by Andrew Katz ’26 on October 2, 2025

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Arts & Entertainment

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Why George Costanza is the Greatest Sitcom Character of All Time 

The question of who is the greatest sitcom character of all time has often been a debate between sitcom enthusiasts, but one character who is always mentioned is George Costanza from Seinfeld (1989-1998). If you have never seen Seinfeld, George is Jerry Seinfeld’s lifelong childhood friend, whose main characteristics are selfishness, laziness, cheapness, and outward overreaction at the slightest inconveniences he faces in life. From the outside looking in, you might be confused by how this character, who is just straight up a jerk, could be so beloved by the audience. Yet, Seinfeld viewers know that when George enters the screen, they will be entertained. This is due to two things about how George’s character is written. The first is that he is extremely insecure with everything about him, which the audience can relate to in their own lives. The second is that whatever selfish plan he comes up with always backfires on himself. Larry David, the co-creator and writer for the show, uses similar recipes when writing George’s plot for each episode. His plot is usually something like this: George comes up with a plan based on his insecurities, the plan is always a selfish one to benefit himself and hurt others, and the plan always backfires. 

With that level of thought being put into the character, the actor who plays George must play him to perfection. That is where Jason Alexander, the actor cast as George, knocks it out of the park. Alexander plays the role of George to perfection, as he is overly charismatic when he talks about his insecurities or when he is freaking out when his plan fails. Alexander truly makes you feel as if he has been George for his entire life. The over-the-top outbursts that George shows when he fails his selfish plans is what drives the comedic effect even more than the audience just seeing the plan backfire.  

But George has another quality that makes him so beloved. It is that he is slightly relatable. George’s problems mainly consist of his over-the-top parents and the ridiculous, random scenarios where someone is a jerk to him. The audience can relate to these two problem starters occurring daily. When audience members face these situations, they get over it, though they may wish that they could make a big deal about it. George, however, cannot get over it quickly. George instead makes it his mission to deal with the inconveniences as the only way he knows how—by stooping to the other person’s level. The audience also gets to feel superior to George, which is what makes his character so beloved, even when he is doing selfish acts. If George was cool with no insecurities, he would be an annoyance for the audience. But George isn’t cool. George just wants to get by in life by doing whatever benefits him, but he fails every time. That is what makes him so entertaining and the greatest sitcom character of all time.

by Reese Cassidy ’28 on September 25, 2025

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Arts & Entertainment

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Amidst the chaos going on with ABC, Dancing with the Stars has begun its 34th season. 

DWTS is a reality competition that pairs celebrities and professional dancers. Each week, the couples perform a ballroom dance in front of judges, getting votes from both the judges and the fans watching from home. Once all the votes are tallied, the lowest-scoring team gets sent home, and the winning couple wins the Mirrorball Trophy. The new season premiered last Tuesday, but the cast was announced two weeks before and has been a talking point since. 

While the number of couples varies each season, this season has 14 couples—one pro and one star in each. There are many returning pros this season and one new addition, Jan Ravnik. He is starting this season having just returned from performing the entirety of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, during which he was one of the most well-known backup dancers and was very prominent in Taylor Swift: Eras Tour (2023). In the past, he has also performed with Bruno Mars and Mariah Carey, so it is safe to say he has lots of experience. Other than Ravnik, the rest of the pros have been on past seasons of DWTS and are already largely known by the show’s fanbase. The pros are Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Emma Slater, Ezra Sosa, Gleb Savchenko, Jan Ravnik, Jenna Johnson, Mark Ballas, Pasha Pashkov, Rylee Arnold, Val Chmerkovskiy, and Witney Carson. 

This season’s stars come in a large variety of ages and careers, ranging from ages 21 to 58, including athletes, actors, singers, influencers, comedians, and even a zookeeper. It seems as though there’s something for everyone in this season, so no matter who is watching, it will be exciting. Some of these stars are up and coming or even at their peak of stardom, but others are well past it and were cast as stars for the older generations. This includes Andy Richter, who is most known as the comedic sidekick of Conan O’Brien, though some viewers may recognize him for voicing Mort in Madagascar (2005). Stand by Me (1986) star Corey Feldman and The Parent Trap (1998) actress Elaine Hendrix are also among the older stars of this season. There are always a couple of professional athletes among the cast, and this season is no different, with two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis and one of the most well-known and well-loved U.S. Olympic athletes: gymnast Jordan Chiles. The casting directors of DWTS also never fails to find some reality TV stars. This season, there are even two stars from the same show: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (2024) stars Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt. They will compete alongside Hilaria Baldwin and Dylan Efron, who is widely known as the brother of High School Musical (2006) star Zac Efron. There are multiple familiar faces for Gen-Z to watch out for, as they may be stars they grew up with. First, Danielle Fishel, who is best known for her character Topanga on both Boy Meets World (1993) and the spin-off Girl Meets World (2014). Then, two famous voices: Scott Hoying from Pentatonix and Lauren Jauregui from Fifth Harmony. The two stars causing the most talk and likely bringing most of the views for this season are Alix Earle and Robert Irwin. Earle has had a quick rise to fame over the past few years after her “Get Ready with Me” videos went viral on TikTok. Since then, she has been in movies and even a Super Bowl commercial. Irwin is possibly the most famous zookeeper in the world. Being the son of Steve Irwin, he has always been in the public eye. After an impressive first episode, a lot of America seems to think now is truly his time to shine. A Mirrorball Trophy may be in his future as he is hoping to carry on his sister, Bindi Irwin’s, legacy after she won season 21.

While fans all over the country have already made their picks on who they hope to win,  it’s not too late to tune in and cast your votes on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

by Andrew Katz ’26 on September 25, 2025

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Arts & Entertainment

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In 1999, when HBO released the first episode of The Sopranos, the standard for television shows changed. The Sopranos followed the life of Tony Soprano, a sociopathic mob boss who had to balance the drama of his biological family and his organized crime family. This show kick-started the Golden Age of television shows, which we are still in today. As people look for more shows that can match the level of The Sopranos, very few are able to do it. The most recent show to reach this upper tier of television shows is Succession.

Succession, running from 2018 to 2023, is a fictional show loosely based on the Murdoch family. The story begins with Logan Roy, the CEO of Waystar Royco. This is a giant corporation that has many different entities including ATN News, which delivers a shocking announcement on Roy’s 80th birthday that he is not planning on retiring, as he was expected to. This devastates Kendall Roy, his eldest son, who was supposed to be the future CEO. As the title of the show is Succession, the story follows the drama of the fight over who will be Logan Roy’s successor when he finally retires. For most of the show, there are three main contenders to the Waystar Royco throne: Kendall, Roman, the youngest son, and Shiv, the daughter. Other characters in the show are also trying to climb the corporate ladder. Two of these characters include their cousin Greg and Shiv’s husband Tom. The show, through four seasons, consistently shows the cynical nature of our capitalist world, especially through the characters doing the most embarrassing things just to be associated with power and wealth. The scene that shows this the best is the “boar on the floor” scene.

The “boar on the floor” scene takes place as Waystar Royco is attempting to acquire Pierce, another media empire. This plan goes south when someone from Royco’s side leaks this information to the press to tank the deal. Logan becomes angered by this act of disloyalty, as it is one of his main values, and he decides to have dinner with everyone aware of the deal. Logan questions people about their thoughts on the deal. He eventually pulls out three people whose responses he did not like, and tells them to sit on the floor. He then makes them oink like pigs, further humiliating them. As the men comply with this humiliating ritual, Logan throws two sausages for the three men and states that whoever doesn’t eat one is the one who ruined the deal. Though this game has nothing to do with actually finding out who leaked the information, it shows the power Logan holds, as he can have high-up executives humiliate themselves just because he chooses to. This scene also shows what greed can do to someone.

Everyone in the room lets this happen as they are scared Logan will take their power away. This one scene is representative of the entire show. Every person around Logan will do whatever he wants because of his power and their greed to be associated with wealth and power. They are puppets of Logan’s throughout the show, doing whatever he wants. Very few times have people ever gone against him, and if they do, they fail. Succession shows that this cynical nature is what our capitalist society rewards. One must be willing to sacrifice all values to be considered successful. When people sacrifice their values, only care about themselves, and are obsessed with power, they become sociopaths. And what Succession tells us is that only sociopaths win this game to acquire power and wealth in our society today. Overall, Succession is a must-watch TV drama that shows us the darkness in our society. Succession beautifully balances seriousness with the satirical scenes of the show and ends perfectly, making you want more of the show instead of dragging the story longer than needed. If you enjoyed shows like The Sopranos (1999), The Wire (2002), or Breaking Bad (2008), you will likely love Succession.

by Rachel Barter ’27 on September 25, 2025

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Opinion

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A Systematic Attack on Freedom of Speech

Recently in the United States, we have seen a vast number of attacks on freedom of speech from both political parties, most notably regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk earlier this month and the cancellation of both The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and, most recently, Jimmy Kimmel Live! 

Understandably so, Republicans and Democrats were both disgusted by the killing of Kirk and the attack on his freedom of speech, which was key to his career as a Republican advocate and debater. However, Democrats seem to be the only people to be disgusted by the cancellations of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as well as other attacks on Democrats’ freedom of speech. 

In fact, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was cancelled because Kimmel made comments regarding conservatives’ responses to Kirk’s death and the investigation that followed. Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” 

Kimmel’s comment was likely referring to Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s comments that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, had a “leftist ideology” and had also been in a romantic relationship with his roommate and alleged partner, who was in the process of transitioning from male to female. Cox’s inclusion of these comments makes me agree with Kimmel that investigators appear to be desperately trying to pin Kirk’s death on an out-of-control Democrat motivated by his alleged tie to the trans community, which demonstrates Republicans’ willingness to stretch the narrative to find a connection to the trans community.

It is also important to note Governor Cox made these remarks despite the reality that Robinson is a native Utah resident, is not registered to any political party, and grew up with conservative parents in St. George, a fast-growing conservative city defined by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thus, Kimmel’s comment did not attack Kirk at all; instead, it questioned the bias regarding the investigation of Kirk’s alleged shooter.

Whether I agree with Kimmel or not, I believe it is not appropriate to silence his speech. Just as the overwhelming conservative response to Kirk’s death demonstrated how many people think of gun violence as bad only when it affects someone they agree with and care about, the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! highlights how some conservatives condone attacks on freedom of speech when it benefits them and their party. Furthermore, please note ABC decided to pull the program after an unusually threatening comment was made by the Federal Communications Commission’s chair.

The First Amendment is supposed to apply to all citizens of the United States, regardless of their political views and who they would like to criticize, including the President of the United States. It was not meant to be revoked when public figures say things attacking the government or certain political parties. Hence, the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, despite how short it may have been, is extremely important; these two events are instances of our current administration taking creative liberty with the First Amendment by pressuring television networks to conform to the liking and opinions of President Donald Trump.

Additionally, it is essential that we, as college students, acknowledge these systematic attacks on freedom of speech and strive to combat them to preserve our right to free expression, which is not only crucial to our day-to-day lives but also vital for our education and the ability to have a well-rounded and informed understanding.

by Sydney King ’26 on September 18, 2025

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Arts & Entertainment

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Why Netflix’s Unknown Number Documentary was Bad

On Aug. 29, Netflix released a new documentary that was guaranteed to get buzz because of its sheer evil. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish centers around teenager Lauryn and her ex-high school boyfriend Owen, and how their lives were forever changed due to the digital harassment and psychological torture inflicted on them by an unknown number in a group chat over the course of 20 months. Since the documentary has been out long enough, I feel that it is appropriate to include spoilers: the culprit of these disturbing and nightmarish texts was Kendra, Lauryn’s mother. And at the end of the one hour and 30 minutes, I felt like what I was watching was less journalistic and more like a Lifetime Original movie. 

I have two main issues with the documentary: the first being its editing, and the second its incorporation of Kendra. They chose to interview Lauryn twice, once around the time her mother went to jail, and the other was more recent to the film being made. The problem arises here because the audience is left completely in the dark about the different interviews and their timelines, making Lauryn’s reaction to the reveal of her mother’s identity seem questionable. Lauryn’s initial reaction to finding out that her mother has been tormenting her for almost two years unsettled a lot of viewers. Lauryn seemed stunned by the information, not speaking and showing no discernible emotion. Shortly after this, her mother embraced her, Lauryn allowing it, but her blank expression remained the same. 

I am not surprised at all by Lauryn’s reaction. How is a daughter supposed to act when her mother has been anonymously bullying her, sexualizing her ex-boyfriend, and specifically targeting her deepest insecurities incessantly over two years? She was shocked. But this reaction, combined with comments made in her interviews, put many audience members off from Lauryn. In the first chronological set of interviews, Lauryn expresses a deep desire to see her mother again, and excitedly keeps communication with her through her prison stay, making it seem like the abuse had no effect on her. Meanwhile, in her more recent interview, Lauryn seems much more skeptical of her mother’s behavior and hesitant about continuing their relationship in the same close fashion as it was before. She has not seen her mother in over a year, and does not yet know when she will be ready to talk to her again. But these interviews are spliced together so that Lauryn’s feelings are not being accurately portrayed, and in my opinion, set her up to receive more public backlash. 

The documentary’s worst crime is the inclusion of Kendra and how exactly she influences the plot. In the first half of the film, Kendra is being interviewed as everyone else is, describing her feelings and actions when the texts started despite her having already served her sentence for committing this crime. Once she is revealed as the villain, the last half of the documentary consists of her lying—about crimes she has already pleaded guilty to, mind you—and defending her actions. What Kendra did was inexcusable. The way Netflix portrayed a criminal as if her actions were justifiable and explainable was very disturbing to see. For a better understanding of this case, I would recommend reading the article The Cut wrote about it, as it goes further in-depth on the abusive and unwell mother Kendra was.

by Thomas Marinelli ’26 on September 18, 2025

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Arts & Entertainment

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Nostalgia Done Right

Coming back to Providence College after this summer, I was reminded of the summer of 2020. Perhaps not as fresh to many people anymore—maybe even purposefully forgotten, due to the COVID-19 pandemic—but nonetheless, it’s a time that has stuck with us for reasons we probably did not see at the time. I remember it very well. I was 15, still a high school student, though some of you might have still been in middle school. No matter our age, I bet many of us watched Avatar: The Last Airbender repeatedly that summer and felt like a kid again.

The first summer of the COVID-19 lockdown probably felt like a chance to finally relax for most of us who are now in college. It’s not something many of us remember as clearly now, as it goes with most summers, as we age, each loses the glow it once had. Avatar was one of these shows that had an original audience, but when it was brought back, it was just as bright and great as it was before. Its streaming numbers hit all-time highs in 2020 for obvious reasons: people were at home, bored, looking for escapes, and trying to watch something that would make a dull day not so bad, maybe even a little more like life before the COVID-19 pandemic flipped all of our lives upside down. Many of us kids and teenagers fell into this same routine, looking for something to pass the time. But with Avatar, I think most of us wished that excitement would never leave. 

Netflix did it right. They loaded up their service with as many shows as they could, not just for adults or kids, but for teens as well. Teens had grown up with shows like Avatar. I remember coming home from school as an eight-year-old and watching it with my sisters like an afterschool ritual—something I think many others experienced in one form or another. It was familiar, but also forgotten. Seeing it again on Netflix as a top-10 show for 61 days (one of the longest-running top-10 shows of the year), we watched it just as if we were watching it for the first time, but with that inner child inside us that watched the original version all those years ago.

Avatar was a children’s show, but anyone could relate to it. It was nostalgic, yet funny. It was deep and emotional, with each character developing uniquely over the three seasons, but in very human ways despite their cartoon nature. Aang was goofy, kiddish, and lovable, but he always carried a heavy weight on his shoulders and knew he had to do anything possible to protect the people he cared for most. Uncle Iroh (my favorite) loved his nephew Zuko throughout the entire show. Despite watching him make mistake after mistake, he always believed Zuko was good at heart and returned to his side, no matter how many times Zuko pushed him away. Zuko himself embodies the most change: capturing Aang was the only way for him to go home after being banished. Zuko never had a choice; everything in his life felt like failure if he wasn’t serving that objective. He only began to change after asking himself what he truly wanted. Avatar is a show that deals with loss and revenge, but also with newfound color, love, and peace. It was never just a story about a kid defeating a villain—it was about balance and finding peace in a world deprived of it.

Avatar meets every facet of what makes TV work. It was an ideal comfort show that carried a sense of excitement at the same time. Let’s not forget that it originally ran on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008, alongside shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Drake and Josh, and The Fairly OddParents. They are all great shows, but none reached the same depth as Avatar, which likely worked in its favor. Avatar was able to create a cult following, a spinoff show (The Legend of Korra), a movie, and later even another live-action series. But like any show or movie, its hype dies down, people move on to the next thing, and the summer ends. The Legend of Korra was popular and ran for several years, but it was never going to be the same for kids who watched the original show and then rewatched it again in 2020. The live-action series had promise, but felt more like a cash grab to profit off the hype and never really landed with anyone who had already lost interest in the show after the summer of 2020. Avatar as we knew it effectively went back into the dark as the nostalgia faded and that summer turned into another school year—another year anticipating the next summer, and another year finding it wasn’t the same.

The summer of Avatar: The Last Airbender, like so many summers, did nostalgia right, but it was never meant to last. Its day in the sun was bright for the time we had it, but now, years later, it’s hard to remember just how much we enjoyed it. For the time we had, though, it was nice to remember what it was like being a kid again before too much time had passed. If we take anything away from Avatar, it should be to remember that all things must pass—nostalgia, happiness, sadness, anxiety, summers—but that doesn’t mean they weren’t important, even if you wished they would never end.

by Meghan Mitchell '23 on April 20, 2023
Opinion Staff

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Opinion

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Fanfiction is a strange topic. When mentioning it, you’re bound to be met with a wide range of reactions, from “You write fanfiction too?” to “You mean that nerdy fiction that tweens write?” As someone who has been in the fanfiction community for quite a while, I have seen my fair share of both well-written stories with in-depth characters and vivid world-building… and fiction that reads like it was written by twelve-year-olds who forgot spell check exists. Regardless, even the worst writers improve as they age, honing their writing skills and eventually creating something worth hyper-fixating on. However, despite the harmless fun of writing about characters of certain fandoms, many people still disregard fanfiction as a childish hobby. What these people fail to realize is that fanfiction does matter, for a variety of reasons. 

The first is fan interaction. It seems like certain fandoms such as Harry Potter, Supernatural, and even Twilight just won’t die despite their stories concluding years ago. That is mainly due to the number of dedicated fans still writing and reading about these characters. While the stories aren’t written by the authors of the original source material, fan interpretations can either be a refreshing look at a character or be so similar to the author’s work that it’s hard to tell the difference. Just because the main story is over doesn’t mean it has to stop for readers. In addition, fanfiction can be used as a creative outlet and allow people to become better writers. 

Writing can also be therapeutic. Sometimes people will write a character with whom they feel a connection in a situation similar to one that they are currently experiencing, to better cope with the event. This is an example of what someone would call a comfort character. As strange as it may sound, doing this can be a real benefit to people as it helps them feel less alone in whatever situation they are facing. 

The last issue is the judgment fanfiction writers face. Fanfiction writers get called childish or face mocking because of the stereotype of it being something only tween girls do. To this, I ask: why do people care so much about what someone does in their free time? There are worse things people can do than writing stories about fictional characters. It’s also not like fanfiction is anything new; some classic literary works we read in Civ, such as Dante’s Inferno, could be considered fanfiction. It keeps people creative, and some of the best storytellers of the modern era got their start by writing fanfiction. It allows people to connect and form bonds in ways they wouldn’t be able to normally. It’s an experience unlike any other, and instead of being scorned, it should be encouraged to allow people to dream and be creative with the characters they love.

by Christina Charie '25 on November 17, 2022
Opinion Editor

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Editorials

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The term “fake news” is frequently used within the context of contemporary American politics. With heightened polarization, news programming often has an underlying bias running through an entire network’s shows. Political candidates often publicly denounce stories that portray them in a negative light. As a result, the public blindly follows charismatic figureheads instead of developing their own convictions. Without critical debate and ironic comedy to point out the flaws in the system in an engaging way, the media is on the path to becoming the most dangerous threat to American democracy. 

Recently, Chris Matthews, the former host of MSNBC’s Hardball, was invited to speak on campus about his experiences in political communications. Even though his career may have ended, America needs a space for bipartisan debate and analysis. By inviting guests from both sides of the spectrum (sometimes at the same time), Matthews ensured that politicians were held accountable in a format accessible to the public. No one is perfect. Americans should not expect perfection, but they should expect politicians to be held accountable. 

In addition to promoting bipartisan discussion, Matthews consistently challenged the politicians that appeared on his show. Lawmakers should not merely appear on television to talk about their successes. People watch certain news networks for affirmation of their preexisting beliefs. Instead, watching the news should allow Americans to question their convictions on crucial issues. Despite Matthews’ blunt approach, he forces individuals to critically assess their political thinking rather than only focusing on the positive. 

While traditional discourse is imperative, there are moments when politics becomes overwhelming. In these cases, Americans need a comedic outlet. Saturday Night Live delivers with elaborate cold opens and its own “fake news” segment. The ridiculous and exaggerated nature of the sketches often helps to convey truths without the sophisticated understanding of politics that Hardball required at times. 

For some, the comedic approach might easily point out immoral behavior that might not be obvious from formal news communications. With the anxiety and tension surrounding politics in America, the people might need a lighthearted approach. Even those less interested in politics can laugh along with SNL’s political satire. Once again, informal political criticism is accessible to Americans from the comfort of their homes. 

No party is spared from bearing the brunt of an SNL joke. For decades, SNL has created presidential impersonations. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are certainly not the first to be mocked, nor will they be the last. Laughing about politics is beneficial, but one must be aware of where the truth begins. 

Unlike social media, the essential features of sketch comedy help the public understand the nature of the performance. Actors resemble political figures, but no two people are identical. Of course, a comedy show should not replace news programming, but it can help point out the inconsistencies in American politics while keeping frustrated and disinterested audiences aware of current issues.  

Americans need brutal honesty during the polarizing political climate. However, not everyone is responsive to the approach that Hardball employs, which creates space for political satire. One approach cannot satisfy the interests and needs of each individual. America needs everyone to stay informed on imperative issues by taking information from multiple sources. One TikTok or Tweet is not gospel.

by The Cowl Editor on November 4, 2021

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Arts & Entertainment

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In Memoriam: James Michael Tyler

Remembering the Iconic Friends Actor

Nikki Idelson ’22

James Michael Tyler, the actor well-known for his role as Gunther on the television show Friends, died on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at the age of 59. According to The New York Times, “the cause [of his death] was prostate cancer, which was diagnosed in September 2018.” Tyler fought a long and hard battle, all the while sharing his story to spread awareness about prostate cancer. 

Friends debuted in the 90s and ran for 10 seasons. It follows the lives of six friends living in Manhattan as they go through life together. This description of the show encapsulates why it was and continues to be incredibly popular. Indeed, viewers feel as though they can relate to the characters and their everyday life experiences. Tyler played Gunther, a barista at Central Perk, where the friends spent a great deal of time. The character’s most notable trait was his deep crush on Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston. While he was not one of the “friends,” he was still widely regarded as having a prominent role in the show. According to The New York Times, “he appeared in 150 episodes.” 

However, Tyler was not always an actor. He was born in Mississippi on May 28, 1962 and was the youngest of five children. He attended Clemson University for his undergraduate degree. Then, according to The New York Times, “he earned a master’s of fine arts from the University of Georgia and moved to Los Angeles after a brief stint of selling cars in Olympia, Washington.” He went on to become a barista, which is when he was discovered by the creators of Friends, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. In a 2012 interview with the Times, Tyler explained that he was “working as a barista for a place called the Bourgeois Pig, one of the last independent coffee houses in Los Angeles.” 

Tyler was beloved by everyone that he worked with, including Kauffman and Crane. They released the following statement in the wake of Tyler’s death: “When he started as an extra on Friends, his unique spirit caught our eye and we knew we had to make him a character.” At the beginning of his appearance on the show, he was mainly an extra; throughout the ten seasons of Friends, however, he grew to develop a more prominent role that helped to complete the show. Kauffman and Crane also said that Tyler’s performance was essential to the show because “he made Gunther’s unrequited love incredibly relatable.” Such aspects of Tyler’s performance made him a fan favorite. 

Tyler was not just beloved for his role in Friends, but also for how he carried out his day-to-day life. According to CNN, his representative released a statement following his death that proclaimed, “Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.” 

It is clear that Tyler touched the lives of his fans, friends, and family. For those who are interested in seeing his most recent work, make sure to check out the short films The Gesture and the Word and Processing. James Michael Tyler will be dearly missed.

by The Cowl Editor on November 4, 2021

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Arts & Entertainment

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Yet Another Breakup Rocks Bachelor Nation

Does the Bachelor Franchise Live Up to Its Premise?

Grace O’Connor ’22

The Bachelor franchise consists of a beloved set of shows based on the premise of bringing together a couple that will live happily ever after—or does it? On the most recent season of The Bachelorette, lead Katie Thurston, a fan-favorite contestant from Matt James’ season of The Bachelor, ended her season engaged to contestant Blake Moynes. Thurston’s happiness was tangible both on the show and after the cameras stopped rolling. She expressed on multiple occasions that she spent years trying to find the right man who matched her maturity level as well as her fun side. It seemed that she and Moynes were headed for the “happily ever after” the Bachelor franchise purports to create.

However, it appears that things were less rosy between the happy couple behind the scenes. As People Magazine explains, last week, both took to Instagram to write, “It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways. We are so grateful for the moments we shared together and the entire journey that has unfolded this year, but we ultimately have concluded that we are not compatible as life partners, and it is the most caring choice for both of us to move forward independently.” 

Another statement made by Katie in Us Weekly brings more clarity to the situation: “We were together for six months [and] Blake and I are very level-headed and mature, and we communicate very well on our thoughts, and we just both knew if this was how our first six months were as a couple, going forward it was going to not be in our best interest for our happiness to stay together.”

Although news of the breakup is disappointing to fans, it should not come as a complete surprise. The reality of The Bachelor franchise, whose purpose is to bring together two soulmates for life, is that a majority of its couples ultimately end their relationships less than a year after the cameras stop rolling. 

Indeed, when reality hits couples after their screen time is over, many are unable to uphold their commitments to one another. A Middlebury site network study examining the success rate of the show in creating long-lasting relationships finds that, “It turns out not that many [last]. In fact, only two-thirds of the seasons end with proposals. Then out of those proposals, only five have led to marriage, with The Bachelorette having a better success rate at 30 [percent] versus The Bachelor at 11 [percent].” 

These statistics suggest that the Bachelor franchise is more successful as a source of entertainment for viewers than as a means of helping two soulmates find each other. With this being said, however,  it is important to note that there are 24 couples who are still together. Nonetheless, despite the many valuable relationships and connections that have been ignited through the franchise, over time, it has lost its legitimacy not only because of its demonstrated failure in helping contestants find lifelong partners, but also due to a tendency of contestants to come on the show to find not love, but rather, fame. 

This was especially apparent in the last season of Bachelor in Paradise, with contestants Brendan Morais and Pieper James more concerned about how many Instagram followers they had and how they looked to the public rather than strengthening their actual relationship. 

Thus, with regard to the question of whether the Bachelor franchise is doing what it is meant to, the answer is both yes and no. Although it seems to give contestants all the resources they need to find love, the majority of relationships that form while the cameras are rolling do not last. Moreover, in recent years, more and more contestants seem to go on the franchise’s shows for fame because they are so popular and widely broadcasted. As the franchise moves forward, fans can only hope that its producers find ways to facilitate more genuine connections and that contestants do not go on the shows hoping to find stardom, but rather, true love.