimately raising money and awareness for their respective causes.

Just as in the regular "Apprentice," the celebrities will be subjected to long hours, grueling mental challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny -- all without the help of their regular support system of agents, managers, and personal assistants.

Certain tasks encourage the contestants to reach out to their network of celebrity contacts for assistance or donations -- making for entertaining surprise visits by some of the world's biggest stars along the way.

All of the tasks will be judged by Trump and his advisors in the boardroom. Returning back to the boardroom are Trump's children (and colleagues) Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., alongside longtime Trump Organization employee and "Apprentice" advisor George Ross. In a new twist, the boardroom will feature a "rotating seat," allowing a variety of famous business leaders and industry legends to join Trump in spirited judgment on tasks for the first time in the series."

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This freshman really hates finals

Before we dive into a new year of some exciting alumni and undergrad news (and I've got a ton of it coming soon), some more class projects recently have come to my attention worth noting.

As we can all attest, at one point or another, finals have gotten the best of all of us.

Having experienced his first semester of finals, freshman Ben Grinberg (C'11) thinks the desire for success during finals turns all of us into animals.

See what I mean and check out his class project video for Video I!

Watch Ben's interpretation of some of the animals you'll find in Penn's library
(this is great!)

Starring:
Allison Karic (C'09) -- Turtle
John Vilanova (C'09) -- Rhino
Genna Erlikhman (C'09) -- Ape
Ben Grinberg (C'11) -- Writer/Director/Guy
Jenny Birnkrant (C'10) -- Cat
Megan Reilly (C'10) -- Ostrich
with voice overs by Sean Kelly (C'11)

Click here to check out other class video projects!

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2007: Reflecting with my Penn

It's not often I pick up my personal pen about Penn. After the most surprising first year as editor/creator of DuelingTampons.com, I must thank you before hopping a flight to London to celebrate not just my birthday and the new year.. but the biggest gift of the year - DT turning 1 year old. As I sip a glass of champagne at 35,000 feet, I will be toasting you.

DuelingTampons' popularity caught the attention of the DP. Both Alumni Weekend and Homecoming Weekend came alive as DT had cameras rolling and brought you exclusive video coverage.

You might think Wharton's Donald Trump (W'68) got all of this year's glory as I tracked the who's who of Penn. Turns out alum Elizabeth Banks (C'96) ranks at the top of the DT's most famous Penn clicks. That came as a little surprise to the Hollywood actress/Penn superstar when I sat down to dinner answering questions about DT to friends.

Famous and infamous words flew out of the mouths of undergrads like Jessica Gold Haralson (C'08) when Playboy picked her out of the Penn crowd having come across her controversial smart-sex magazine. Jessica was quoted in Playboy's September issue talking all about how in her own words "porn is awesome".

DuelingTampons has become a habitual networking source for all things Penn. Over the course of this year, DT posted 400+ stories unique to the Penn community, 600+ videos, 300+ photos, and 400+ message board posts. The number of undergrads and alumni checking out the site on a daily basis has grown into the thousands from what originally started as a hobby and now has become a love of mine. I'm committed to DT's momentum continuing as the ongoing source to keep the Penn community connected.

In the new year, expect to feel more networked to Penn than ever. More emerging talent in film and music are on the radar. More business success stories are emerging from Wharton. More videos and photos from the past and present keep hitting the DT mailbox. It's proof that it really does matter who you know - especially when you share the Penn experience.

If you haven't done so already, please click here to add the DuelingTampons widget to your facebook profile. This will help to increase awareness of our creative community to other Quakers.

Make your hopes and dreams walk the walk in 2008. And know that I am very grateful for you being a big part of DT's success.

Best,




Matt Rosler (C'96)
editor/creator
DuelingTampons.com

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Some 2007 Highlights:

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POSTS:

+ This was the year for the Penn documentary filmmakers!

+ Alumni working all over TV!

+ Penn musicians making news

+ Talented undergrads in the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 classes.
Puneet Singh's (W'08) appears on the Colbert Report
Filmmaker Brian Canavan's (C'10) jawdropping Light Graffiti video
Musician Andrew Dudum's (C'11) signed to a record label

+ Some Rising alumni stars:
Musician Gabriel Mann (C’95) on Oscars, music on TV shows, launches new album
Actor Roy Vongtama (C'96) appears in major TV and film
Actress Elizabeth Banks (C’96) in a a media storm this year!
Singer Ananda Sen (C'98) debuts one new song a week for 52 weeks
Stand-up Aaron Karo (W'01) debuts his comedy via video on the web!
Mask and Wig alumni form new troupe producing hysterical videos

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VIDEOS:

+ Reunion Weekend 2007 (45+ videos) and Homecoming Weekend 2007

+ Mask and Wig performs in Los Angeles (15+ videos)

+ Pennfest 2007 features Broadway and KROQ stars

+ Alumni featured in Film, TV, Stage, and Literary

+ Penn Musicians: live performances

+ Acapella Madness

+ Very creative class Projects

+ Compelling freshmen election videos

+ Vicarious walk down Locust Walk and into the Quad

OTHER VIDEO CATEGORIES: Recently Uploaded, Los Angeles Penn Events, Performing Arts, Around Campus, Spring Flings, Hey Day, Graduation, Sports, Pennfest: Emerging Penn Talent, Penn Relays, Misc: Humorous/Tips

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PHOTOS:

+ 5 years of Pennfest programs and photos

+ On campus construction through the years (oh how things have changed!)

+ Penn actors: Headshot Hotties

+ Freshmen dorm rooms!

+ Penn musician photo gallery

+ Penn Memoribilia from years past

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MESSAGE BOARDS:

+ Stories about how alumni got their starts after college
(great for those thinking of a career in entertainment)

+ Los Angeles job posts

+ New York job posts

+ Alumni Quotes

+ Alumni promoting their businesses

+ Upcoming Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia events

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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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Penn alumni make millions on holiday song

What better way to celebrate Christmas day than to give you some Penn alumni Christmas related entertainment news?

While Ray Evans (W'36, Mask and Wig) and his songwriting partner Jay Livingston (C'37) wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals, TV and films (including the Mr. Ed theme song), they were probably best known for writing "Silver Bells".

Who knew that this classic was written by 2 Penn alumni?! ..Now you do.

Click here to read about how much money "Silver Bells" has brought them annually, and how long they'll be collecting royalties!
All I'll say is ca-ching!

Click here to watch a special performance of "Silver Bells" (with Penn composer Ray Evans on stage)

Click here to watch a Ray Evans interview where he talks about writing "Mr Ed"

Happy Holidays everyone!
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Roy gets in "the Bucket"

This Tuesday (12/25) Roy Vongtama (C'96) will be featured as "Dr. Yang" alongside Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List. (this film comes out in major markets December 25th and then nationwide on January 11th. Click here for the synopsis.)

This real life doctor's acting career is getting hotter and hotter by the week!

On another Roy Vongtama note, be sure set your tivos because Roy will be appearing on a show called "Hot Guys Who Cook" on the Style Network on January 2, 9:30 pm. He tells me he cooks and does some yoga. Oh, this is going to be fun...

Watch Roy on the red carpet from the film premiere and find out what's on Roy's bucket list! (minute 1:36)

Click here to read my past posts about Roy!

Have you checked out our Headshot hotties?
(more and more of our undergrad and alumni performers have been uploading new headshots!)

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Click to see what other 1996 Penn grads are up to

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From the official Warner Brothers site, here is the film's synopsis:
"Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (JACK NICHOLSON) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (MORGAN FREEMAN) are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover that they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do before they "kick the bucket" and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor. Each adventure adds another check to their list."

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TV Alert (Thursday/tonight! 8 pm): Penn on "Clash of the Choirs"

Did you know that Penn's Abramson Cancer Center has been part of this week's NBC reality show "Clash of the Choirs"?

Per the Abramson Cancer Center site, "Philadelphia fixture and favorite Patti LaBelle is leading the Philly choir. Ms. LaBelle has been deeply affected by breast cancer in her family, and one of her long-time friends was also a patient at the Abramson Cancer Center . If Ms. LaBelle and her Philly Choir win the competition, she has chosen the Abramson Cancer Center and our With Our Voices program to receive the prize money.

Unfortunately, because I got this notice too late (and I decided to take a break from TV this week..sorry!), voting is now over and tonight is the finale. Let's all cheer for Patti's team!

Click here to watch Patti LaBelle with her Philly choir

Click here to learn more about Penn's Abramson Cancer Center and their invovlement in the show

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