Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
August 15, 2006

According to sources at Metro Traffic, veteran traffic reporter Dave Solomon was laid off, along with others two weeks ago.  Solomon did traffic on KYW 1060-AM for years. Also, familiar voice Bennett Halpern left the company and is said to be doing real estate.

This is the first week of the “Wake Up with Whoopi” show on the new 106.1-FM, which was “Smooth Jazz” up until last week.  This is going to be the “nice” Whoopi Goldberg, not the political Whoopi.  The new 106.1-FM is similar to the last format of fellow Clear Channel station 104.5-FM, which will simulcast 106.1 until its new format is announced.

Friday will be the final day for the CN8 newscasts at 1 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m.  In the fall, at 7 p.m., CN8 will air a live panel-based sports show hosted by Gregg Murphy and at 10 p.m. it will air “Art Fennell Presents.”  

Once again the “Good Day Philadelphia” lineup is being tweaked.  The new 7-9 a.m. co-hosts are recent hire Scott Engler, along with Shenielle Jones at the desk and Jennaphr Frederick out in the field.  Sue Serio moves from the field to the studio for weather and George Mallet moves from “Good Day” to the 5-7 a.m. news with former “Good Day” host Kerri Lee Halkett.  Mallet and Halkett will co-anchor the new 11 a.m. news scheduled to begin in October.

Mr. Britney Spears, Kevin Federline will discuss his upcoming performance on the “Teen Choice Awards” on “Good Day Philadelphia Friday.

The new show “Philly Brunch” featuring “The Philadelphia Sound” will air every Sunday at noon on Sirius Satellite radio, “Soul Town” Channel 53. 

In the meantime, I caught dueling infomercials with Barry Williams and Issac Hayes for “70’s Music Explosion” and “70’s Soul” recently.