What We Learned on Rugby RoadWriters revisit Greek life on TV series
By MELANIE MAYHEW
The Gusburger-esque eating contest, Foxfield-like revelry and other scenes of rowdy partying on the hit television show Greek may be familiar to alumni of the University of Virginia.
U.Va. and its Greek system, after all, provide a large measure of the inspiration for the top-rated ABC Family show. Two of the show’s writers—Amy Rardin (Col ’94), an Alpha Delta Pi alumna, and Carter Covington (Col ’95), a Delta Tau Delta alumnus—infuse their college memories into the show’s plot.
Because only three of the show’s seven writers were members of sororities or fraternities, Covington and Rardin have a unique opportunity to share their Charlottesville experiences. "It’s really fun to sit in a room all day and reminisce about U.Va.," says Covington.
Greek revolves around a relationship between a brother and his older sister, both of whom attend the same university. The sister is a prominent member of a popular sorority; her dorky, awkward brother joins the "Animal House" fraternity on campus. They try to tell optimistic and happy stories, says Covington, who describes the show as a throwback to ’80s comedies. "We want kids to watch the show and think college is so cool," he says.
They balance humor with the consequences of bad decisions, and "push the envelope a lot," Rardin says. One character pees in people’s closets; another rings up credit card debt.
"We try to present an honest portrait of college life," adds Covington. "It’s an important time to find out what the boundaries are."
Covington and Rardin didn’t meet until they were both hired for the show. They’ve developed a strong friendship during its collaborative writing sessions and marvel at how their divergent paths eventually crossed.
Amy Rardin and Carter Covington on the set of the hit TV show Greek
Source: ABC Family |
Covington, a self-proclaimed "TV junkie," studied foreign affairs and Spanish at U.Va. He taught English in Mexico and worked as an advertising executive before attending business school at UCLA. After graduating in 2001, and with a dog-walking job behind him, Covington had a conversation with a Smallville screenwriter. "It was the first time I met someone who had a job I wanted," he says. A few scripts, a writer development course and an agent later, he landed a job with Greek.
Rardin, who majored in government and women’s studies, has known since her pre-college days that she wanted to work in the entertainment industry. She worked for various production companies on movies including Hope Floats and The Siege and co-wrote the script for 2006’s Material Girls.
"This is the best job I’ve ever had," Rardin says of Greek. "This is what you work toward. We’re really lucky to be on the show and have as much fun as we do."
The recent writers’ strike interrupted the filming of the second season, but Covington and Rardin bonded on the picket lines. "It was a very emotional and tense time for everybody," Covington says.
Now back on schedule, Covington and Rardin continue to cultivate their on-set and off-set camaraderie. "We found such a fun friendship so far outside of U.Va., 3,000 miles from Charlottesville," Covington says. "The U.Va. connection brings people together."
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