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Wondering
what'll be the breakout hit on TV this fall? Read Undeclared
star Carla Gallo's thoughts.
Get a Sneak-Peek at TV's
Real-Life College Experience
by Dawn Kessler
September 2001
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- Let's
face it, we don't all fit in the cookie-cutter molds of jock, prom
queen, nerd, or freak. Finally, a TV show about college life addresses
the
so-forgotten fact that as freshmen, we're all in the same boat.
From Freaks and Geeks
producer Judd Apatow, comes Undeclared, a comedy that chronicles
the lives of a seven college freshmen at the fictitious University
of North Eastern California. We caught up with cast member, CARLO
GALLO (Lizzie), for her take on the show, school, and success.
Reality TV
Although
Undeclared is a comedy, there's many truths to be told, says
Carla. "Judd [Apatow, the creator] tries to make it realistic
right down to the dry-erase boards on the doors, and he doesn't
cover up the negative aspects like underage drinking and hazing."
Since the cast is encouraged
to improvise, Carla sometimes incorporates her real-life college
experiences into her scenes. "For one montage of us cramming
during an all-nighter, Judd came to me and I told him I remembered
being hopped up on caffeine, like Jolt cola, so we played that up
in the scene."
Dorm Days
Carla, a Brooklyn native, knew early on in high school that
she wanted to attend Cornell University. "I was a good student
but not at the top of my class. I joined clubs and decided to apply
early decision to let the school know how interested I was in attending."
Her strategy paid off -- she was accepted.
Carla says the fun began right away. "I dormed for two years,
first in a freshman dorm in a section called 'West Campus.' It was
like a little freshman community," says Carla. "We all
hung out. It would be 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. and we were all sitting around
studying or talking."
Although she did eventually earn a degree in theater, there was
a brief time when she felt the 'undeclared' pressure.
"At first I thought I wanted to do something more academic
like psychology but I took a psych' class and got a D+. That scared
me. I realized it just wasn't for me.
"There's all this pressure to figure out what you want to
do right away -- I don't believe in that. Take your time and try
out different things. Once you do know what you want to do, however,
just be committed and persistent."
Lucky for us, Carla discovered her passion for theater. "That
department was tough, but what was great is that it allowed me to
take lots of different [electives]," she says. "I took
urban archeology, Italian, wine-tasting, and child psychology. I
even became a TA [teaching assistant] for a human sexuality class."
Undeclared premieres Tuesday, September 18th, on Fox.
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