Basically, it just exists for Newhouse kids to take one maybe two cool classes. I took TRF 345, I don't remember what it was called but we watched "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "The Love Boat". Of course we also watched "St. Elsewhere" his favorite show ever. He told us about the clever puns in the show such as when they'd refer to a patient as "Connie" in one episode, then three episodes later call her "Mrs. Lingus." In one episode, on the hospital PA, 20 or so doctors were paged. Thompson couldn't understand why they took the time to name all these people and he couldn't understand their relevance. So he called the producer, Bruce Paltrow, who told him those were the names of the kid's in his daughter's (Gwenyth) class at school.
My funniest moment in his class was when he was talking about William Daniels, the main character on St. Elsewhere. He asked if anyone liked Daniels current (at the time) show "Boy Meets World." Of course, I raised my hand, expecting a few other people to join in. He looked right at me and said "only one person, good. He's being absolutely wasted on that show." William Daniels also was the voice of KIT.
His first class of every course is basically proving why he and the program exist. Television is a study of our society, what we watch is a reflection of what we are. And he's right. And he's a really smart guy and he loves to talk and I once got two points back on a test during a discussion with him during his office hours. We chatted for about 15 minutes. I think I got the two points for being a good audience more than because I was correct in my argument.
As the only program of it's kind Thompson is interviewed thousands of times on TV and for print articles about television.
The AP did a nice article on him, which I won't post here because it's long, but I encourage all of you to read it, even those of you who went to stodgy Ivy League schools whose professors are only interviewed about boring shit like nuclear physics and advanced molecular theory.
I know Josh took one of his classes, SCZA probably did, Greco must have taken every course at SU in his 12 years there, anyone else want to share fond memories of Professor Thompson?
He definitely loved St. Elsewhere. We studied that show for weeks. Also the Mary Tyler Moore Show Effect and how it basically contributed to every show on TV in the 80's and early 90's.
ReplyDeleteIn his first class he was talking about how he was friends with Dick Wolf, creator of Law & Order. Then he showed a clip of the show where Lenny Briscoe (RIP - Nobody will every put Baby in a corner again.) wakes up a street bum to find out if he saw anything and when Lenny asked the bum what his name was he said "Bob Thompson".
That was probably my favorite class in four years at Syracuse.
Also when talking about St. Elsewhere, he showed a clip of the doctor doing dictation in his office. His secretary brought in roses and tulips that were delivered. He said to "Put the roses on the table and the tulips on my organ." Classic.
ReplyDeleteHe was actually doing dictation about his patient Constance, of the Lingus family.
I took the very first class ever offered by the "Center," History of Prime Time Television. I will never forget it because he kicked it off with a montage of shows starting with his other favorite show, Hill Street Blues, then Twin Peaks, The X-Files, and it ended with the scene from OZ where Beecher bites the Aryan's dick off. You don't forget shit like that. The sorority girls were stunned.
ReplyDeleteAw, man! I would have killed for classes like that!
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