Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
July 12, 2005

 

According to station sources, weekend weather anchor Karen Thomas, who has been on maternity leave since the birth of her third daughter in April, will not return to WTXF-29.  In a station memo, news director Holly Gaunt said Thomas decided to stay home with her children.  Thomas could not be reached for comment.

 

The Rowan University graduate was with Fox since 1997.   That leaves Rob Guarino and Sue Serio as the only weather anchors at the station.

 

Bucks county resident Steve Highsmith of WB-17 was named treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The annual Emmys occur every September.

 

The new reporter on CBS-3 is Brandy Bell.  Bell arrives via the CBS affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina.

 

WMMR 93.3-FM's Matt Cord got national exposure as he was the voice-over man for the "Live 8" special on ABC.  Unfortunately, the special got terrible ratings for ABC, which otherwise has been on a roll with "Dancing with The Stars" and the probable upcoming hit "Brat Camp."

 

"Dancing with the Stars" champion Kelly Monaco, who lived in Northeast Philadelphia until her family moved to the Poconos when she was 13, will return to town as part of the ABC daytime "Fun in the Sun Tour" July 23 from noon - 4 p.m. at 21st and Delancey Street.

 

Monaco, who plays "Sam McCall" on "General Hospital" will be joined by other ABC soap stars including Kathy Brier of "One Life to Live."

 

CN8's Mary Cariaccioli and WTXF-29's Jennaphr Frederick are each expecting their first child at the end of the month.

 

WPVI-6 news reporter David Henry was pressed into sports duty since the station is down to one on-air sports staffer. 

 

Sports circles feel that WPVI-6 will hire former Eagle Irving Fryar and a youngster to replace the retired Scott Palmer and Phil Andrews, whose contract wasn't renewed.

 

VH1 recently counted down the top 100 kid stars of all time.  Number one on the list was Gary Coleman of "Diff'rent Strokes."  Here's the top 20.:

 

20. Christopher Knight
19. Keisha Knight Pulliam
18. Ricky Schroder
17. Molly Ringwald
16. Dustin Diamond
15. Kirk Cameron
14. Tatum O'Neal
13. Jonathan Lipnicki
12. Brooke Shields
11. Jackson Five
10. Danny Bonaduce
9. Maureen McCormick
8. Corey Feldman
7. Ron Howard
6. Emmanuel Lewis
5. Drew Barrymore
4. Jodie Foster
3. Olsen Twins
2. Macaulay Culkin
1. Gary Coleman