Newspapers / Grimsley High School Student … / Feb. 27, 2004, edition 1 / Page 5
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Features High Life Friday, February 27, 2004 5 So long SNL: Comedy Central shakeup says good-bye to the standby, hello to MAD Part of a new marketing strategy, Comedy Central has foregone usual SNL reruns in favor of MAD TV. The network’s plan led to mixed reviews from students. By Kathryn Smith Staff Writer A show exists that capitalizes on effeminate young boys, vomiting, and women who wear their pants up to their rib cages, a telecast that is becoming a part of many students’ viewing. It is not shown Saturday nights at 11:30. Beginning in January 2004, Comedy Central discontinued showing “Saturday Night Live” reruns and opted for the more controversial, less renowned sketch comedy show called “MAD TV.” With this recent switch, “Saturday Night Live” fans find that they must either grow accustomed to “MAD TV’s” allegedly offensive and vulgar humor, normally restricted to fox’s Saturday night lineup, or say good-bye to the comedy shows that once seemed ubiquitous. “I think that the switch is a great idea; viewers need something fresh and exciting to replace ‘Saturday Night Live,’ which isn’t as funny anymore,” said freshman Brian Smith. Despite the overall discontent with the change, some students are happy with the change for a variety of reasons. While supporters of “MAD TV” have been awaiting the opportunity for the show to gain exposure, others are just happy with the variation in pace for Comedy Central. “Although I enjoyed ‘SNL,’ ‘MAD TV’ is a nice change. Comedy Central had basically shown the same SNL episodes so many times that they became monotonous. ‘MAD’ is more willing to be controversial, which is fairly hit or miss, but can also help in creating some very funny skits, such as the sketches with Stuart,” said junior Carr Allen. Although reasons behind the “Saturday Night Live/ MAD TV” exchange are unknown, most students predict that “MAD TV” will gain more popularity due to the increased exposure, and that “MAD TV” can only benefit from its introduction to a broader audience. Students recognize the idea that whether this attention will be positive or negative is another question. “I am not so sure that ‘MAD TV’ will gain more popularity in a is] justjokes and comedy. Luckily, the good thing for ‘MAD TV’ is if viewers are looking for comedy, they are more likely to turn to gm 4 1^. * 4 positive way. I think that some of its new viewers may be offended by what is shown, especially if [they] don’t have a sense of humor and cannot realize that [the show Comedy Central as opposed to FOX or any other channels,” said junior Faith Coker. Many perceive “MAD TV” as the more controversial, “in-your- face” show compared to “Saturday Night Live.” For many, this seems to be just another part of the age- old trend of the media continuing to push the buttons of society and question what is deemed “appropriate” and “inappropriate” for airing on television. However, many students point out the many controversies surrounding “Saturday Night Live” throughout its continuing air-time. “Comedy Central has always been a network to air controversial programs. Ifone looks at ‘South Park’ and all of the uproar it caused when it first began airing, it doesn’t seem surprising that ‘MAD TV’ has become part of Comedy Central’s line-up,” said junior Kristin Iddings. If the current change in the television line-up has WVAH. com left viewers disturbed and distraught, they can always tune into E!, which has taken over the responsibility of airing “Saturday Night Live” reruns occasionally. IB elitism a growing problem Some communities allege that International Baccalaureate programs pull attention away from other students. At G rims ley, this situation has led to widespread feelings of resentment. By Sarah Hampton Cheatham Copy Editor Of the near 2,000 students who attend Grimsley, only around 90 are International Baccalaureate diploma candidates—a definite minority. In addition to being a minority, however, some feel these students are also elitists. The IB Programme has long been considered one of the most prestigious curriculums available to high school students. Even though IB and Advanced Placement courses are theoretically equally difficult, some students consider the IB curriculum more challenging. Several IB students seem to think it is. This “IB elitism,” a recent problem in many schools throughout the nation, manifests itself in activities like the IB League, a cluh open only to potential and current diploma candidates. “I don’t think IB is elitist, really,” said junior Emily Robinson, “but I think the IB League might be going a little too far. It’s just a bit too close to ‘Ivy League’ in my opinion. However, many IB candidates point out that the IB Programme is, by its very design, elitist. Because of the strict courses required for an IB diploma and the limited availability of these courses, many students have classes with the same people all day long, sharing as many as six or seven periods with the same peers. “When you have four or five classes a day with the same people, it’s difficult not to know them better and hang out with them more [than with non-IB students],” said junior Suzie Wright, a diploma candidate. In addition to being thrown together for the majority of the day, all these shared classes give students in IB more common ground than they might have with students in other courses. “Your schedule is pretty much planned out from the beginning,” said junior Stephanie Williams, diploma candidate. “Everyone else in the program is taking the same things you are and dealing with the same problems, the same teaehers.” “I don’t think it’s an issue of the ‘most intelligent’ hanging out with each other, I think it’s just those who seek challenges in their classes hanging out with those who share the same characteristics and desires,” said junior Sean Hall. “I do see how that can come across as ‘snotty’ behavior on the part of IB students, though.” Aside from just spending the majority of their time together, this alleged elitism also involves IB students believing that they are smarter than their peers. Since IB is an advanced curriculum, those in the program consider themselves at least intelligent enough to handle the high expectations. Whether or not they consider themselves more intelligent than those not in the IB Programme and therefore act in an “elitist” way, however, is ultimately just dependent upon the individuals. “IB students are a clique just like any other. And, just like the preps or the jocks or the artist-types, they have their own prejudices and stereotypes to overcome, both in how they perceive others and how they are perceived,” said senior Karen Connor, a diploma eandidate. NTHI spni Because, that’s where the jobs are. Discover the best place for professional challenges and rewards, great salaries, excellent benefits, job security, and the satisfaction of knowing you truly can make a difference in the lives of others. Discover the career opportunities in health care. Investigate nursing, radiology, rehabilitation, and many other clinical health careers. Also, we need sound business majors and office staff to keep healthcare financially healthy. Call us or check out our website. Apply for our scholarships today! HEALTHCARE CAREERS Winston-Saiem: 336-765-8002 • Toll Free; 1-866-765-8002 www.codebluecareers.com A health careers awareness program jointly sponsored by: FORSYTH MEDICAL CENTER/NOVANT HEALTH HIGH POINT REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM • MOSES CONE HEALTH SYSTEM WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER ©2001
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