On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
www.bradyresidence.com/channelsurfing.html
October 28, 2005

Former 6ABC sports anchor Phil Andrews says working as a sportscaster at 24-hour sports network Comcast SportsNet is like "being a kid in a toy store."

"This is a totally different world," Andrews said. "I've gone from getting three minutes [on Channel 6] to a half hour to hour shows."

It didn't take Andrews long to find a new team this summer after 6ABC decided not to renew his contract. Andrews began at CSN as a reporter for Eagles training camp and became a full-time staff member a few weeks ago.

Though the 15-year-veteran of "Action News" said he misses the people at 6ABC, especially his weekend partner Rob Jennings, he said he's happy at his new station.

"Sports isn't an afterthought here," said Andrews, 44. "I feel like I'm 29 again."

New faces on CBS3

Former Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas has joined CBS3 as a sports contributor throughout the football season, vice president and news director Susan Schiller announced Thursday.

Douglas will make his debut at 11:35 p.m. Sunday on the station's revamped sports wrap-up show, "CBS 3 Sports Zone" (formerly "Sports Access'').

New sports anchor and reporter Don Bell debuted on CBS3 Thursday. A CBS3 spokesperson confirmed that Bell is replacing Garry Cobb, whose last on-air day is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Joe Somebody

Because he worked the World Series, Joe Buck won't be part of the Fox broadcast team this week for the Eagles-Broncos game. Dick Stockton will work with Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver on Fox at 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

Barkann back

Comcast SportsNet host Michael Barkann is scheduled to work "Eagles Post Game Live" this week, despite suffering a back injury that caused him to miss last week's game. When Barkann got hurt, Neil Hartman was called into emergency service.

Though doctor's orders say that Barkann shouldn't sit more than 15 minutes at a time, he is planning to do the two-hour show.

Coincidentally, "Eagles Post Game Live" reporter Derrick Gunn also hurt his back last week and won't travel to Denver this week. Lance Crawford will handle the postgame interviews.

Eagles reunion

Former Eagles Randall Cunningham, Jim McMahon and Herschel Walker are among the athletes who will participate in the upcoming reality series "Joes vs. Pros" on Spike TV in the spring.

Jerry Rice, Karl Malone, Bo Jackson, and Jennie Finch are some of the other athletes who will compete against regular people in reality show challenges and real sporting events.

(Didn't I have this idea for my April Fool's joke?)

Around the dial

This week's format change on WYSP 94.1-FM won't affect its status as the Eagles station. There are several years left on the Eagles' contract with the station. ... ESPN is the cover story of this week's "Business Week." (Full disclosure: I don't normally read "Business Week." I saw it in my dentist's office.). ... ESPN's Stuart Scott and NFL Network's Rich Eisen are back for another round of "I Love the '80s" on VH1.


October 28, 2005 6:08 AM