Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
February 15, 2005

 

With one week of February sweeps in the books, WPVI leads with an 11 rating/18 share weeknights at 11 p.m. WCAU is second with a 9 rating/15 share, and KYW is third with an 8 rating/13 share.  WPVI won at 11 p.m., despite the disadvantage of having a 10:45 p.m. lead-in of a 10, compared to 13 for WCAU and KYW.

 

At 10 p.m., WTXF had a 6 rating/10 share thanks to a lead-in of a 9 rating/13 share, due in most part to “American Idol” and judge Paula Abdul’s weekly meltdowns. 

 

At 6 p.m., WPVI leads with a 14 rating/23 share.  WCAU is second with a 7 rating/12 share and KYW is third with a 6 rating/9 share.  “The Simpsons” on WTXF is close behind with a 4 rating/7 share. 

 

At 5 p.m., WPVI leads with an 11 rating/19 share.  “Dr. Phil” on KYW is second with a 7 rating/12 share and KYW is third with a 6 rating/11 share.  “Judge Judy” on WTXF has a 5 rating/9 share.

 

At 4 p.m. “Oprah” on WPVI leads with a 11 rating/23 share. WCAU has a 6 rating/11 share and KYW has a 3 rating/6 share.

 

At noon, WPVI has a 10 rating/26 share.  KYW’s news had a 6 rating/17 share. 

 

At 7 a.m., “Good Morning America” on WPVI leads with a 8 rating/22 share.  “The Today Show” has a 6 rating/16 share, and WTXF’s “Good Day Philadelphia” has a 4 rating/11 share. “The CBS Early Show” has a 2 rating/6 share.

 

At 5 a.m., WPVI leads with a 5 rating/20 share.  WCAU has a 4 rating/16 share, and KYW has a 2 rating/10 share.  WTXF has a 2 rating/8 share.  WPVI has a new morning news team of Tamala Edwards and Matt O’Donnell. WCAU is also in transition with the impending departure of Steve Levy.

 

Each rating point equals almost 29,000 households. Sweeps ends March 2.

 

“The Tony Danza Show” will return for season number two in the fall. WPVI’s “Danza” leads in the February sweeps with a 5 rating/15 share over “10” on WCAU, “Maury Povich” on WPHL, and “Guiding Light” on KYW.

 

No word yet on renewal for WCAU’s “The Jane Pauley Show,” which trails KYW’s “The Price is Right,” WPVI’s “The View,” and even WPHL’s “Jerry Springer” here.

 

 

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb wasn't the only person allegedly ill at the Super Bowl.
 
According to newsroom sources, KYW news anchor Larry Mendte needed a studio "house call" from a Jacksonville doctor to continue with a broadcast during KYW's week of remote broadcasts from the "Super Bowl."
 
According to sources, before the 6 p.m. news, Monday, January 31, Mendte became ill.  A physician from the station's hotel rushed to the set in Jacksonville to administer medical care, which included an antibiotic and steroid shot. 
 
The shots worked.  Mendte was able to anchor the news that night and for the rest of the week.  The "house call" cost over $1000, which was paid for by the station, and will be reimbursed by Mendte's insurance.
 
Braxton Suspended
 
According to a newsroom source, WCAU reporter Monique Braxton was suspended for a day with pay this week for allegedly bad-mouthing co-worker Harry Hairston. Braxton could not be reached for comment. A WCAU spokesperson said station policy is not to comment on personnel matters.
 
With a name like Hart, it's appropriate that WCAU's Lauren Hart got engaged last week in time for Valentine's Day. The co-host of "10" is planning to marry Todd Carmichael, 41, of La Colombe Coffee who she met when he was a guest on the show in November.
 
It's the first marriage for Hart, 38, who was once engaged to former WCAU weather anchor John Bolaris, and the second marriage for Carmichael.
 
In an email, Hart wrote that they are planning a wedding in Africa in June.
 

WCAU's weather anchor Amy Freeze gets promoted to a news anchor on "Scrubs" on NBC tonight at 9:30 p.m.

 

It will be “Philadelphia Freedom” for real as Elton John (!) will perform in this year’s July 4th concert on the Parkway. As usual, the concert will be televised on WPVI. 

 

T.J. Lubinsky, the man behind the “My Music” series on NJN is the host of a new oldies’ show on WPEN 950-AM Saturday night.  The latest “My Music,” titled “Funky Soul Superstars” treated us to great classics like “Shame” by Evelyn “Champagne” King, “New Attitude” by Patti LaBelle, and “And The Beat Goes On” by the Whispers.

 

My favorite promo is the “Nick at Nite” spot using the Cars’ song “Hello Again” with Nick at Nite shows “Roseanne,” “Full House,” “The Cosby Show,” and newcomers “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Murphy Brown.”

 

One old Channel 48 classic has been saved as WPHL is airing “Cheaters” Saturday nights at 11:30 p.m.  But where are we going to find “Emergency?”