Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
January 4, 2007
Here’s our “Television and Radio Year in Review.”
Television:
Hello – Susan Barnett (CBS3), Erin O’Hearn (6ABC), CW57, myPHL17, Fox29 11 a.m. news, “All That and More” on NBC10, Clayton Morris (Fox29), “Arthur Fennell Reports” on CN8
Goodbye – Bill Baldini (NBC10), the CN8 news, WB17, UPN57, Cindy Hamill (NBC10), Nick Smith (Fox29), Sally Ann Mosey (6ABC), Calvin Hughes (CBS3)
Hello, Goodbye – Former 6ABC reporter Michele McCormack was rumored to return to town at either Fox29 or CBS3, but nothing happened. Kansas news anchor Jeff Herndon reconsidered after accepting a weekend news anchor position with CBS3.
Welcome Back – Janet Zappala (CN8), Karen Thomas (Fox29)
Channel 17 Relocation Program – Former WB17 news staffers Scott Engler (Fox29), Mary Stoker Smith (CBS3), Steve Highsmith (NBC10), and Tim Furlong (NBC10) landed at other Philadelphia stations. Matt Biondi (sports) and Kirk Clyatt (weather) haven’t found jobs in Philadelphia. *Scott Engler just announced he's leaving Fox29 for a job in the private sector.
Turn of Fortunes – Fox29’s Kerri Lee Halkett went from getting taken off “Good Day Philadelphia” (7-9 a.m.) to being named the co-anchor of the upcoming 5 p.m. show.
Not “Hurricane’s” Season – NBC10 weather anchor Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz was part of a confrontation with news anchor Vince DeMentri, accused of being anti-Christmas, and got a divorce.
Best Gig In Town – Renee Chenault-Fattah will do one news show a day for an estimated mid-six figure salary. CBS3 news anchor Marc Howard continues to coast on a one show a day pace for an estimated 800-thousand dollars a year. Monica Malpass works only the 5 p.m. news .
Happy Anniversary – “The Ten O’Clock News” on Fox29 turned twenty-years-old. “It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle” on CN8 turned ten years old.
Radio
“Life Goes On Without Me” - Howard Stern’s replacement David Lee Roth debuted in January was kicked off the air by May.
KY-Wally – Former Channel 6 personality Wally Kennedy joined KYW Newsradio
All That Jazz - Smooth Jazz 106.1-FM switched to a Hot Adult Contemporary format with Whoopi Goldberg in the morning. 97.5-FM took over the “Smooth Jazz” format at the end of the year.
Sunny 104.5-FM switched from Adult Contemporary to Spanish.