The Quad: Bruin Bash performers turned Grammy nominees

The 59th annual Grammys will be taking place this Sunday, Feb 12. Among the big names that get nominated every year, such as Beyoncé and Kanye West, are two recent Bruin Bash performers – Chance the Rapper and Anderson .Paak. Chance the Rapper headlined Bruin Bash in 2014, while Anderson .Paak opened for Madeon in […]

The Quad: Attending a taping of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’

I didn’t expect to already ditch a lecture in week one – I’d like to think that I possess some level of self-control. But when a friend asked me if I wanted to go to a taping of “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” bad Kermit took over and my decision was made. Located in the Warner […]

Second Take: Celebrities’ support of presidential candidates not enough to sway

The popular vote totals for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary came within 1 percent of each other. And some scholars suggest one person may have helped push the nomination Obama’s way: Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was one of several celebrities who endorsed Obama in 2008. People came to associate the trust […]

Second Take: At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the magic is in the details

When I was a kid, I wanted to be three things: a superhero, a Pokémon trainer and a wizard. Luckily, muggles like me can finally live one of those dreams. Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, officially opening April 7, is a loving and painstakingly detailed recreation of the “Harry Potter” series. The […]

Second Take: The 2016 Oscars showcased unexpected, respectable wins

The Oscars typically leave me in a seething, pointless rage. I have never been able to accurately predict the winners of all 24 categories in a single year; I usually miss a few left-field choices for categories like Best Animated Short Film or Best Costume Design. At this year’s ceremony, I missed five categories, and […]

Second Take: Asian representation in Marvel universe shouldn’t hinge on Iron Fist

The wait is over – and boy, are there some disappointed people out there. On Thursday, Entertainment Weekly was first to report Marvel’s casting of Finn Jones (“Game of Thrones”) as Danny Rand, better known as his masked persona, Iron Fist. The decision comes in spite of long-drawn controversy centered around wanting an Asian actor […]