Channel Surfing

By Laura Nachman

Bucks County Courier Times

March 13, 2007

 

Comcast SportsNet baseball analyst and WIP 610 host John Marzano announced on Angelo Cataldi's show Monday that he is resigning from the radio station for a "national baseball opportunity."  Marzano is scheduled to say exactly where he is going on the WIP morning show today (Tuesday).

 

Comcast SportsNet spokesperson Maureen Quilter said that Marzano will continue with his duties on "Phillies Post Game Live" this year.  However, sports industry sources say CSN will probably need to hire an additional analyst to join Ron Burke this season on the post game show due to Marzano's new job.

 

The Central High and Temple University graduate played several years in the major leagues for the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners.

 

He has steadily increased his workload at WIP and Comcast SportsNet the last couple of years.

 

Marzano did not return a call for comment.

 

 

6ABC news anchor Monica Malpass was in the news last week after it became public that her former fiancé, Steve Thorne filed papers in court to get back a $78,000 engagement ring.  Malpass also garnered headlines a few years ago when she got divorced from developer David Cutler. 

 

However, on the air she’s enjoyed a successful partnership with 5 p.m. co-anchor Rick Williams.  The two were first paired on the morning and noon news starting in the early-90’s, until a few years ago when they moved to the 5 p.m. show, replacing Marc Howard and Lisa Thomas-Laury.

 

On another note, it’s great to see Thomas-Laury back on the air.  Even Jim Gardner seems happier when she’s on the set.

 

NBC10, which just lost weekend evening weather anchor Amy Freeze to the Fox affiliate in Chicago, will be losing weekend evening news anchor Lauren Cohn to the same station.  Cohn joined NBC10 from Chicago in 2004.  Her last day on the air will be Sunday, March 25.  No word yet on who will replace Cohn on NBC10 or the “myPHL News Powered by NBC10” on myPHL17.

 

Meanwhile, former NBC10 news anchor Larry Mendte probably felt some vindication, as his current station, CBS3 beat NBC10 at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. in February sweeps.  Mendte co-anchors the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. shows with Alycia Lane.

 

In an email, Mendte wrote, "I am elated with our station’s success but I get no joy out of NBC10's fall in the ratings.  I know and like a lot of talented, hard working journalists at NBC10 and I wish nothing but good things for them."

 

It’s Diana Ross night on “American Idol” at 8 p.m. on Fox.  If “Sanjay-Ugh” gets the long-overdue ax this week, maybe he could team up with his sister for a “Donny and Marie” type act. They definitely have the teeth for it. 

 

One of my all-time favorite sitcoms, “Bosom Buddies” with Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari is available on DVD.

 

Here are the results of first round action of our “Television Field of 64.”  Please email your winners to laurnachman@verizon.net.

 

Drama Bracket

(1)   Grey’s Anatomy over (16) Boston Legal

(2)   Heroes over (15) Dirt

(14) Lost over (3) CSI
(13) Criminal Minds over (3) CSI Miami

(3)   24 over (12) Shark

(11) Cold Case over (6) Brothers and Sisters

(7) Friday Night Lights over (10) Without a Trace

(9) House over (8) Law and Order – SVU

Second round action

(1)   Grey’s Anatomy vs. (9) House

(2)   Heroes vs. (7) Friday Night Lights

(14) Lost vs. (11) Cold Case
(13) Criminal Minds vs. (3) 24

 

Comedy Bracket
(1) The Office over (16) Sarah Silverman
(2) Two and a Half Men over (15) Family Guy

(3) Desperate Housewives over (14) Everybody Hates Chris
(4) 30 Rock over (13) Girlfriends
(5) Ugly Betty over (12) Mad TV
(6) The Simpsons over (11) Saturday Night Live
(10) The New Adventures of Old Christine over (7) Scrubs
(8) My Name is Earl over (9) South Park

Second round action
(1) The Office vs. (8) My Name is Earl
(2) Two and a Half Men vs. (10) The New Adventures of Old Christine
(3) Desperate Housewives vs. (6) The Simpsons
(4) 30 Rock vs. (5) Ugly Betty

Reality Bracket
(1) American Idol over (16) Bam’s Unholy Union
(2) Dancing with the Stars over (15) Real Housewives of Orange County
(3) Deal or No Deal over (14) The Agency
(4) Survivor over (13) I Love New York
(5) The Amazing Race over (12) 1 vs. 100
(6) Extreme Makeover: Home Edition over (11) Grease
(7) The Apprentice over (10) Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader
(8) America’s Top Model over (9) Wife Swap

Second Round Action

(1) American Idol vs. (8) America’s Next Top Model
(2) Dancing with the Stars vs. (7) The Apprentice
(3) Deal or No Deal vs. (6) Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition
(4) Survivor vs. (5) The Amazing Race

 

 

Talk Show Bracket
(1) The Tonight Show over (16) Craig Ferguson
(2) Oprah over (15) Colbert Report
(3) Letterman over (14) Maury
(4) The View over (13) Jerry

(5) Jimmy Kimmel over (12) Martha
(6) Conan O’Brien over (11) Rachael Ray
(10) The Daily Show over (7) Regis & Kelly
(9) Ellen over (8) Dr. Phil

Second Round Action
(1) The Tonight Show vs. (9) Ellen
(2) Oprah vs. (10) The Daily Show
(3) Letterman vs. (6) Conan O’Brien
(4) The View vs. (5) Jimmy Kimmel

 

Bucks County’s Lisa Bouchelle will perform on “10” Wednesday at 10 a.m. on NBC10.

 

Laura Nachman will speak about her column and the latest news  in television at the Delaware County Press Club luncheon at the Towne House Restaurant in Media, PA, Wednesday, March 21 at noon.  Go to www.delcopressclub.org for more information.