Let's play "Six Degrees of New Jersey"

Submitted by CulturalWind357 t3_10h4c5x in newjersey

More and more, I'm noticing how much New Jersey is connected to so many things yet under-the-radar. Certainly, some of this can be attributed to New York City proximity and how New Jerseyans seek New York opportunities. But even so, I've been finding New Jersey connections in places that I wouldn't necessarily expect.

Examples:

  • If you're a music fan, the list is endless even outside Springsteen and Bon Jovi. To be more specific: punk music fans know names like Patti Smith and the Misfits. Indie music is well-known for Yo La Tengo, to the point where Pitchfork is occasionally made fun of for favoring them. Funk music has Parliament Funkadelic and Kool And The Gang, Jack Antonoff is a well-known music producer. Emo/Pop Punk kids know My Chemical Romance. Several famous jazz albums were recorded at Van Gelder Studios. The list goes on and on.
  • If you're an animation fan, Henry Selick (Director of Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline) is from Glen Ridge. Disney Animator Eric Goldberg was raised in Cherry Hill.
  • Major actors: Meryl Streep, considered one of the greatest actors of all time is from Summit. Christopher Reeve was raised in Princeton. Slightly more obscure: Retta (Donna Meagle on Parks and Recreation) is from Newark.
  • The "Angry Video Game Nerd" James Rolfe was raised in South Jersey, popularized an archetype of "Angry Reviewing" and perhaps even "online video reviews" as a whole.
  • Robert Bakker, one of the most influential paleontologists who helped usher in the "Dinosaur Renaissance" is from New Jersey. In fact, American Paleontology is believed to have started in New Jersey.

There's definitely more but these were the ones that came off the top of my head.

Basically, look at your favorite movies, TV Shows, media, and other disciplines and see if there's a New Jersey connection. Try to find ones that are out of the ordinary.

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TheRacoonist t1_j56fhyn wrote

I've got a theory that everyone in the US is originally from New Jersey

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ianisms10 t1_j56j2fj wrote

If you're a professional wrestling fan, as far as active wrestlers are concerned, we have:

AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy (Stewartsville)

One half of the AEW Tag team Champions Anthony Bowens (Nutley). First gay man to hold an AEW belt.

Former Smackdown Women's Champion Liv Morgan (Elmwood Park)

2x ROH World Champion and longest reigning ROH TV Champion Jay Lethal (Elizabeth)

And many more

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TheRealThordic t1_j56l8c9 wrote

The list of actors and musicians is a mile long. Jack Nicholson, Danny Davito, Bruce Willis, you can go on forever. The Misfits, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Sinatra, Monster Magney, Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Queen Latifah, etc.

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Lookatmykitty26 t1_j56nugm wrote

Judy Blume of the Fudge book series and more used to live in Scotch Plains, as did Laura Prepon (born in Watchung) of That 70s Show and Orange is the New Black

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New_Stats t1_j56o6bx wrote

i just learned that Abbot and Costello were both from NJ. The "who's on first, what's on second" comedians

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kaliwrath t1_j56rma8 wrote

Buzz Aldrin and Hamilton both Jersey boys (ish for Hamilton since he was not born here)

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ianisms10 t1_j56v2hl wrote

Hockey:

Johnny Gaudreau (Carneys Point)

James van Riemsdyk (Middletown)

John Carlson (Colonia)

Kyle Palmieri (Montvale)

Ross Colton (Robbinsville)

Lacrosse:

Trevor Baptiste (Denville)

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PracticableSolution t1_j57ne1g wrote

Eric Clapton filmed his Change the World video from inside the Hoboken Ferry Terminal (the closed part upstairs)

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tashabunn t1_j587c51 wrote

Sheryl Lee Ralph went to Rutgers. Fun fact I learned on celebrity wheel of fortune today.

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ScorpionX-123 t1_j5aiswi wrote

Kermit Love, creator of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster, was born and raised in Spring Lake.

The Great Hall at Monmouth University stood in for Daddy Warbucks' mansion in the 1982 version of Annie.

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CulturalWind357 OP t1_j5bkt70 wrote

More examples: Arguably the most famous scientist (Albert Einstein) and arguably the most famous American inventor (Thomas Edison) ended up settling in New Jersey.

Let's get more random: There is a character in Scott Pilgrim named Hollie Hawkes who is a reference to the Saves The Day song "Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots".

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