Air Waves
by Laura Nachman
Philadelphia Metro
June 16, 2005

WB17 will air a “Bewitched” marathon Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m.  The movie version starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell opens June 24.  Kidman hopes this remake of a television show will do better than her turn in the disastrous “Stepford Wives” of last summer.

Kidman’s last effort was “The Interpreter” with Sean Penn.  Ferrell had a mild spring hit with “Kicking and Screaming.”

CBS-3 reporter Karen Scullin and her husband Dan Stratman became first-time parents, as son Jackson James was born on June 10.  Maybe Jackson can have “play dates” with the children of CBS-3 meteorologists Kathy Orr and Maria LaRosa, who are due in the fall.

Irene Cara, Cameo, Howard Jones, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Wang Chung compete in the finale of “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” at 10 p.m. on NBC.  Judging from the success of the three episode series, NBC will probably order more episodes.  Rick Springfield anyone?

Coincidentally, the artist who sang “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears competes against her own song with a re-airing of “Britney and Kevin: Chaotic” on MTV at 10 p.m.  Am I a bad person if I admit I like this show?

Netflix’s James Rocci previews “Batman Begins” on “10” tomorrow at 10 a.m. on NBC-10. Expect “Batman” to earn more than last week’s box office champ “Mr. And Mrs. Smith" which made 51-million dollars.

WMGK 102.9-FM’s John DeBella makes his weekly appearance on “10” today.  DeBella is one of several personalities on WMGK who worked for WMMR 93.3-FM in the 80’s.  Night-time disc jockey Ray Coob and part-timers Michael Tearson and John “Bubba” Stevens were also on ‘MGK.  Mid-day personality Debbie Calton and afternoon drive guy Andre Gardner are alums of WYSP 94.1-FM. 

On WMMR, former Y-100 personality Matt Cord is taking over nights from Dee Snider, who decided to discontinue his show.  Snider is frequently heard on VH1 doing the myriad of heavy metal countdown shows that they run.  Cord joins fellow former Y-100ers Preston and Steve.  So to sum it up – WMGK is the old WMMR and WMMR is the old Y-100.

There a couple of new faces on Fox-29.  Brian Shields is filling in for weekend meteorologist Karen Thomas who is on maternity leave and sports producer Paul Luongo is doing some on-air stuff.

The upcoming NBC reality show “Average Joe:  The Joes Strike Back” is executive- produced by former Channel 10 reporter Andrew Glassman.  Glassman’s father, plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Glassman, is married to former “Dallas” star Victoria Principal.