Eskin has been a contributor to WCAU’s “Sports Final” since 1996. On Sunday night’s show, he announced that he was leaving Channel 10.
KYW hopes Eskin will be able to improve the ratings for “Sports Access,” which is the lowest-rated Sunday night sports show in town.
WCAU sports director Vai Sikahema said, “Love him or hate him, and I’m both depending on the day of the week, Howard is the hardest working guy in the business and has been a terrific asset to our show.”
With Sikahema and John Clark the only on-air sports talent at Channel 10, observers expect the station to hire another sports person. Last year, WCAU hired former Philadelphia Charge star Heather Mitts as a sports reporter, but she moved to Miami with her boyfriend, Dolphins’ quarterback A.J. Feeley. A Channel 10 spokesperson said the station will plan to look for a new sports reporter.
This will be Eskin’s third stint at KYW. He broke into television with KYW in 1982, moved to WTXF in 1986, returned to KYW in 1992, then moved to WCAU in 1996.
It doesn’t appear that Eskin will replace anyone on the current “Sports Access” lineup of Beasley Reece, Garry Cobb and Steve Bucci.
Eskin could not be reached for comment. A KYW spokesperson had no comment.
LIFE WITHOUT ANTHONY
Anthony Fedorov fans will have to watch tonight’s “American Idol” without the Trevose talent, who was eliminated last week. “The American Idol” nationwide tour with Fedorov and the nine other finalists will stop at the Wachovia Center July 24.
For tonight, the remaining three are Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood and Vonzell Solomon. Quick, try to remember the final three from last year. Yes, there was Fantasia, the eventual winner. The runner-up was Diana DeGarmo and Jasmine Trias placed third.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s version of “American Idol,” “Gimme The Mike” returns Sunday at 8 p.m. on UPN 57. Six contestants will perform each week. Each week’s winner gets a spot in the finals at the end of the summer. The grand-prize winner will be awarded a KIA Spectra 5, a recording contract with Range Records, a karaoke machine and library from karaoke.com, a chance to sing the National Anthem at a Phillies and Eagles home game, and more.
Paul Deanno and Anne Marie Green of sister station KYW are the hosts. Some of the celebrity judges are Howard Eskin of WIP, Tommy Conwell of WYSP, Karin Phillips of KYW 1060-AM and WOGL 98.1-FM’s Valerie Knight.
Bensalem’s Matt Walp is scheduled to compete June 12 at 9 p.m.
SEVERE WEEK
KYW-TV is dubbing this week “Severe Weather Week” (is there a Hallmark card for that?) Viewers with an interest in weather can register for one of three National Weather Service “Skywarn” training sessions hosted by KYW chief meteorologist Kathy Orr.
COMINGS & GOINGS
KYW reporter Karen Scullin and her husband are expecting their first child next month. Scullin joined the station in 2004.
WCAU says goodbye to 23-year veteran Steve Levy tomorrow at 11 p.m. Levy is retiring and moving to Colorado. The Temple graduate was a news anchor and host for WCAU and a sports anchor on WPVI.
Reach Laura Nachman at lauranachman@verizon.net