OK Folks—so we’re back to another year in
Columbia TV Land! Most of you who
stumble across my blog will be new (or perennially attached to the department)
students. So I’ll offer my typical “starting new here” advice, and then move on
to what we should all REALLY care about—new TV shows! :D
Let’s start with the basics. Food. As a
teacher, let me tell you—we all understand the need for grabbing a bite
in-between classes, or caffeinating yourself on break. BUT—you can’t use this
as an excuse for running late. Dunkin is fast and furious—Panera is healthy,
but slower. Forget the Starbucks unless you know how to tightly control your
arrival/return times. For lunch, more leisurely...My top picks (and there are
often various discounts you can score): Flaco’s Tacos, Hackney’s, Tamarind,
Yolk.
But fair warning:you’re likely to be in the
midst of peers and professors, so watch what you say unless you’re in a
secluded booth that disguises your voice, to boot! :D Also, look for Beaver’s Donuts food
truck—they periodically appear near Wabash and LaSalle and are beyond yummy.
Next. Basic learning tips (especially if you’re
new here...): Take the time to actually meet your teachers. Social media rocks
but for teachers with a slew of students, the best way for us to truly connect
with you is face-to-face, even if only for a 10 minute hello. Hit us up before
advising starts in mid-October, because then we’re swamped with quick meetings
that, while important, are less substantial in terms of getting to know you.
The profs will hate me for telling you this, but those first 5-6 weeks are
“golden time” for you as students to have a session with us that really starts
to cement a long-term relationship. We’re here to help you and genuinely look
to converse with you—take advantage of those “less crazy” weeks we have!
Also—know your departmental team and meet
them. IN TV: Laura Levitt-Gamis is a sweetheart who knows the ins-and-outs of
everything in our department. She is the lovely lady in the main TV Office who
can answer most any question. Eric Scholl is your associate chair this
year—meet him! He handles, well, a mess
of stuff but let’s go with the general tag of “all things students are worried
about.” And please, meet your chair
Michael Niederman. He’s beyond nice and very down-to-earth and as a chair can
only teach so much. So do yourself a favor and meet him before you have a
problem/question/concern—because you really should just actually MEET your
chair.
STAFF: THEY ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS HERE—THEY MAKE THE DEPARTMENT
RUN IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN COUNT, SO PLEASE DON’T DISCOUNT THEM AS “JUST
STAFF” (particularly as many also teach and
create). Internship stuff right now is Niki Hoffman (we’re hiring a new person
soon, as Niki is Queen of all productions at the school, which keeps her pretty
busy...). Want to get involved in making the department run and shine? Find
Christy LeMaster. Aiming for employment in the department? Meet David Greene and Chris West and Tamale
Sepp. Honestly—just walk the 7th/14th floors and pop in
and say hi for 2 minutes (tell them I said it was ok) and then come back when
you need to. (Like to engineer the mechanics of things or interested in the
mobile truck?—hit the 15th floor and look for Dave Mason...My 6
year-old can vouch for his appreciation of a positive “can-do” attitude.)
Some changes for our returning students. I’m NOT associate chairing this year; I am
taking a much-needed break while the amazing Eric Scholl takes over. (Yes—I
still have all my action dolls and DVDs and books but they’re now at 1401-J. I
will also continue to advise and offer guidance on the bigger picture things
you’re facing—but now I’m back-up to Eric as opposed to the frontline. :D) Fawn
Ring, our amazing producing lecturer, has left for truly greener pastures at
the Art Institute. Some of her classes have been taken over by the remarkable
Tyler Kempf. (IF YOU IN ANY WAY GLORY IN SKETCH COMEDY, YOU’LL WANT TO MEET
THIS MAN—YOU CAN FIND HIM ON THE 14TH FLOOR ABOUT A ½ “BLOCK” BEFORE
MY OFFICE.) Our fabulous news guy, Frank Bianco, also is gone to a
well-deserved retirement—just come see me, Eric, or Michael if you’re yearning
to head in the direction of news...
So...Oriented enough? :D Let’s move on the fun of TV—what we’re all
watching/want to watch/are sorry we watched...
There is always too much to enjoy in the
summer. If you know me, you understand I spent (and am still spending) time
watching everything on ABC Family and MTV (scripted). I liked most, am hopeful
for a bunch more...But have had the most fun with Orphan Black (am in utter withdrawal) and Drunk History (just has been brilliant this summer) and now
catching up on You’re the Worst (I cannot begin to explain the “so wrong
funny” of this show...). But, being the TV geek critic I am, I am salivating
over new Fall shows.
So here are just my top “wanna wanna yes
please, more sirs and madams”: (in no particular order)
1)
Veronica Mars spin off Play It
Again Dick (web series 9/15)
2)
Community season 6 on Yahoo
(predicted to start in January)
3)
Gotham (Ben McKenzie)
4)
Red Band Society (so odd it
should work)
5)
Black-ish (this cast rocks)
6)
The Flash
7)
American Horror Story—maybe—I
loved Coven so am sad I won’t see all of that amazing cast or more of that
story
8)
Constantine
9)
Transparent (Amazon)
(side note: still angry Tatiana Maslany
didn’t get nominated even for an Emmy; am also convinced that TPTB hate Andre
Braugher for some mystifying reason...)
A final note on the passing of 2 legendary
comedic talents who have shaped TV (and beyond):
Robin Williams was key not just to the
history of comedy, but also the history of “off-the-wall” comedy on TV. His
turn as Mork on first Happy Days and
then Mork and Mindy signified a major
shift in what TV could accept in the ways of improv and general
nuttiness...What he did for major social issues such as homelessness in the
1980s (let alone how those comedy specials helped cement HBO’s status as
must-have cable long before The Sopranos)
is crucial to much of what we are able to watch now. Do yourself a favor and go
watch a sampling of his TV work—especially the fabulous Comic Relief specials on HBO. His was a tragic passing and as most
of us know, tragedy is the flip side of the comedic genius coin; do him honor
by reviewing his work (and paying maybe just a little extra attention to those
around you who suffer for their art).
Joan Rivers’ passing truly caught me
off-guard as well. She was such a vibrant presence in the world of TV and
comedy and a role model to many—but especially to women seeking to break into
the media and comedy arts. As with Robin Williams, her role in TV’s history is
mighty—from being the “go-to” host on The
Tonight Show, to being banned from it for daring to compete against it
rather than wait a gazillion years. And seriously—Fashion Police is probably the best thing (other than The Soup) on E!—and come to think of it,
there would be no ballsy Chelsea Handler aiming to revolutionize the internet
right now without Joan. We are lucky as a school to have had her visit Columbia
last February—she was charming and acerbic and I’m pretty sure I peed my pants
a little during her “talk.” Find her old stuff—she’s a wonderful inspiration to
both aspiring comics and well, really, those who aspire to anything that others
scoff at.
So on that note of loss, take the advice of
your “elder”: Doors close so that windows may open. As Robin Williams
brilliantly delivered in a fab script—“Carpe Diem”/Seize the Day.
College—especially at Columbia—is what you make of it. Embrace the victories and the defeats as part of the same bundle that
is what leads you to success.
