Busy Beasley must give up network football job

Good news and bad news for KYW sports director Beasley Reece.

The good news is the six-year veteran at Channel 3 just signed a new three-year contract. The bad news is because of his increased Eagles' responsibilities at KYW, Reece will have to give up his CBS position as NFL sideline reporter.

During football season, Reece will anchor Monday through Friday, plus do the Sunday morning Eagles pregame show, then the 11:30 p.m. "Eagles Total Access." Also, he'll continue to host the "Donovan McNabb Show" on KYW and co-host the "Andy Reid Show" on WYSP 94.1-FM.

Reece worked for the networks for 13 years - seven for NBC and the last six for CBS as an analyst and sideline reporter.

"It's an exciting time at KYW, and I'm elated to continue in my role as sports director," Reece wrote in an e-mail. "I have the best sports job in the country, and it's comforting to know that this is the final stop in a career that has taken me to five major cities as a professional athlete and sportscaster."

Reece added that KYW will make up much of the income he will lose from the network job because of its desire to have him focus on the Eagles. Reece reportedly earns about $250,000.

Vargus re-signs

In other contract news, WTXF weekend sports anchor Bill Vargus re-signed with the station for another three years, according to industry sources. His wife, Sue Serio of WTXF's "Good Day Philadelphia," also re-signed for the same number of years.

Estimates place Vargus' salary in the low six-figure range. As one of the stars of "Good Day Philadelphia," Serio probably earns a little more than her husband.

Trivial pursuit

ESPN will air a new sports trivia game show called "Stump the Schwab" beginning July 16. Sports fanatics will face off against the network's resident sports trivia guru Howie Schwab. Let's hope he's more fun than "Dream Job's" ESPN sourpuss Al Jaffe.

For those who think they know everything about sports, there will be auditions in New York City at the Hotel Pennsylvania June 16, 17 and 18.

The grand prize is all-expense paid trips for two people to five major professional sports championships or a full-time job with ESPN in Bristol, Conn. with "The Schwab," who works in the ESPN research department.

Within the last year, ESPN has had shows to hire an anchor ("Dream Job") and now this one. What's next - the cafeteria lady?

Shop till you drop

Starting Monday, the WIP 610-AM morning show will be looking for men and women who think they know the most about shopping for a "Supermarket Sweep" contest later in the month. Former KYW and WCAU consumer reporter Orien Reid will lend her expertise to the event.

Don't bug him

The funniest image of the Stanley Cup Finals was the commercial for Off insect repellent featuring ESPN analyst Bill Clement. Clement is seen "camping" in a tent with his perfectly coiffed hair. Glad he was able to bring his blow dryer to the woods.

Correction

WMMR 93.3-FM's morning show placed behind WIP 610-AM's morning show in the male 25-54 demographic, not for men and women 25-54, as was previously reported.

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. She can be reached at lauranachman@aol.com.