By Annie Werner
NYU has made quite a name for itself in the pool of pop culture references. This list doesn’t need much commentary other than the fact that it’s a mere celebration of our urban university’s fictions. It’s too bad our celebrities in real life are so lame.
6.Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show
A university success, Cliff and Claire’s only son did right by our urban institute. He struggled at first, battling his yet-diagnosed dyslexia, only to overcome it with fervor and a student teaching experience. Theo graduated (on time!) with a degree in psychology, and helped other students with dyslexia reach their potential along the way. Theo was sheer proof that chunky sweaters really do conquer all.
5. Isabel (Julia Roberts) in Stepmom
After being treated scornfully by her new family up to the middle of the film, Isabel tries to reach out to the daughter by teaching her how to paint birds. The daughter watches with intrigue as her opinion of Isabel begins to morph with the beauty of the painting, and when asked where she learned her great skill, Isabel responds in passing with none other than, “an art class at NYU.” A pivotal moment. She then proves herself as a protagonist of strength as she carries the family through process of their mother’s eventually fatal cancer. Sob-fest.
4.Felicity in (duh) Felicity
To clarify, this is strictly pre-heinous-haircut. Nevertheless, though the corkscrew-haired “University of New York” female protagonist began her late-90’s journey here by following a boy, she takes us through a gripping four-year narrative of a girl who’s just trying to find herself. Fictional characters: they’re just like us! Honorable mention: Felicity’s cast-spelling, goth-wiccan roommate Meghan Rotundi.
3. Ross Geller in Friends
Professor Ross Geller of Paleontology. Giver of arbitrary grades and so true to life, he is often shown putting his students to sleep in lecture. He slept with one of his students, Elizabeth, allowing us to live out that fantasy vicariously through television. We’re willing to forgive his pronunciation of our acronym.
2. The Puck Building in Will & Grace
Perhaps this higher-ed institution’s most architecturally majestic building, ol’ Puck had a role in just about every episode of the GBFF-fantasy sitcom. He stood out as a fixture of masculinity against Liza Minnelli jokes and Cher sing-a-longs. But most of all, Puck grounded us. When we saw the shot of his exterior, we were certain we were getting a scene of Grace Adler being humiliated at her interior design firm. And we were given hope of a great Karen moment.
1. The Olsen Twins
Because they “went” to “school” “here.” You can, too!
It’s interesting that most of these characters give off an aura of optimism (cast of Gossip Girl intentionally not included). Who are your favorite fictional NYU charcters?
