Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
December 12, 2006

In an email sent to the newsroom Friday afternoon, Fox29 news director Holly Gauntt dispelled rumors that former 6ABC reporter Michele McCormack will be joining the upcoming Fox29 5 p.m. show.

The email said, “Michele McCormack will not be working here despite hopes that she would.”

McCormack currently is a morning news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Before that, she was a reporter for 6ABC for eight years.

CBS3 will need to continue to look for an evening weekend news anchor, as previously announced new hire Jeff Herndon reconsidered and won’t be joining the station after all. 

It would be interesting to count the number of news anchors CBS3 and NBC10 have gone through in the time that 6ABC weekend news anchor Rob Jennings has done the weekend news since 1977.

“Brady Bunch” stars don’t retire, they go to VH1.  Following the lead of former cast mates Florence Henderson and Christopher Knight, Maureen McCormick will participate in a VH1 “Cele

breality” series, “Celebrity Fit Club 5” beginning in April.  The rest of the cast is Dustin Diamond of “Saved by the Bell,” Da Brat, Warren G., Kimberley Locke of “American Idol” “Ross the Intern” from “The Tonight Show,” Tiffany, and Cledus T. Judd.

Lynn Doyle’s holiday shows return to CN8 with “Holiday Destinations” on December 14, “Year Round Holiday,” December 18, “Holiday Traditions” December 19, and “It’s Your Call Celebrates the Holidays” on December 24. 

Rachael Ray will sign copies of her new book, “2, 4, 6, 8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds” December 19 at the Rittenhouse Square Barnes and Noble from noon – 2 p.m. and at the King of Prussia Williams-Sonoma from 6 – 8 p.m. 

Congratulations to NBC10 meteorologist Doug Kammerer and his wife Holly who became first-time parents to son Kenton Noel born on December 3. Kenton weighed in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long when he was born.

Also, in one more ratings note that was not reported last week, at 3 p.m. “General Hospital” on 6ABC leads with a 4 rating/11 share.  The “Inside Edition/Insiders” combo (2 rating/7 share) on CBS3 leads by one share point over “Ellen” on NBC10 and the “Judge Joe Brown/Judge Alex” combo (2 rating/6 share) on Fox 29.  Each rating point equals around 29,000 households.