ABC crew scopes out campus sites

Which Ben Franklin will it be? That is the question on everyone's mind in the University's Office of News and Public Affairs, following the campus visit of two Good Morning America producers to search for shoot locations yesterday. The popular ABC morning show will broadcast its Nov. 11 edition live from the University, as part of a week-long series of shows focused on America's Founding Fathers. University spokesperson Barbara Beck said she showed the production team "literally every Ben Franklin statue on campus and everything related to Ben Franklin" -- including the bronze sculpture in front of College Hall and "Ben on a Bench" at 37th Street and Locust Walk. To get a general feel for the campus, the group also toured the Castle and walked through the art gallery attached to Van Pelt Library, which houses David Rittenhouse's orrery clock. The orrery is an exact model of the inner workings of the universe, used in abstract theoretical enterprises such as interpreting the American Constitution. "They were in awe of Furness," Beck said. "I took them to Franklin Field -- the sunlight was perfect, the football team was out, they wanted to watch the cheerleaders practice -- it was unbelievable. "Everywhere we went, kids were reading and studying outside," she added. "[The producers] were very impressed." The Furness Building, Franklin Field, Castle and statue of Franklin in front of College Hall are all on the producers' short list of favorite spots, Beck said. If the College Hall site is chosen, University Secretary Barbara Stevens told Beck she would look into partially removing the scaffolding that now obscures the building's facade. College senior Sherri Solomon, director of sports programming for UTV, said she would shoot the show in front of College Hall because the building would provide a "very historical" background. "'Ben on a Bench' would be humorous," she said. "Then again, if they did the whole College Green area and tried not to focus on the background so much, they could use close-up shots and get all of the people around there." Beck said the producers -- one of whom graduated from nearby Radnor High School and Villanova University -- were enthralled with the University's campus. "These guys really loved it, they thought the campus was beautiful and couldn't stop talking about it," she said. "They were really impressed with not only the way it looked but [that] people were so friendly and congenial." Beck said she assured the Good Morning America producers that weather would not be a problem during taping, because the show date happens to coincide with the first day of Parents' Weekend. The producers will probably come back to campus again before the show date, to shoot a piece on Franklin that will air during the broadcast, she said. Decisions about guests and topics of discussion will be made within the next month as well. Good Morning America host Joan Lunden and weatherman Spencer Christian will be on campus for the taping, Beck added. University President Judith Rodin said she has had a long relationship with the show's staff due to her professional psychology research, and is pleased and excited to be working with them again. "We hope it will be a chance to show America and the world Penn close-up," Rodin said last night. "We'll be able to show what a beautiful urban campus we have, what wonderful students we have -- it'll be great for everybody." Apparently, the excitement is infectious -- Beck said she has been deluged with tapes and segment proposals from student groups and faculty members alike since the show's visit was announced Wednesday.