NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 3
Monday, january 30, 2012
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NYC rent expected to climb this year
NYU prof. writes music through science By Nicola Pring
By Kristine Itliong
When NYU psychology professor Gary Marcus was a child, he loved music. Marcus, however was not musically gifted. He tried to learn to play the recorder, but struggled to master the simple tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” “I was so bad that my teacher encouraged me to seek my fortunes elsewhere,” he said. Marcus eventually decided to abandon music and pursue a career in science. Three years ago while on sabbatical, his lifelong love of music re-emerged. Inspired by the video game “Guitar Hero,” Marcus picked up a guitar for the first time. At first, nearly every aspect of playing the guitar was difficult for him. Though music theory came naturally, he noted that learning the notes on the guitar’s fret board was demanding of the human memory. “Then there’s an issue of dexter-
If you were planning to live offcampus this year, think again. According to Bond New York, New York City’s largest growing, independently-owned residential brokerage, rent may soon become even more of a monetary burden. Rent is expected to increase from 6 to 10 percent for current tenants and from 8 to 12 percent for new vacancies. On average, overall rent in Manhattan is expected to increase by 8 to 10 percent in 2012. Based on a four-year study of Manhattan’s rental market, Bond released a report predicting a rise in Manhattan rent prices in the coming year. The study drew its data from quarterly patterns in pricing since 2008 using statistics from Bentley, Bond’s proprietary listings database. The report shows Manhattan’s rental market pricing progress from historic lows in 2009, as a
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Madison Todd for WSN
The annual Lunar New Year parade marched through the streets of Chinatown on Sunday afternoon in celebration of the Year of the Dragon.
Violets improve to 15-2 following weekend split at Coles By John Axelrod
David Lin/WSN
Stein had 23 points and recorded 7 blocks in NYU’s loss to Carnegie Mellon.
The NYU men’s basketball team’s five-game winning streak came to a halt Friday as the Violets suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss (70-68) to the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans in front of nearly 2,000 fans at the Coles Sports Center. NYU got off to a sluggish start, struggling defensively as Carnegie Mellon shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half, which featured a 21-5 run by the Tartans. “Carnegie played hard-
er than us,” said head coach Joe Nesci, who became the winningest coach in the program’s history last month. “We were able to make a run at the end of the game, but it was too late.” Co-captain Andy Stein led the way for NYU with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks — one shy of the school record. “Carnegie was the tougher team on Friday,” co-captain Kyle Stockmal said, echoing the sentiments of his coach. “We need to
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Indoor park provides a New York City oasis By Kristina Bogos If Central Park in the frigid weather isn’t for you, cure your winter woes at an indoor park just minutes away from Washington Square Park. The Openhouse Gallery in NoLiTa has converted three and a half of their rooms into Park Here, a 4,500-square-foot indoor park blooming with plush grass, artificial foliage and faux flowers. The space provides refuge for New Yorkers during the harsh winter. Equipped with benches, red-checkered blankets, picnic tables, oversized bean bags and hammocks, Park Here is guaranteed to furnish a comfortable environment
whether you’re planning to study, work or host an afternoon picnic with friends. “An oasis in the middle of a harsh New York City winter sounds like a great idea,” LSP freshman Justin Turlip said. The venue is even equipped with Seasonal Affective Disorder lighting designed to create a serene and therapeutic environment. Soothing sounds of birds chirping and mellow music play in the background. Open from 12 to 8 p.m. daily until Feb. 15, NoLiTa’s pop-up indoor park offers free admission and hosts entertainment and food for families and visitors.
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Washington Square news | monday, january 30, 2012 | nyunews.com
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The Arab Spring and the Iranian TheocracyIranian Iranian writer and activist Fariba Hachtroudi will speak about issues that affected her country last January.
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Prophetic Camel Princess, a camel living in New Jersey’s Popcorn Park Zoo, has correctly picked five of the last six Super Bowl winners. This year, her choice is the New York Giants. Princess has a knack for predicting season games as well. In 2008, she accurately predicted the outcome of 17 games. Before Princess picks the winner, the general zoo manager writes the names of competing teams on each of his hand, holding a graham cracker in both. Princess then picks the winner by eating the cracker out of his hand. — USA Today
Harvard University
Student art group dials world’s longest phone call — The Harvard Crimson
Over a thousand members of the World Mission Society Church of God, proclaiming the second coming of Christ, marched from Union Square on Sunday afternoon.
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nyunews.com | monday, january 30, 2012 | Washington Square news
Neary feeds movie buffs with ‘Dr. Breakfast’ By Eric Benson NYU Tisch graduate Stephen Neary competed at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Neary’s animated film “Dr. Breakfast” was created using only an old laptop and a lightbox during his daily commute from Brooklyn to the Blue Sky Studios in Connecticut. A story about the rejuvenating nature of friendship, the film portrays a breakfast scene that is anything but ordinary. “A man’s soul bursts out of his eyeball,” Neary said. “While the soul flies around eating stuff, two deer dress and bathe the man’s catatonic body.” Neary identifies his roots as an explanation for his odd creativity. “It’s in my guts, I guess,” Neary said. “My dad is a commercial writer and producer, and my mom’s a painter, so genetics might have kept me from becoming anything else.” Neary came to NYU in 2004 from Indiana with little idea of what the school had to offer. “My NYU education was indispensable,” he said. “And inspiring, too. Even as a sophomore, I’d have professors like John Canemaker bringing his newly-
won Oscar to class.” Canemaker, an Academy Award winning filmmaker and the executive director at NYU’s Kanbar Institue of Film & Television, has fond memories of Neary as a student. “[Neary] was, and is, ambitious, imaginative [and] a marvelous visual storyteller and a hard worker who never quit developing his talents,” Canemaker said. “His great sense of humor made him a joy to be around.” Dean Lennert, an NYU professor of animation, said it was clear from the beginning that Neary had a unique imagination. “He soon thereafter demonstrated a very strong professional ethic in that he was someone I could count on for hitting deadlines,” Lennert said. “I’m convinced, based on the volume of work he produced while going to school and also working professionally, that Stephen Neary has the ability to bend time.” Since graduation, Neary has been at Blue Sky and working on side projects in his spare time. Neary said his experience with packed theaters at the Utahbased Sundance festival, which lasted from Jan. 19 until Jan. 29, ran opposite to the solitary expe-
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Neary’s animations are quirky and fun.
rience of creating the film. “I really just made this film for myself, but I’m extremely happy it has something to offer others as well,” he said. “And people laugh at the funny parts, so that’s a relief.” Jon Korn, a shorts programmer at this year’s festival, saw great potential in Neary’s work. “This year we watched over 7,600 short finds and selected only 64 for our program,” said Korn. “‘Dr. Breakfast’ combines a gleeful, anarchic spirit with surprising heart. In addition, the animation is wonderfully elastic and fun.” Eric Benson is deputy university editor. Email him at ebenson@nyunews.com.
Debates continue over wheelchair accessibility in cabs By Feiye Wang
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission announced on Jan. 10 its purchase of 30 new vehicles for their Access-a-Ride operations. The new vehicles, known as MV-1, will each include a wheelchair-accessible ramp; those in need of the vehicle will be able to call 311. Joe Rappaport, representative of the Taxis for All campaign, said MV-1 vehicles will bring a positive difference to the community. “It will change the way that wheelchair-people get around in New York City,” he said. According to NYCTLC spokesman Allan Fromberg, the commission has not implemented these vehicles, though it voted to approve the MV-1 as an authorized wheelchair-accessible model. There will be several of these approved vehicles, he added. In fact, the Nissan NV 200, a prod-
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NYC TLC purchased 30 MV-1 vehicles.
uct of the initiative Taxi of Tomorrow, will begin coming into service in Nov. 2013. But critics of the design decry that the NV200, unlike the MV-1, is not wheelchair-accessible. “[The bill] called for 30,000 for new retail taxis and not a single one would have been accessible,” Rappaport said. But the Commission said claims that the city has violated any civil rights of disabled individuals are false. “We have made more progress in the last few years than has ever been made before,” Fromberg said. “In fact, the 311 Accessible Dispatch system that will be permanently implemented soon is the product, among other things, of a two-year pilot program which yielded numerous lessons learned. Accessibility has always been priority of the Taxi and Limousine Commission.” Earlier this month, Judge George Daniels ordered New York City to provide more wheelchair-friendly vehicles. Although the outcome of the judge’s ruling remains uncertain, Rappaport said he is still optimistic. “We’re hopeful that [the plan] moves quickly,” Rappaport said. “The city should get going and not resist what the court has ordered. At the same time we hope that the judge will resist the attempt from the administration to slow things down.” Feiye Wang is deputy investigative editor. Email her at fwang@nyunews.com.
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Rent expected to increase in NYC result of the financial crisis, to its gradual push toward stability in 2010. In 2011 it surged to record highs, exceeding pre-financial crisis levels. From these trends, Bond concluded that prices would continue to rise in 2012. “We weren’t really surprised [with the results] because we have seen prices rise steadily over the year, so it’s just a continuation of that trend,” Bond agent Noah Freedman said. Bond attributed the rent increase to the job market in New York City and to consumer confidence in one of the most expensive places to reside in the country. “A continued robust job market in Manhattan [fuels] high demand for apartments throughout the city,” Freedman said. “The broad perception among landlords is that more and more people will be coming to the city to work, which will push our already historically low vacancy rates to an even more critical mass.” However, Stern professor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh said this expected rent increase might affect the relationship between not only residents and landlords, but
also employers and employees. “If this trend continues and this kind of rent increase, in fact, materializes, the city should allow for more construction of apartments to keep housing affordable for its residents and employers will have to pay more to keep attracting workers to New York City,” he added. Evelyn Cheng, a CAS sophomore who lives in her own apartment on 1st Avenue, expressed concerns for off-campus students. “An increased rent will probably force me to move farther from campus or commute from Long Island because my family can’t afford it,” Cheng said. Given the continuous trend of increasing prices, now may be the best time to get an apartment, according to Freedman. “My best advice to a prospective tenant is to get an apartment sooner rather than later, if possible,” he said. “[The] longer you wait, the more you will have to pay for your apartment.” Kristine Itliong is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at kitliong@nyunews.com.
OWS holds one-day dialogue
Liam Cotter for WSN
Protesters gathered yesterday for the first-ever Occupy Town Square. By Jessica Schultz Occupy Wall Street held its first Occupy Town Square in Washington Square Park yesterday, the movement’s first in a series of one-day occupations dedicated to educating and updating the public about the movement. “For a few hours a week, these events will recreate the essence of the Zuccotti Park occupation,” said Aaron Bornstein, an NYU graduate student and OWS organizer. “There will be info tables, teach-ins, trainings and political discussions.“ Hundreds gathered for the festivities, which lasted from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Stations were set up around the park for supporters with ideas for T-shirts and signs as well as plans for the future. Discussions held throughout the day focused on inequality, healthcare, student loans and direct democracy.
While many veteran supporters attended the daylong occupation, it was also an opportunity for many first-timers to finally familiarize themselves with the movement. “This is my first time coming to an event,“ Pratt Institute senior Felicia Itri said. “I really wanted to see what it was about because I do very much agree with what they’re doing.” OWS supporter Trevor Ruccione, 22, has attended many of the movement’s previous events. He said he noticed several new faces in attendance and hopes that it will help garner more support in the future. “It’s not a day of protest but a day of occupation so that the movement can get people to see what it is actually about,” Ruccione said. The Town Square ended with OWS’s traditional General Assembly, where supporters were able to voice
their concerns and hopes for the movement. Afterwards, protesters marched up Fifth Avenue from Washington Square Park and Union Square in solidarity for the protesters arrested at the Occupy Oakland movement Saturday night, though their destination was unknown at the time of publication. According to Bornstein, the day’s Washington Square Park events were not directly related to the march and the Town Square’s organizers did not know about it. Organizers plan to have more of these one-day occupations over the next few months in parks and other public spaces across the city. The movement has not yet announced the location or date of the next event. Jessica Schultz is a city/state deputy. Email her at jschultz@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | monday, january 30, 2012 | nyunews.com
features
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‘Guitar Zero’ merges music with science ity for me personally and a big issue of rhythm,” Marcus said. “I had to struggle quite a bit to be able to just play notes in time.” Marcus soon realized that mastering the guitar would be a huge undertaking. “In order to give it the attention it required, I had to really make it a part of my life,” he said. Marcus began researching music cognition to align his interest in music with science. “As a scientist, I wanted to understand music better,” he said. “I didn’t want to just be a passive listener.” During the 2009 fall semester, Marcus began teaching a freshman honors seminar called Guitar Heroes (and Heroines): Music, Video Games and the Nature of Human Cognition for the first time. The course has used “Gui-
tar” Hero to explore music and psychology. “I had been playing guitar for just a very little while when I started teaching the class,” Marcus, who has taught the class three times, said. “I really like teaching music even though it’s something that’s only entered in my life relatively recently.” CAS junior Sofia Pasternack took the class during her freshman year. “Gary challenged us to look at how our brains process music in order to understand how and why it has such an emotional, social and cross-cultural impact,” Pasternack said. Earlier this month, Marcus published his book “Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning.” It details his experience learning to play the
guitar and examines the cognitive science involved in the process. He is currently promoting it on a nationwide book tour. “The response to the book has been overwhelming,” he said. “I’ve been getting wonderful stories from older adult readers who tried to learn [music].” Marcus plans to continue learning to play the guitar, which he believes is a lifelong process. “My intention is to keep practicing long after my book tour is over,” he said. “I used to think it wasn’t possible for me. Now I’ve sort of crossed the threshold. I went from having no rhythm to having some rhythm, and I think that will stick with me.” Nicola Pring is a staff writer.Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Five ways to fight the frost By Katya Barannik As the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, stay warm with these indoor hot spots. 1. Go green: The Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal Greenmarket is open year round and has a wide array of locally grown fruit, vegetables, honeys, pies and pastries. This market is indoors, so you can shop without shivering. Go green while simultaneously supporting New York’s local farmers. Open Tuesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 4 South St.
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2. Test your taste buds: Heat up and challenge yourself by setting your taste buds on fire with Buffalo Cantina’s famously hot Seppuku chicken wings. If you eat 12 wings in under three minutes, your photo is put on the wall of fame and your meal is free. But there’s a twist: these small wings have been called the spiciest in the city. Buffalo Cantina is located at 149 Havermeyer St. between South 1st and 2nd streets in Brooklyn.
3. Sweat it out: Stretch, strengthen and sweat out all your shivers while doing some hot yoga. Performed in a room set at around 100 degrees, stretching through the 26 poses is sure to get your sweat flowing. For a week of unlimited yoga for $20, visit Bikram Yoga Lower East Side at 172 Allen St.
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via Flickr.com
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4. Rejuvenate yourself: Take a day off to relax at a Russian Banya — a bathhouse and steam room. Though it’s a bit pricey for students at $35 per session, the relaxation and heat are worth indulging in every once in a while. After steaming and sweating in the sauna be sure to get a Platza oak leaf massage, which uses a leafy bundle of twigs, or plunge into an icy bath. When you’re done, refuel with Russian food at the spa’s restaurant. East Village Russian and Turkish Baths is located at 268 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A.
5. Pretend you’re on a tropical island: Warmer temperatures await less than an hour away. Adorned with palm trees, rain forests and warm sand, the New York Botanical Garden’s Caribbean Garden is a cozy 75 degrees. Visit the Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road from Tues. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Feb. 26 to experience this winter oasis. Katya Barannik is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Bright indoor park a refuge from dark days of winter
Kristina Bogos/WSN
New Yorkers enjoy Park Here’s warm weather. Enjoy ordering food from popular New York food vendors such as Luke’s Lobster, Filled with Sweets, The Jam Stand, Intoxicating Confections and many more. Come with your laptop for access to the fast and free WiFi. Plenty of tables are available where you can crack open your textbooks. On Jan. 24, Park Here hosted Afternoon Tea at the Park with Tea by Tiffany, an afternoon tea party where visitors indulged in organic teas, biscuits and scones. Upcoming special events include Nerd Nite’s Trivia Night, a four-round, 40question game show on Feb. 2 and an all-day Ping Pong tournament hosted by Puma Social
on Feb. 11. For more laid-back and relaxing activities, sign up to take a yoga or Pilates class. “It would be pretty amazing to go sledding in Central Park and then head to NoLiTa to sit on the lawn and for some studying in the spring air,” Turlip said. “Plus, the free concerts and special events would make a trip to the indoor park more lively and entertaining.” Park Here is located at 201 Mulberry St. between Spring and Kenmare streets. For more information, visit openhousegallery.org. Kristina Bogos is deputy features editor. Email her at kbogos@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | monday, january 30, 2012 | Washington Square news
Sports
edited by Daniel Hinton Sports@nyunews.com
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Carnegie Mellon inches out NYU try and be tougher and better defensively.” This emphasis on defense has been pivotal to NYU’s 15-2 record this season. The Violets rebounded yesterday, however, with an 89-80 victory over Case Western Reserve University. NYU scored the first basket of the game and never looked back, maintaining the lead the rest of the way. “The key today was defense early,” Nesci
ic Association honored Stockmal with the player of the week award for shooting 12 for 14 from beyond the arc in two games last weekend. On Sunday, Stockmal added 13 points, six assists and three steals to his string of strong performances. Three other Violets also scored in double figures. Stein led the team with 25 points, sophomore guard Ryan Tana
“Defense is the key to our team.”
— Head coach Joe Necsi said. The Violets held the Spartans to only 12 points in the first 10 minutes of the game. NYU’s success on offense came from good ball movement. Their unselfish play led to 27 assists, allowing for NYU’s 10 of 16 (62.5 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Three of these threepointers came from Stockmal, who leads the team with 41 threepointers this season. “I was very confident after last weekend, and I shot the ball well this weekend after hard work in practice,” he said. The University Athlet-
scored 13 and junior forward Max Wein contributed 11. NYU’s sole weakness was rebounding, as Case Western grabbed 40 rebounds to the Violets’ 27. Nesci again said his team has to play strong defense to ensure success in the future. “Defense is the key to our team,” he said. The Violets will have a chance to avenge last week’s loss against Carnegie Mellon when they travel to Pittsburgh on Friday, Feb. 3 for a rematch with the Tartans. John Axelrod is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Women’s squad drops two UAA matchups
David Lin/WSN
Junior Makenzie Hirz By Laura Buccieri NYU women’s basketball lost both games at home this weekend, falling to 1-6 in the University Athletic Association and 9-9 overall. The Violets lost to the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans, 65-48, and the Case Western Reserve University Spartans, 55-47. The Violets played Carnegie Mellon Friday before a large crowd in attendance
for a Tear It Up! event. The first half was rough for NYU, who only made eight of 34 shots, whereas Carnegie Mellon made half of their 28 field goal attempts. The Violets were also falling short from the three-point line, only shooting 14.3 percent compared to the Tartans’ 37.5 percent. NYU trailed at the half, 38-19. In the second half, the Violets picked up their offensive game, outscoring Carnegie Mellon 29-27. Junior center Makenzie Hirz led the Violets with 10 points and was the only NYU player to score in double digits. In contrast, four Tartans reached double digits with junior forward Emily Peel scoring a game-high of 18 points. Senior forward Shelby Coon did her best to get NYU back in the game by grabbing 13 rebounds. But NYU, who trailed by 25 at one point, never got within 15 points of Carnegie Mellon.
The victory was Carnegie Mellon’s first in Coles Sports Center since the 1990-91 season. NYU then hosted Case Western yesterday afternoon. The Violets started off the game with a strong first half. The Violets outshot the Spartans from the three-point line, making 37.5 percent of their shots. At the end of the first half, Case Western only trailed by three points. The second half was a different story. The Violets only shot 23.1 percent from the field, while the Spartans made 13 of 25. The momentum shifted to favor Case Western’s speed of play: slower and more calculated. “The offensive boards killed us in the second half,” head coach Stefano Trompeo said. “We were forcing them to take the shots we wanted, but we needed to grab the rebounds from those missed shots.”
Case Western outscored NYU 30-14 in the paint with most shots coming from second chances off offensive rebounds. NYU also got crushed on the defensive boards as the Spartans grabbed 31 of 53 rebounds. “On defense we were playing hard and recovering well,” Trompeo said. “We just needed more rebounds.” Co-captain Tana Bertino led the Violets with 12 points, most of which were three-pointers. “We are looking to grow and have our second half of UAA play be better than the first half of our season,” freshman guard Whitney Hooper said. The Violets will get a chance to redeem themselves next weekend when they visit Carnegie Mellon on Feb. 3 and Case Western Reserve on Feb. 5. Laura Buccieri is a staff writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
Swim and dive dominates the weekend By Cole Riley
With two weeks until the University Athletic Association championships, the men’s swimming and diving team started the weekend with a 138-101 victory over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at the Palladium Athletic Facility on Friday. Freshman Jeremiah Crowley captured first place in the 50 and 100 freestyle with times of 21.78 seconds and 47.51, respectively. In the 1,000 freestyle, NYU took home the top three spots with senior co-captain Bryson Naylor finishing first (10 minutes and 7.4 seconds), freshman Nick Paganelli taking second (10:23.24) and junior Danny Isaacson earning third (10:25.25). Head coach Bob Sorensen spoke of the team’s momentum beginning the new year. “The team felt good psychologically after our win over Springfield College,” Sorensen said. “No matter
how tired they were physically after our training trip, they would be getting stronger and swimming faster.” Sophomores Charlie Wu in the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.11) and Cole Talbott in the 500 freestyle (4:53.92) rounded out the list of notable first-place finishers. The Violets also dominated the boards sweeping the oneand three-meter events. Junior Adam Winerip registered an NCAA-qualifying score of 283.95 on the one-meter dive, followed by freshman Austen Blease (277.28) and freshman Brian Blum (232.20). Blease won the three-meter dive with a score of 279.68, followed by Winerip (251.68) and Blum (230.63). The men’s team won their second meet of the weekend on Saturday, defeating Vassar College, 189-95, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Freshman Matt Kendall won the 200 (2:17) and 100 (1:02.82) breaststroke races. In the 200 medley relay, Wu, Naylor,
Crowley and senior co-captain James Bedell notched a victory with a time of 1:38.94. Naylor also finished first in the 100 and 200 butterfly. Other victories included Bedell’s in the 1,000 freestyle (10:34.41), Crowley’s in the 100 freestyle (50.61 seconds) and freshman Ryan Lowery’s in the 200 backstroke (2:04.47). Blease again showed himself as NYU’s top diver, posting a 330.30 first-place score in the one-meter dive and a 304.94 second-place total in the three-meter dive. The women’s team also traveled to Vassar and defeated the Brewers, 211-88. The Violets, led by senior Kristen Fujii, juniors Savanna Keator and Noel Elgamal and sophomore Nina Rusiewski, opened Saturday’s competition with an impressive 200-medley relay victory (1:54.59). Other victories included senior Megan Rappa in the 1,000 freestyle (10:45.69), freshman Silke Herold
in the 100 backstroke (1:04.31), Keator in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.10) and co-captain Patti Meringer in the 200 butterfly (2:19.68). “[Saturday’s] meet was definitely a result of the training and hard work we’ve put in this past season,” Elgamal said. “Heading into UAAs, we’re ready to step up and race.” In diving, senior Kelly Dietz and freshman Kate Donnelly came in first and second in the one- and three-meter dives, respectively. Dietz registered NCAA-qualifying scores of 284.62 in the onemeter dive and 294.75 in the three-meter dive. Both the men and women’s swimming and diving teams will participate in the UAA Championship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland from Wed., Feb. 15 to Sat., Feb. 18. Cole Riley is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
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ARTS
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nyunews.com | monday, january 30, 2012 | Washington Square news
ARTS
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Serious comedic criticism By Samantha Rullo
A surprising number of new comedies received critical praise and strong ratings this past fall season. While some of these shows were certainly worthy of their acclaim, the success of others indicates that the world of TV comedy possesses its artistic flaws despite its high viewership. Returning comedies displayed a similar disparity between quality and audience. Some have been pulling in huge numbers, while others have been struggling to stay alive. With the current state of TV comedies in such an uneven place, determining what works and what fails proves difficult. Many new comedies showcased talented female leads, such as Fox’s “New Girl” and CBS’s “2 Broke Girls.” Both started strong in the ratings because of likable characters, original plot lines and solid acting. Then, there is NBC’s “Whitney.” Critics have bashed the show since its pilot — with good reason. “Whitney” exudes an obnoxious tone, with a laugh track that expresses far too much enthusiasm for the predictable jokes delivered by an unimpressive cast. It is unusual and disheartening to see such a terrible show on the same network as fan favorites like “Parks and Recreation” and award-winning juggernauts like “30 Rock.” NBC is regarded as a comedy powerhouse except for “Whitney” and its poor quality companion show, “Are You There, Chelsea?” While “Community” remains on hiatus, it becomes tougher to defend the network’s choices. ABC presents another unusual slate of
NBC’s fourth place problem
comedies. The sexist, stereotypical “Last Man Standing,” which argues that men are not treated with enough respect, is a ratings hit. But the recently canceled and lambasted “Work It” crosses the line from funny to offensive because of its cross-dressing male characters. Both shows, however, have shared a home with the Emmy- and Golden-Globe winning “Modern Family,” in addition to critically praised but seldomwatched comedies such as “Happy Endings” and “Cougar Town.” Though the well-regarded comedies on NBC and ABC often fail to find an audience, CBS’s witty and realistic “How I Met Your Mother” proves that intelligent comedy can thrive. Unfortunately, CBS also airs “Two and a Half Men.” Despite a consistently goofy performance from Ashton Kutcher and hackneyed jokes, it is America’s most popular comedy. As ratings sadly prove, audiences for smart comedies exist, but they are ignoring many intelligent shows. Perhaps, a middle ground needs to be reached in which lesser quality comedies like “Two and a Half Men” strive to be more creative, and smarter shows like “30 Rock” avoid a niche, making it impossible for casual viewers to keep up. If networks can find a balance and a larger audience, then we might one day see a TV landscape where programs like “Parks and Recreation” and “Community” are the norm, not the exception to mainstream taste.
By Bethany McHugh
Networks need an exit strategy when they find their ratings slipping, but it appears NBC doesn’t have one. The network has always been the face of television, as its history alone speaks for itself. From “Cheers” to “The Cosby Show” to “The West Wing,” NBC presidents have created programs that have allowed their successors to keep the network afloat, while developing replacement hits at the same time. Yet in 2003, NBC’s slow descent began. President Jeff Zucker renewed “Friends” for an additional season, not just to give it a creatively satisfying conclusion, but to buy time to find a suitable replacement as part of his exit strategy. If the new show commands a large audience, the older hit can glide into a safe retirement. If not, the network must scurry to develop a more suitable and profitable show, as NBC had done under Zucker and has continued to do ever since. When co-chairman Ben
Samantha Rullo is a contributing writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Silverman entered the equation, NBC fell into an impasse, churning out unsuccessful programs. This left Bob Greenblatt, Silverman’s eventual successor and former president of entertainment at Showtime, in trouble. So far, the shows that he hoped would become hits have flopped with critics and audiences. Earlier this year, Greenblatt said NBC “made comedy an important goal” for the current season, as evidenced by the 22-episode orders for freshman comedies “Up All Night” and “Whitney.” But why has NBC given special treatment to average shows? Comedy is already the network’s strongest suit, with Thursday’s lineup standing as a formidable night of quality comedy. Was it due to their new dramas failing this season, or was it because NBC essentially put its reputation on the line for “Whitney” and refused to accept anything less than success? It is not as if NBC were in need of replacement comedies; “Community” has been benched midseason to
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Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Longing 5 Beaver constructions 9 Entree add-ons 14 Jacket 15 Household goods retail chain founded in Sweden 16 Prepared to be knighted 17 What a slippery sidewalk might cause 19 Woody Allen’s “___ Hall” 20 National who lives overseas, informally 21 Actress Gardner 23 Deputy 24 “Last Dance” singer, 1978 28 Injury 32 It’s found on an airport carousel
33 Double-disc cookie 34 “Hmm, yes …” 35 Train that doesn’t skip a stop 39 & 41 Good time for a cliffhanger … or what each of 17-, 24-, 50and 63-Across has? 42 Not live, as on TV 43 La ___ Tar Pits 46 Future atty.’s exam 47 December, say 49 Longings 50 Albino rocker with a 1973 #1 hit 54 Ring, as bells 55 Lb. or oz. 56 Jockey Arcaro 61 Saint ___ fire 63 Spa locale
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Down 1 Reason to use Clearasil 2 Wheedle 3 Lock securer 4 1964 album “___ James Rocks the House” 5 “What’s the ___?” 6 Letters before an alias 7 Olio 8 Rescue 9 Some Caribbean music 10 Titularly 11 Clothing material that may have rivets 12 Skip over in ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE pronouncing S P R E A D E A G L E H E M 13 Have the wheel W H I R L E D P E A S A R E 18 Stock listings O I L O F G A R L I C R I N abbr. O L E A R M S D A M P E D 22 Drunk ___ skunk P E Y O T E S T A P I O C A 25 Actress Lena R A E P O W E R M A C 26 Letters before P I N C H V E R A S A N I xis A M O S G E T T Y B R A T 27 Furrowed fruit Y O S S O N I A L A X L Y 28 Party thrower S N E A K O U T L U G 29 Word after rest C A B R I D E M A R S H E S or gray A D L I B S A A R E A P A 30 Harvest L I E O O P S I E D A I S Y 31 Amble E E E B R A I N D O C T O R 36 Detective’s S T D S T O P S O N T I M E assignment
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45 M.D. who may examine the sinuses 38 “___ Make a 48 “So-o-o cute!” Deal” 50 Fencing swords 40 Baltic Sea feeder 51 Actress Reese 41 What colors do 52 World of over time Warcraft fan, 43 High beams e.g. 44 Lease 53 Not Dem.
57 Physician with a daily talk show 58 In ___ straits 59 Ancient Peruvian 60 Alike: Fr. 62 Letter encl. to facilitate a reply 64 Grp. doing patdowns 65 Reticent
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make room for the Chelsea Handler vehicle. Millions spent on promoting a show that is only decent could be better spent in the development of quality television. ABC has surged ahead in the ratings because of its uncanny ability to pick programming that is not just appealing to masses, but is executed in a professional, artistic way. NBC, however, has graced us this season with shows that are boring, clichéd and borderline unwatchable. There is no doubt about it; NBC is in trouble. Having already slipped from first to fourth place in the ratings, declining to fifth could become an unfortunate reality. Greenblatt needs to go back to NBC’s basics and focus on development. Only time will tell if new midseason series “Smash” and “Awake” have had enough care during the development stages to act as the exit strategies necessary to keep NBC afloat. Bethany McHugh is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.