Everyone loves a good ’90s sitcom. Whether you’re in it for Kramer’s antics, wish that you too could spend your afternoons sipping lattes at the Central Perk, or yearn to have all your problems solved (or maybe not) by an FM radio psychiatrist, there’s something for everyone in ’90s sitcoms. However, for those of you who still aren’t convinced that a ’90s sitcom is for you, you’re in luck, because there’s a new show on the block!

While it’s not exactly “’90s,” it’s celebrating its 90th year in print, and just like the beloved TV shows that colored many of our childhoods, it’s sure to keep you sometimes laughing, sometimes entertained, and always engaged. While this may be a pilot episode of our leadership, this certainly isn’t Tatler’s inaugural season. Ever since Tatler first aired in 1934, modeled after 18th-century British newspaper The Tatler, we’ve produced every issue with one goal in mind: for the people, by the people (even if that comes with bad reviews at times). As our students and school change, we change with them: just like Carrie Bradshaw gives viewers a summary of her drama every episode, we summarize each issue with a recently established Newsletter in an effort to make our content more accessible. Just like Lorelai Gilmore takes a coffee break at Luke’s Diner every morning, our very own Lorelei produces the interview series “Coffee Breaks,” taking students on a behind-the-scenes exclusive of Lakeside. This issue in your hands may be your very first (if so, welcome!), but it isn’t ours.

But every good ’90s sitcom also needs to distinguish itself. In that spirit, there is plenty of change coming to Tatler this year.

For one, at their height, good sitcoms were always part of community conversations. The 90-year edition of Tatler plans to not only be part of those conversations at Lakeside but to drive them. As the presidential election nears us, tensions mount internationally and students grapple with changes at Lakeside, the world hasn’t been quiet — you haven’t been either. From mornings on the bus to WCC chatter and classroom discussions, we see that conservation is happening. This time, we not only want to report on it, but be a part of it. In order to do so, we won’t be like other ’90s sitcoms that play dully in the background while you do other things. Instead, Tatler will be on full volume. From a soon-to-come staff editorial and new political and culture hot take columns, dialogue isn’t just something we use for clickbait pull quotes: it’s what we intend to spark.

And that starts with you. Because any good sitcom is greater than its stars or even the sum of its characters (though we do very much love our staff). Instead, it’s often the product of its audience. As a student paper, Tatler is no different. We won’t stand for any pre-recorded laugh tracks or cued applause; we don’t want your automatic responses. We want your honest reactions — your joy, your outrage, your interest — and perhaps even more importantly than that, we want to hear those reactions, whether they be to our paper’s choices or to the world’s news at large. To these ends, Tatler will continue to host guest-writing opportunities, will solicit more student opinions via Instagram polls, and will provide a space to submit “Letters to the Editors.” As we stated above, we’ll also do our best to publish content that is relevant, engaging, and makes you want to react. And even though this letter is sitcom-themed, we’re not exactly celebrities (though we are exceedingly cool). Please feel free to shoot us an email, stop us on campus, or talk to us anytime.

So, are you excited to read the rest of our pilot episode so far? For the sake of our cramped writer’s room in Piggott, we hope you are. On behalf of the Tatler staff, we are honored to invite you to sit down, microwave some WCC popcorn (if they ever restock), and join us for the 90th-anniversary edition of the best student paper around. We’ll be right there beside you.

Back after this short message from our sponsors,

Jackson B. ’25 and Reagan R. ’25

Editors-in-Chief, Lakeside Tatler 2024-2025

JacksonB25@lakesideschool.org ReaganR25@lakesideschool.org