Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
February 7, 2006

 

Learn who wins the battle for “Anchorman” between the late John Facenda vs. Jim Gardner, “Radiomouth” between Howard Eskin vs. Jerry Blavat, “Weatherperson” between Cecily Tynan vs. the late Jim O’Brien, and “Sports Announcer” between the late Gene Hart vs. Harry Kalas, and more in “Philadelphia” magazine’s “Who’s the Greatest” cover story this month.

 

Get your inner “Corey” on as VH1 counts down the “100 Greatest Teen Stars” this week at 9 p.m. Certain to make the list are Michael J. Fox, Brandy, Jason Bateman, Ricky Schroeder, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Debbie Gibson, Joey Lawrence, Dustin Diamond, David Cassidy, Brooke Shields, Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, and of course, the Coreys – Haim and Feldman.

 

WMMR 93.3-FM’s Pierre Robert was spotted in the audience of the VH1 Classic “Decades Rock Live!” featuring Cyndi Lauper.  The probable reason is that Robert’s favorite group, “The Hooters” joined Lauper with scary Scott Weiland, Ani DiFranco, Shaggy, and Pat Monahan of Train.

 

The new show that features a classic artist teaming up with some of today’s musicians is taped at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.  Heart headlines the next installment.  Carrie Underwood of “American Idol” is also on the bill and will sing her version of “Alone.” 

 

Speaking of “American Idol,” Simon and company rev it up from Boston tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.

 

How about those 6ABC promos featuring Jim Gardner and Gary Papa playing a video game at a party during "The Super Bowl?"  I doubt that would ever happen, but it was a nice try.
 
It looks like UPN57 is continuing to tinker with its "Wake Up News," as CBS3's Natasha Brown anchored the news yesterday.  Last week, Liz Keptner anchored instead of regular news person Karen Adams.  The show, which debuted last year, already got rid of its original weather person, Melissa Sander.

 

So how’s Philly radio doing its first month without Howard Stern?  Horrible!  Stern’s sub on WYSP 94.1-FM, David Lee Roth makes listeners want to “Jump” away from the station, though he’s improved since his dubious debut. WYSP’s 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. team of Barsky, Kim Douglas, and Vinnie the Crumb is doing a better job than DLR.  Many feel that WMMR 93.3-FM’s “Preston and Steve” show are the front-runners to take over the morning throne from Stern.  We’ll get definitive ratings in a couple of weeks. 

 

According to newsroom sources, some out of town candidates have interviewed for the weekend news anchor position, left vacant by Christian Farr’s move to Chicago, IL. Bruce Gordon and Tom Burlington are the leading in-house hopefuls.

 

One and Done?

Industry insiders say the contract between WB17 and NBC10 is only for one year.  In December, NBC10 began producing a nightly 10 p.m. newscast for WB17.  An NBC10 spokesperson did not have an answer about the length of the arrangement at press time.

 

Build a newsroom daycare center

Two members of the CBS3 news team are expecting their first babies later this year.  Cydney Long and her husband are expecting their first child in mid-July.  Stephanie Abrams and her husband are also expecting their first child the same month.  They’ll join the babies of CBS3 personalities Kathy Orr, Maria LaRosa, and Robin Rieger.

 

6ABC morning meteorologist Adam Joseph gets the plum assignment of subbing for weeknight meteorologist Cecily Tynan while she is on maternity leave.  Tynan gave birth to a baby boy, Luke, last month, her first. Last year at this time, Tynan was “swimming with the sharks” for a sweeps stunt.  This year it’s caring for a newborn.  I wonder which is easier?