<p>I just finished watching the Simpsons today and they made a reference to Cornell (I think). The episode is called "All's Fair In Oven War." Maybe the Harvard graduates are taking a clever stab that I somehow missed (wasn't really paying attention to the TV until I heard Cornell)?</p>
<p>Anyone else know any other quick references made about Cornell in the media? Just interesting stuff I guess. I know Spiderman goes to Columbia.</p>
<p>Gabrielle Ashe from Dan Brown's Deception Point (excellent book, by author of Da Vinci Code) was a graduate of Cornell.</p>
<p>Bill Maher graduated from Cornell.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nndb.com/edu/540/000068336/%5B/url%5D">http://www.nndb.com/edu/540/000068336/</a> list of famous people who went to cornell
<a href="http://www.snpp.com/guides/ivy.html-ivy%5B/url%5D">http://www.snpp.com/guides/ivy.html-ivy</a> league references in the simpsons</p>
<p>lol. fun stuff.</p>
<p>I love Bill Maher</p>
<p>I didnt know Nicholas Berg went to Cornell</p>
<p>In the movie, American Pie, Tara Ried's character (Vicky) was headed to Cornell. </p>
<p>From the movie:</p>
<p><<jessica (natasha="" lyone):="" what="" do="" you="" expect="" him="" to="" drive="" cornell="" for.....milk="" and="" cookies?="">></jessica></p>
<p>A better list of people who went to Cornell:</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_people%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_people</a></p>
<p>That other one is nice, but this is quite a bit more comprehensive and even breaks them down.</p>
<p>Here's more!
From the February 17, 2000 "Dear Uncle Ezra" column</p>
<p>DUE,
Does the University require television shows and movies to obtain permission before using the Cornell name? I noticed in "Any Given Sunday" Cameron Diaz had a very official looking Cornell diploma hanging in her office. Is it possible to obtain a list of movies, TV shows that Cornell is mentioned it? It seems that Cornell gets referred to relatively infrequently compared to the other Ivy's. </p>
<pre><code> Unsigned
</code></pre>
<p>Dear Uncle Ezra,
I've seen two movies recently that made reference to Cornell: American Pie (which has been discussed here recently) and A Civil Action (in which the main character attended Cornell law school). I also remember that Cornell was referenced in Citizen Kane. Do you know of any other movies where Cornell in mentioned? It's very cool to see our school mentioned on "the big screen". Also, have any movies been filmed on the Cornell campus or in Ithaca? Many Thanks. </p>
<pre><code> -- your film buff nephew
</code></pre>
<p>Dear T.V. and Film Buffs,
You have sharp eyes. I checked with David Stewart in University Relations who works with television and movie companies that want to use the Cornell name. His office makes the arrangements, obtains the props, and secures clearances. David says the prop in the scene you mentioned from "Any Given Sunday" does indeed indicate that the Cameron Diaz character -- "Christina Luisa Pagniacci" -- was "graduated" from Cornell with an MBA in 1996.
According to David, rights were granted in January 1999 to Grid Iron Productions and Warner Bros. At the time, the movie was simply "Untitled Football Project" because the final title had not been selected. Of course, today it's known as "Any Given Sunday."
David says it's not possible to cite all the movies and television programs where Cornell names and props appear because of the last-minute whims of writers and directors. Often, props are submitted for a film, but, as David explains, some scenes never make it into the final film. Thus, Cornell's name could wind up on the cutting-room floor more often than it appears on the silver screen (or television screen).
And the name does appear more often than you might think. Prop departments, producers, and directors seek Cornell apparel, yearbooks, campus photos, diplomas, etc. to "add an air of authenticity." Permission is not always given, though. Here is a partial list that David shared.
* "Sex & the City" on HBO: A character in the program's second season -- psychologist Velma Rudin -- holds two degrees from Cornell, and diplomas were supplied.
* "Nash Bridges" (CBS) and "Caroline in the City" (NBC) featured characters wearing or displaying Cornell attire and other props.
* "28 Days" from Columbia Pictures: Cornell shirts and T-shirts were supplied to the wardrobe department for one of the characters in the movies starring Sandra Bullock.
* "Random Hearts" from Columbia Pictures: Cornell diplomas were provided for a character in this Sidney Pollock film.
* "Patch Adams" from Universal: A Cornell diploma with the name "Harrington Carver Walcott" was supplied for this movie starring Robin Williams.
* "A Civil Action" from Hollywood Center Studios: Campus photographs and a diploma were provided for Jan Schlichtmann, who actually graduated in 1977, and was portrayed by John Travolta.
* "City of Angels" from Warner Bros.: Cornell apparel and other props were supplied for the movie that starred Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage.
* "Deep Impact" from Dreamworks: Cornell photographs and other props were provided for this movie.
* "Contact" from Warner Bros.: Cornell memorabilia for the movie starring Jodie Foster.
* "Prince of Tides" by Barbra Streisand Productions: A Cornell diploma was provided for the character portrayed by Barbra Streisand
Then, there's "Mother" from Paramount Pictures, starring Debbie Reynolds and Albert Brooks. The Debbie Reynolds character was supposed to be a former Cornell student, and several items from the 1950s were supplied. At the last minute, however, the director decided to change the character's alma mater to another college...an example of a whim.
More recently, the College of Veterinary Medicine and other campus locations were scouted for "The Horse Whisperer." Ultimately, the production company headed by Robert Redford elected not shoot any scenes here, and the movie itself -- shot in part in and around Saratoga Springs, NY -- came out without any references to Cornell, even though the book specifically mentions Cornell.
And so it goes from the Hollywood of the East. More correctly, maybe Hollywood should be referred to as the Ithaca of the West. You might want to check out the Tompkins County Museum (401 E. State Street; 273-8284) for information about Ithaca in the early part of this century, when the Wharton Bros. produced dozens of silent films here...before Hollywood made it big. The likes of Irene Castle, Warner Oland, and Oliver Hardy, among many others, starred in feature films and serials shot throughout this area. The original Wharton Studios in Ithaca were at Renwick Park (now Stewart Park) at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake.
For more information, please see Q09 in the 2/1/94 "Dear Uncle
Ezra" posting; Q12 in the 03/25/97 posting; and Q11 in the 02/22/94 posting.</p>