Emerson Barth, he of campus lore, has (to, ok, no one’s surprise) popped up on reality television. The most fabulous Ego of the Week in recent memory can be seen briefly in a season 2 episode of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City. We are having trouble embedding the video, but check it out here (Emerson appears about two minutes in), and check out our screencap below. Congrats, Emerson, we’re sure this is the first of many, many Bravo appearances to come in your future. For now, though, we have a few questions: How does he know so many famous people? Who’s that guy he’s leaning on? And does he mind being reduced to an illustration to go along with housewife Kelly’s ridiculous voiceover (“I’m exposed to so many men all the time. Businessmen, gay men…”)?
That’s Emerson with the drink in his hand. Any more tips? Send ‘em here.
Lost kicked off its new season last Wednesday, leaving fans throughout campus disoriented, befuddled and disheartened. If you have a roommate who would judge you for lying in bed all day watching Lost online, missed the recap, or feel like it’s been gone for so long that your memories of it are black-out-esque, there’s still hope for enjoying Season 5.
Brooklyn’s own Previously on Lost is a band devoted entirely to summarizing episodes. Sure, you’re feeling like a diehard fan because Lostpedia is your homepage and you got a vanity license plate with the numbers, but you have nothing on these guys. Check out the “Ballad of Sayid Jarrah”, “The Island Won’t Let You Die”, and more, at their MySpace page.
It’s the beginning of the semester, so you have no work. It’s colder than your date on prom night, so you don’t want to go outside. What do you do with all this free time and nowhere to take it? Well, why don’t you just get LOST… the TV show, that is!
If you’re a true fan, you’re caught up and ready to go for the fifth season premiere tonight. But if you’ve been hesitant on jumping into the mind-twisting, gut-wrenching, time-travelling drama, then ABC has made it so simple for you. Either you can watch the recap episode tonight at 8, followed by the premiere at 9, or you can watch the entire series on ABC.com and pick up with the fifth season when you’re ready. Just so you know, people will judge you if you only do the former.
To whet your appetite, here’s a little treat from this summer’s Comic Con: a secret video from our favorite scientist who always manages to leave out key pieces of information, Dr. Marvin Candle! Based only on this video, this season is going to be a doozy:
Beyonce is the new Obama, in that every other UTB post is about her now. We hope you’re pleased with this development.
Remember that time I was concerned that SNL would lose it’s edge after the election? Well, I’m wondering if Lorne Michaels reads this blog, because on Saturday, the show broke out the big guns.
If the election spam or the pesky voter-registration people weren’t reason enough, I have now found one more reason I can’t wait for Election Day 2008 to be over.
It looks like you can expect to see Senator McCain on Saturday Night Live tomorrow night. Granted, though it pains me to say it, McCain was actually fairly humorous back in May. His delivery was great, and he can certainly make appropriate fun of himself. But whether I’m laughing with them (Hillary in March) or at them (Palin two weeks ago), I’m tired of all of these politicians appearing on SNL. I agree that Meet the Press isn’t the same without Tim Russert, but Seth Meyers is hardly an able substitute. And if you want to appeal to voters, you should be discussing what you’re going to do to change our economy, not trying to make us laugh about your age (or, funnier still, your poor selection of a Vice Presidential candidate).
Regardless of what we want, McCain will be on SNL (we’re hoping alongside Tina Fey’s Palin) tonight at 11:30. In case you missed his last appearance, we’ve got clips after the jump.
Penn’s Ivy cousin Cornell gets namedropped left and right on The Office, but because this blog is called Under The Button (as opposed to “Inside The Gorge” or something Ithaca-y like that), it doesn’t usually warrant a post. On Thursday night’s episode, however, Penn finally got a mention! And it wasn’t a lame joke at Penn’s expense, as many Penn pop cultural references tend to be, so double hooray!
So here’s the backstory: Andy (Ed Helms) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) are bitter rivals: both of them really want to be the boss’s pet and they also share a bizarre ardor for Angela, the uptight accountant. Andy’s main bragging right is the fact that he went to Cornell, which he mentions as frequently as possible. One day a fed-up Dwight comes into the office clad in a Cornell sweatshirt–Andy is pissed that Dwight’s mocking the “sacred colors,” but Dwight says it’s ok, because he’s actually applying to Cornell. Later in the break room, Dwight asks a fuming Andy, “So, how do you think we’re gonna do against Penn this year?” We loved that Penn got mentioned, and we especially loved how well-placed it was–as a Scrantonite, Dwight would definitely be familiar with Penn, the closest Ivy.
Check out the scene, which comes about six minutes into the episode:
Edit: Ahem. A pedantic reader writes in to set the record straight: “actually, cornell is the closet ivy to scranton. followed by princeton. columbia and penn are exactly tied for third place at 126 miles from scranton. check it on google maps.”
Speaking of things that we’re over, on last night’s Gossip Girl, Blair spoke a truth that should ring out all down Locust Walk. Watch 5:16-5:46 for the very serious public service announcement, “Tights are not pants.”
So I, like some of you, watched Governor Sarah Palin’s two appearances on Saturday Night Live. And even though I might not be a fan of her political stances, I have to say, it wasn’t quite the disaster I’d expected.
In fact, Governor Palin showed herself to have quite a good sense of humor. Granted, the opening sketch was fairly sub-par, especially once Palin came on the screen, but it showed that the Governor at least knows how to laugh at herself.
And as for as that second sketch, let me first say that I never want to see a political figure dance on a late-night comedy show again. Also, I’m starting to wonder if we could solve all our world problems if our presidents and senators would just bust a rhyme in the middle of negotiations. I’d love to see Ahmadinejad throw it down to a beat.
The vice presidential candidate’s two appearances are after the jump.
We missed this week’s episode of Gossip Girl (do you have it on your TiVo? Call us!), but blogger Carlin Adelson watched it, and she has a few bones to pick. Herewith, a thesis on GG’s recent suckitude.
10. Josh Schwartz can’t carry a storyline–-or keep the suspense–-for two episodes. And I take Adderall.
9. The only one we’ve seen topless this season is the scrawny, whiny one. No distinction necessary.
8. The writing isn’t as sharp, thus relying on the cast’s physical humor.
7. There isn’t any.
6. Maybe it was their summer off, but the vast majority of the cast can’t act.
5. With Kati gone, Isabel looks racially imbalanced.
4. The clothes, though still adorable, can be found on shopbop.com and Intermixonline–bad for stylists’ reputation, great for us (plus Vanessa, the poor one, was wearing a Marc by Marc top at the coffee shop where she works instead of going to high school–-explain?!)
On Saturday, Kate Walsh spoke at a PennDems meeting to inspire students to get involved in the election, both as voters and as volunteers in the Obama campaign. In the clip below, Walsh interrupts her comments on the campaign issues to… forget her train of thought. But she overcomes her jet lag to talk about student loans and healthcare:
Click here to hear Walsh explain how her mother got involved in the Obama campaign (it involves a snazzy hat) and here if you’re curious about what Obama said the first time he met Walsh.
It’s probably safe to assume that the average Penn student isn’t watching Saturday Night Live–and given the show’s lackluster quality, I’m not sure why I was watching either. So unless you were huddled in your room eating Raisinets (guilty!), you missed Tina Fey’s triumphant return to the show that made her a star. Not only do Fey and Palin look exactly alike, but the famous comedienne captured Palin’s mannerisms perfectly. And of course, once you stop considering which of the two is more qualified to be the Vice President, you can also catch some brilliant commentary on the election.
Allow me an imperfect analogy. Barack Obama is to Meredith Grey as Hillary Clinton is to Addison Montgomery. Sure, people are talking about the upcoming election against McCain (Rose the wide-mouthed nurse, in this case), but everyone still remembers the epic battle during the Democratic primaries (the second and third seasons of Grey’s Anatomy). And, like the gracious loser she is, Hillary has offered her support to Obama in his bid for the presidency, though she clearly remains a bit peeved. Similarly, in this clip (cut to 2:18), Addison threatens to kick Meredith’s ass for letting Derek get away. Yes, McDreamy is the presidency in this analogy. Like I said, imperfect.
Anyway, today at 6 p.m., Kate Walsh (aka Addison Montgomery of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice) will be in the Class of ‘49 Auditorium on the second floor of Houston Hall. Walsh, an avid Obama supporter, will be talking about why she supports Obama so avidly. Perhaps she will also be able to weigh in on another epic battle: David Sutcliffe versus Tim Daly on Private Practice.
The second season of Private Practice premieres Wed., Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. on ABC. The 2008 presidential election will be on Tues., Nov. 4.
If you go to Wynn Commons tonight between 6 and 9 p.m. you will have the opportunity to take part in the most glorious event to come to campus since Robert Redford screened Lions for Lambs here last year and somehow ended up calling Penn “a sexy school.”
That’s because this Friday, Penn will play host to the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia game show! That’s right, the FX comedy about racism, sex offenders, jingoism, drinking, serial killers, and so many other wondrous topics has a trivia game. If you know a lot about the Gang, like the lyrics to “Day Man” or Sweet Dee’s nickname in high school, this is your chance to use that knowledge to win DVDs, Sunny T-shirts, and maybe even a golden trophy in the shape of a dumpster baby.
And even if you have no idea what a dumpster baby is, they’ll be giving out stuff for free, too. To all those who took free notebooks from Houston even though you totally already went to the bookstore, I’m looking at you.
The fourth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia premieres Thursday, Sept. 18, at 10 p.m. on FX. Here’s a collection of commercials to give you an idea of what will happen:
Television correspondent Emily Lasky writes in to voice her opinion on one of Penn’s most pressing issues.
Tina and Amy (not Poehler)
For many of us (or at least a quarter), this is our final year at Penn. And though it is only September, thoughts already turn to graduation in May. But who would be the best person to give us that send-off at graduation, to encourage us and prepare us for the real world? More importantly, who will entertain us after we have been sitting around in our caps and gowns for who knows how long? Two words: Tina. Fey.
She’s won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award for 30 Rock, so she’s good at her job. She’s also a Peabody Award winner, which is the fanciest, schmanciest award out there for entertainment. In other words, she’s respected in her field.
10. Josh Schwartz can’t carry a storyline–-or keep the suspense–-for two episodes. And I take Adderall.
