Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
November 1, 2005

 

 

WYSP 94.1-FM unveiled its post-Howard Stern plans, as it changed from rock to “Free-FM” Tuesday. Instead of one Howard Stern in the morning, there will be lots of Howard Stern-types, as the station is dumping rock music during the week and will have personalities doing talk, bits, and not playing music. One of the new personalities is "Barsky," who also was the morning man at the old “Hot Hits 98,” WPLY-FM, WPTP-FM, and WMMR-FM. He’ll man the 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. shift with former WMMR co-hort, Vinnie the Crumb, and Philly radio veteran Kim Douglas. The rest of the weekday lineup is Kidd Chris from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Couzin Ed from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., Matt and Huggy from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., and Rick Allen from 2 a.m. – 6 a.m.  As expected, David Lee Roth will take over for East coast Infinity stations for Stern at the beginning of 2006.

 

Stalled in Traffic

John Valerio, the afternoon traffic reporter for 6ABC since 1999, filed his last report for the station Friday.  As was previously reported, 6ABC switched traffic services from SmarTraveler to traffic.com. 

 

Sixers announcer Marc Zumoff and CBS3 news anchor Pat Ciarrocchi’s “Breaking into Broadcasting” workshop returns for another five-week session November 8.  Sessions will be held at Videolink studios in Center City.  Go to www.ontheairworkshops.com.

 

CN8 news anchor Arthur Fennell is serving as the keynote speaker for the Bucks County NAACP Freedom Fund Celebration Saturday at the Bucks County Sheraton Hotel in Langhorne. For more information, go to www.bucksnaacp.org.

 

Correction – Former 6ABC reporter Michele McCormack is now the morning news anchor for the Milwaukee, WI CBS affiliate, not the ABC affiliate, which was previously reported.

 

“Everybody Loves Raymond” star Peter Boyle was the recipient of the LaSalle University Communications department’s “Shining Star” award Saturday night.  Boyle graduated from LaSalle in 1957.  Also, LaSalle graduate Ralph Garman, the host of Spike TV’s “Joe Schmo,” had a part in the recent movie “Two for the Money.”

 

You Know You’ve Made It When…

Philadelphia-based sports writer and ESPN2 host Stephen A. Smith was parodied on “Saturday Night Live.”  Finesse Mitchell was the impersonator.

 

Abington High’s Tina Kim, a reporter for Fox29, is leaving town to join fiancé Karl Kottke, a Navy pilot based in Virginia Beach, VA.  (Hey Tina, I know some good seafood restaurants there.) Kim, 34, and Kottke met when they were students at Duke University and reconnected this year. Their wedding date is January 15.  Kim was a reporter for WB17 for three years and Fox the last two years.

 

Though Fox recently hired new reporter John Atwater, Fox is planning to hire another reporter to replace Kim (get those resumes over there Channel 17 people).

 

One person who need not apply is WB17 reporter Tim Furlong, who will join the WB17/NBC10 hybrid news in December. 

 

Bucks county resident and former “Love Boat” regular Jill Whelan, who has been popping up on WPHT 1210-AM, was one of the talking heads on the hilarious “I Love the 80’s 3-D” on VH1 last week.  My favorites on the show are Mo Rocca, Hal Sparks, Michael Ian Smith, Rachael Harris, and Loni Love.

 

CBS3 meteorologist Maria LaRosa and her husband Mariusz became parents last week, after the birth of son, Michael Leonard.  Michael weighed 7 lbs, 12 oz and measured 20 inches.