The media circus comes to campus: Campus early risers on Friday, Oct. 3, who made their way to College Green got to witness a bona fide Media Event—the live broadcast of “Fox & Friends,” the Fox News Channel’s morning show. Viewers on cable from coast to coast and in 35 countries received a full helping of Philly clichés, from cheesesteaks to Tastykakes, Ben Franklin to “Rocky,” and heard from a host of local notables and celebs, including first guest Mayor John Street, comedian David Brenner, fitness guru Pat Croce, Sylvester’s brother Frank Stallone, and “Hack” star David Morse.

The University was equally well-represented: the Penn Band opened the show with a rousing “Fight On, Pennsylvania,” a cappella groups Off the Beat and Chord on Blues performed, the Quaker cheerleaders strutted their stuff alongside the underdressed-for-the-weather-but-who-cares? Eagles and Sixers crews, College Republicans President Dan Gomez C’05 and debate team member Craig Cohen W’06 argued politics, and President Judith Rodin CW’66 and Provost Robert Barchi Gr’72,M’72,Hon’78 welcomed the show and the world to Penn.

A host of Fox fans were on hand to watch, and a few Foxphobes showed up to protest. Co-host Steve Doocy, who’s used to encountering critics on tour, was genuinely puzzled by the largest protest contingent, which held up signs criticizing the way blacks are portrayed in crime stories—a protest, as it turned out, that had more to do with The Daily Pennsylvanian than Fox News. “These signs made no sense,” he said. Otherwise, everyone had a great time. Doocy also got a personal pitch in during the show: “My son would like to go to school here,” he said. “I tried to hit the president and provost up for a coupon to get into Penn free, but they didn’t have any.”

Dinner theater is back: This time, though, the fare is more substantial. Penn Presents has cooked up a series of dinner/lectures that enhance your enjoyment of selected performances this season. Soft drinks and beer tastings are provided with each dinner; otherwise it’s BYOB. The next event, before the Ali Akbar Khan concert Nov. 1, features Indian cuisine from Sitar India and a lecture by Senior Lecturer in South Asia Studies Allyn Miner. Tickets are only $10 and are available through Oct. 27 by visiting www.pennpresents.org or 215-898-3900.

Penn in ink: The editors of Sports Illustrated On Campus recognized Penn’s historical significance in collegiate sport in their list of “The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost)” in its Sept. 30 issue. Among them were “must-visit sports shrines.” At the top: The Palestra (No. 20), “host to the first NCAA basketball championship game, in 1939, and countless classic Philadelphia Big Five matchups.” At the other end was No. 31 Franklin Field, “the oldest football stadium still in operation.” A visit to a third Philly sports landmark—Boathouse Row, where Penn’s crew team hangs out—came in at No. 10 on the list.