Alexandra Israel

Favorite TV episodes feature beauty, wit and suspense

Well, we’re getting close to the end here, loyal readers. I have only a few columns left, and I thought it was about time that I start wrapping things up. Recently, I started thinking about my favori…

Obsessed

My addiction has come back full force.

You could say that my doom caught up with me Friday morning, when I successfully loaded the fourth season premiere of “Lost” onto my computer and a sinister, swi…

Counting down the top ten episodes of 'The Simpsons'

“The Simpsons” is perhaps the defining piece of pop culture of the last 20 years. The show’s influence has permeated Western civilization to a degree that’s almost frightening. Just think about your …

Night of Scenes gets surreal for better or for worse

On Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, the lights went up in Science Center 101 on Drama Board’s Night of Scenes. Thirteen actors and two directors put together two short plays – playwright Christo…

I am philosopher, hear me roar

If you happen to walk by Sharples Room 4 on a Saturday at 6 p.m., you’re likely to witness the weekly meeting of the Lady Philosophers.

Started two semesters ago by Ronni Sadovsky ‘08, the Lady Phil…

Time's a wastin' on the World Wide Web

Now, I know, as Swarthmore students, that we spend all our time working in the library, bent studiously over our textbooks or furiously typing papers. When we have a free moment, we’re usually found d…

"Sopranos" mobsters grab the loot at 2007 Emmys

I almost thought that the Emmys were going to redeem themselves this year. Not completely, of course, because nothing could make up for snubbing critical darling “The Wire” as well as both “Lost” and …

One man, three wives and one 'Big' show

When the HBO show “Big Love” first premiered over a year ago, it caused quite a stir in my hometown. I come from Salt Lake City, Utah, the very city in which the show takes place, and reviews from the…

Getting down to 'The Wire': the final season of HBO's hit drama

It’s hard to watch HBO at Swarthmore. I know this from firsthand experience: I haven’t yet found a television set that receives the channel and the official HBO online video player doesn’t work wi…

Reality television hits rock bottom

Well, it’s official. Reality television has destroyed another marriage.

According to that gold standard of journalism, the New York Post, the reality show “The Moment of Truth” has cost one of its c…

Around the Deaf World

This Friday, Feb. 29, and Saturday, March 1, Swarthmore will host a conference called “Around the Deaf World in Two Days (It’s a Small World): Sign Languages, Social Issues/Civil Rights and Creativity…

Writers strike ends, but networks still need to reform system

TV fans, now is the time to rejoice! The Writers Guild of America strike has come to an end. After 100 days of picketing and months filled with reruns and reality shows, it’s time to settle back on th…

My strike survival guide for the TV addict

The television offerings are always bleak at the end of December. Apparently the networks are under the impression that the food-stuffed, present-laden public has other commitments during those weeks,…