Tag Archives: tv

EVENT
Info Session for Writing for Television II

writing for tvFrom Professor Amy Bloom:

Have you already written a screenplay? A TV script? A webseries? Are you ready to go deeper /better/smarter/odder with your next script? Do you know something about character and dialogue? Are you looking to develop a calling card for the industry, for entry into a writing room, an agency, the network waiting room or your scrapbook? Can you take criticism and make use of it? Can you offer feedback to other writers? Do you understand the difference between a movie and a TV show/ a sketch and a TV show/a play and a TV show? Would you like to write a show unlike any other?

Come learn more about Advanced Writing for Television, taught by Amy Bloom in spring 2016. Professor Bloom and TA Max Friedrich will answer questions about the class and applications process, and snacks will be provided!

Date: Tuesday, November 3
Time: 5-6 PM
Place: Shapiro Creative Writing Center
Facebook event

EVENT
WATCH Presents: As Seen On TV

2000px-As_seen_on_TV.svgMAKE YOUR OWN EPISODE OF TV

Have you ever thought that ending of LOST was the worst? Like, “I can do better than that” worst? And they killed the mother! Wait, nevermind. Anyway, here’s your shot! Starting this semester, alternative theatre group WATCH is hosting an event where students have the chance to write, act in, or direct an original episode of their favorite TV show. Students will submit scripts of an episode of a TV show, and then work with a writer’s room where interested parties will help design the program. Directors will have one week to stage one of the scripts. And finally, the episodes are brought to life in front of an audience!

Dates: Submission for writers is Nov. 6th and actors/directors will be needed in subsequent weeks (stay tuned!)

Contact us at: emaskin[at]wesleyan[dot]edu

Submission Deadline: Friday, November 6

FEATURED
Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02 TV Show Debuts Tonight

In other news, he never stops killin’ it.

LMM Do no harm

Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, rapper-slash-playwright-slash-romantic-slash-flash-mob-connoisseur…turned-actor, is debuting tonight in a recurring role on NBC’s Do No Harm, a modern take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  No word yet on whether Wishbone will be making a guest appearance in the show.  The show will air on NBC at 10pm.

Miranda, whose returns to campus have been widely documented, is a guest star on the new NBC show after guest appearances on House and Modern Family.  Miranda has been unusually inactive about his return to television on Twitter, but did drop this tidbit for “Twitterico:”

I can only assume that he’s relying on his faithful following at his alma mater’s blog to promote the event.  Don’t worry, LMM, I got yo back.

FEATURED
Whedon ’87 Declared Commencement Speaker; Fans Collapse in Panting Heap of Euphoria

“Joss Whedon is our commencement speaker! Was so excited when I got the email that I had to stop using the elliptical for a few minutes.”

In a move strategically maneuvered to collapse Wesleyan’s entire Whedonite community in a salivating heap of shock, joy, and euphoric paralysis, President Roth has announced that screenwriter, filmmaker, Buffy creator, Avengers director, ironic Romney supporter, and Wesleyan alumnus Joss Whedon ’87 will deliver the commencement address for the Class of 2013. The news has delighted everyone from Argus Executive Editor Max Brivic ’13, who tweeted that he was “so excited when I got the email that I had to stop using the elliptical for a few minutes,” to Assistant Director of ResLife Stacey Phelps, who expressed something closely resembling excitement on Twitter and fittingly utilized used the hashtag “#yay.” Other reactions in the digital sphere ranged from “I’m going to die” to “#forgetobama” to my personal favorite, “Whatever, still pulling for Bill Nye.” Even members of the dearly departed Class of 2012 are seething with jealousy.

I’ve only been at Wesleyan since 2009, but I think it’s fair to call this the most unanimously excitement-inducing commencement speaker since Barack Obama was tapped to replace Ted Kennedy at Commencement 2008. (Then again, I’m not sure 69,498,516 popular votes can really compare with what I’ve seen of the salivating Cult of Whedonites.) According to President Roth’s email, honorary degrees will be additionally presented to environmental and social justice activist leader Majora Carter ’88 and former Chair of the Board of Trustees Jim Dresser ’63 (yes, the guy that the diamond was named after). You will likely be too busy squealing to hear this take place.

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FEATURED
Brown Student Tells NBC 10 Hurricane Isn’t Real

“I mean, think about it, the earth rotates very quickly…”

As recovery efforts continue in Sandy’s wake, here’s something to lighten the mood: a Brown student who has finally realized the truth about the government conspiracy we’ve been calling Hurricane Sandy.

Meet “Daniel,” identified as a student at Brown University. In one of the noblest trolling endeavors since the Wesleyan Class of 2005 hijacked the Class of 2000’s Twitter account, Daniel was interviewed on NBC 10 and bravely expressed skepticism over the hurricane’s existence. “I mean, I don’t really believe that there’s a hurricane,” he tells the reporter in an amazing video clip that has made the rounds on New York Mag and Buzzfeed. “I know the government wants us to think that. But, I mean, think about it—the earth rotates very quickly.”

When the reporter impatiently interjects to ask whether or not class is cancelled at Brown, Daniel replies: “Well, the government definitely wants you to think classes have been cancelled. I’m not so sure.”

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FEATURED
’90s Need-Blind TV Footage Surfaces

A few months ago, before the explosion of discussion regarding Wesleyan’s need-blind policy, I posted an interview with Ben Foss ’95 about financial aid-related student activism in 1991 and 1992. Specifically, Foss took leadership in a group calling itself SFAE (Students for Financially Accessible Education), which organized a series of protests against a proposal that would take into account financial need when accepting students from the wait list. What began as a silent vigil and muted protest in 1991 erupted into a full-scale North College occupation in 1992.

In that interview, Foss described significant news coverage of the protests, including “a loud verbal argument with [former dean of admission and financial aid] Barbara-Jan Wilson on the steps of North College in front of TV cameras.” Naturally, I scourged the internets for that footage. Naturally, I came up empty. As far as I could tell, it was lost forever.

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Thomas, Bays ’97 to give birth to new show

There are more appropriate pictures for this post. But there are none more legendary than this.

Jessica Jordan ’13, one of the two brave souls who spent freshmen year giving How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays ’97 and Craig Thomas ’97 attentions, sent in the following tip yesterday that might well titillate the knees of HIMYM fans:

Carter Bays just tweeted a couple of hours ago that Fox picked up a pilot by the HIMYM creators. When I interviewed Bays a couple of years ago he mentioned that they had just got done finishing up a pilot they wanted to pitch. I have no idea if this is the same one or not, but it’s awesome to know they’ll still be writing for TV in the coming years, especially since it is speculated that HIMYM will end May of 2013.

The show is called Goodwin Games, and it is said to revolve around three siblings who reconnect after the death of their father. Ugly Betty alum Becki Newton is set to be on board. Click here for source info.

I don’t know about you, but man – I am ready for HIMYM to wrap up. I remember watching and wishing for the mother since high school, dammit. HIGH SCHOOL. Do you know old that makes me feel? Curse you ThomBays. Curse your souls.

My Dinner With Michael: Roth Chills Hard With HIMYM’s Bays, Thomas ’97

During my freshman year, it took Argus writers Jessica Jordan ’13 and Jiovani Robles ’13 approximately eight months to score an interview with revered How I Met Your Mother co-creators Carter Bays ’97 and Craig Thomas ’97. We would know, too: they maintained a prolific diary–turned–Argus–column recording their desperate efforts to contact the duo. They dug up old yearbook photos and Ampersand pieces, invented imaginary awards, even wrote a one-act play based on their quest. (For more of Bays’ bizarre Ampersand material, check this apology to the Wesleyan community and editorial farewell.) When they finally published an interview, they were no longer freshmen.

Supreme leader Michael Roth ’78, on the other hand, seems to have gotten lucky on his first try.

Above, via Wesconnect, check out clips from a conversation between MRoth and the Bays/Thomas duo at a nifty-looking alumni get-together at the Paley Center for Media in L.A.

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Margolin ’11, Smolen ’10 Start Sketch Comedy Group

“I thought I was gonna be the Wookie.”

Why get a job after graduation when you can just start a sketch comedy group and spend your days filming snappy shorts about vengeful carpentry customers and awkward first dates?

Josh Margolin ’11, a Gag Reflex alumnus who probably isn’t the biggest stranger to sketch comedy (see: “Laugh Track,” “Enrolled”), has done just that by launching The Skinny Goodmans, an LA-based sketch comedy group formed with Benjamin Smolen ’10 and some other dude who didn’t go to Wesleyan and therefore hardly warrants being mentioned by name (fine, it’s William). You can check out the group’s recent YouTube creations here, of which my favorite is “Harrison Ford Carpentry” (above), a rather brooding meditation on carpentry, loneliness, and a remorseful Harrison Ford. Click here for the Goodmans’ fan page, and scroll on for Margolin’s pitch (and a few other sample vids).

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30 Rock Still <3s Wesleyan

As usual, prime time TV can’t get enough of Wes. According to an anonymous tip, last night’s 30 Rock gave a particularly memorable shout-out:

Liz’s new hot-dog-truck-owning boyfriend went to Wesleyan. Anyone know why NBC likes us so much?

The dialogue in question, from a bit of internet sleuthing, seems to be:

  • I didn’t want him to make fun of you because you went to Wesleyan.
  • Wesleyan is the Harvard of central Connecticut.
  • No, Yale is the Harvard of central Connecticut.

Back in 2009, the show revealed that Dot Com is a Wesleyan alumnus—and honed his acting skills on “Wesleyan Arts Base Main Stage,” whatever that is. Anyone have a video clip of yesterday’s shout-out? [HERE’S THE LINK, SEE 1:50.]

[In other random Wes-media news, Bill Belichick totally notices your Wesleyan sweatshirt, and he likes it. Go Patriots Wes.]

Editorial addition [11.13 AM]:

Good god, Lemon!

– frostedmoose