Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County County Courier Times
April 3, 2007

Although he doesn’t know if he would do it again, WPHT 1210-AM morning personality Michael Smerconish enjoyed his experience as a panelist on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO Friday night.

“It was a hostile environment, but I mix it up on issues for a living, so I’m not complaining,” Smerconish said in a phone conversation.

Smerconish filled the “conservative” role on the panel that included Court TV host Catherine Crier and comedian D.L. Hughley.

“I watch Bill’s show every week, so it was exciting to be on it,” said the cable regular who will be guest hosting “Hardball” on MSNBC Thursday.

The busy talk show host will be guest hosting Glenn Beck’s show on CNN's Headline News April 16 and 17 and the first week in June and reportedly has a CNN pilot in the works.

Melinda should be in her element on Tony Bennett week on “American Idol” tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox. Sanjaya may be vulnerable because Howard Stern is on vacation and won’t be on the air to remind his listeners to vote for the tune-challenged contestant. Maybe Tony will be more supportive than last week’s mentor Gwen Stefani, who seemed to be giving her advice through gritted teeth.

Rob Lowe, who pulled a Heather Locklear/Melrose Place and brought a spark to “Brothers and Sisters,” will become a regular next season.

We’ve made it to our “Final Four” in our “Television Field of 64.”  Here are our results.

Drama Bracket

(1) Grey’s Anatomy over (2) Heroes

Comedy Bracket
(1) The Office over (3) Desperate Housewives

Reality Bracket
(1) American Idol over (2) Dancing with the Stars

Talk Show Bracket
(10) The Daily Show over (9) Ellen

(1) Grey’s Anatomy vs. (10) The Daily Show
(1) The Office vs. (1) American Idol

Please email your winners to lauranachman@verizon.net.

Bam and Missy get married at the Philadelphia Loews hotel on season finale of “Bam’s Unholy Union” tonight at 9 p.m. on MTV.  If they have a son, will they name him “Bam Bam?”  This isn’t the typical type of show I watch, but I enjoyed the fact that it was set in West Chester, PA.

It’s a few more days until the season premiere for the final nine episodes of “The Sopranos” on HBO at 9 p.m.  I’ll miss the show’s great acting, writing, music, and food.  I wonder how many people will cancel their subscription to HBO after the show ends.

Former Philadelphia radio host and CN8 contributor John Ziegler subs on “The Drudge Report” heard on WPHT 1210 Sunday at 10 p.m.

While Monica Malpass was on vacation last week, fill-ins on 6ABC included former 5 p.m. news anchor Lisa Thomas Laury and reporter Erin O’Hearn, who did a nice job.