Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
September 9, 2003

Dunn is Done

Not surprisingly, CBS3 weekend weather anchor Chris Dunn has decided to leave CBS 3 Eyewitness News and has accepted a position as chief meteorologist at KDVR-TV (Fox O & 0) in Denver.  Dunn, who was hired only in January 2002 never clicked with Philly viewers.  Once Kathy Orr was made the number one weather anchor in January, it was only a matter of time before his departure. His last day is Friday, September 19.

Soon to be former WCAU anchor/reporter Tiffany McElroy, who is engaged to former WCAU weather anchor John Bolaris laughed at industry scuttlebutt that she is pregnant. "That's a good one," McElroy said in a recent phone conversation.  McElroy and Bolaris recently became engaged after a few months of dating.  No wedding date is set.  "We definitely want to have children someday though," said McElroy.


Tina Kim is no longer a reporter for WPHL.  The Abington High graduate's last on-air appearance was August 11. When a call was placed to the newsroom, a newsroom employee said Kim no longer worked there.  When reached by phone, Kim confirmed that she is no longer with WPHL but wouldn't comment further about why she wasn't with the station.  Kim, who is nominated for two Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards worked for WPHL three years.  Don't be surprised if she pops up on WTXF, which has an opening since Nancy Yamada is scheduled to take a job in Washington, D.C.

Gene Crane will receive the prestigious 2003 Board of Governors' Award
of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Television Academy at the annual ceremony Saturday night.  Crane, 82, has worked for WCAU since the station's inception in 1948 and is a candidate for the Guinness Book of World Records for his 57 years on the air working for the same station. Some of the past recipients of the award were Fred Rogers, John Facenda, Walter Annenberg, Harry Kalas, NFL Films, and Trudi Haynes.

The new voice you are hearing on WPHT 1210-AM from 3-6 p.m. is nationally syndicated talk show host Sean Hannity of "Hannity and Colmes" fame on Fox News Channel.  Former afternoon drive host Michael Smerconish debuted his morning show yesterday.  The rest of the weekday lineup remains the same with Glenn Beck from 9-"Rush" (noon), Rush Limbaugh from noon-3, Jeff Katz from 6-8, Dom Giordano from 8-10, Bill O'Reilly from 10-midnight, Rollye James from midnight - 2 a.m. and George Noory overnights.  

It's disappointing that WPHT chose to bring yet another syndicated show into the fold, when it could have easily increased the hours of two good soldiers - Katz and Giordano.  However, the station still gets points for getting rid of Don Imus and giving a local guy, Smerconish a shot in the mornings.

There is a search underway to find a news person for the new WPHT morning show and several candidates will get on-air tryouts in the coming weeks.  Amy Kaplan from KYW 1060-AM and a former host on 1210 is auditioning this week.

Former WTXF reporter Susan Buehler has been promoted to Vice President of Bellevue Communications Group in Center City. Buehler is a native of Southampton and a graduate of William Tennett High School and Syracuse University.

Luciano Pavarotti's New Voice
On TV commercials, at least.  Local voice talent Tom Richards has landed the voiceover part for commercials promoting Luciano Pavarotti's new CD, "Ti Adoro," to be released Sept. 23.  The 15- and 30-second spots are scheduled to air nationally, including the morning news shows, in a week or two.

Talk show hosts Don and Mike have been told to take a hike by WYSP 94.1-FM.  The "hot talk" format direction in which the station seemed to be headed fell apart after "Opie and Anthony" lost their show last year, and Don and Mike couldn't maintain the ratings. "Couzin Ed" takes over the 3-7 p.m. shift.  WYSP hasn't named a permanent replacement for the 11-3 shift