Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
April 12, 2005
 
While covering the Pope's death in Rome, Italy, KYW 1060-AM reporter David Madden was pick-pocketed last week in St. Peter's Square. The only thing he lost was his Passport, but he got a new one the next day after contacting the US Embassy.

Meteorologist Adam Joseph, from the NBC affiliate in Charleston, West Virginia (television market #62) is joining WPVI as the morning weekend meteorologist, replacing Karen Rogers, who is now part of the weekday morning weather and traffic team with David Murphy.

Joseph, a tri-athlete joins meteorologist Cecily Tynan, who is “only” a duathlete at Channel 6 (I don’t think I’ll be applying for a weather job at Channel 6 anytime soon).

Tynan is marrying fellow duathlete Greg Watson this weekend.  In an email, Tynan declined to disclose any details about the wedding, except to write, “It will be a very special day.” 

In other weather news, KYW chief meteorologist Kathy Orr is expecting her second child in September. Orr and her husband Peter are the parents of Isabella, 2. WTXF weekend weather anchor Karen Thomas gave birth to her third daughter, Ava Elizabeth on April 4.  She joins sisters Mia and Maddie.

Newsroom sources say that WCAU may not renew the contract of reporter Monique Braxton.  Braxton recently was suspended by station management for allegedly bad-mouthing colleague Harry Hairston. 

Braxton, who began at Channel 10 as the weekday morning anchor, was also the weekend evening anchor, and is now a general assignment reporter.

Braxton did not return a call for comment.  A station spokesperson would not comment on a personnel matter.

Reporter Alicia Taylor, whose contract isn’t being renewed by WCAU, is hoping to get a position with WTXF or KYW newsroom sources say.

WTXF morning host Kerri Lee Halkett signed a new three-year contract with the station.  Halkett, who came to Philly from Boston, met her husband, WTXF information systems manager, Jim Liott at Channel 29.

Despite a “hideous” performance according to judge Simon Cowell, Bucks County’s Anthony Fedorov survived another week of “American Idol,” and improved by getting out of the bottom three.  Tonight's theme can’t be any worse than last week’s theme of show tunes. The top-rated show airs tonight at 8 p.m. on WTXF.

Sam Waterston of NBC’s “Law and Order” will provide the voice of Abraham Lincoln in the National Constitution Center exhibit “Lincoln:  The Constitution and the Civil War.”

Anyone notice WCAU’s new slogan “Turn to 10?”