CHANNEL SURFING
Fox and Crocodile collide

The segment went smoothly, however sources said that Steve Irwin was incensed when a local chef supplied crocodile meat samples to "Good Day" co-hosts Kerri Lee Halkett and Mike Jerrick.

By Laura Nachman
Courier Times
It was a collision course between "Crocodile Hunter" star Steve Irwin and WTXF after his appearance on "Good Day Philadelphia" Monday.

The star of the Animal Planet series "Crocodile Hunter" was on the early morning show to promote his new movie "Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" which opens tomorrow.

The segment went smoothly, however sources said that Irwin was incensed when later on in the show, a local chef supplied crocodile meat samples to "Good Day" co-hosts Kerri Lee Halkett and Mike Jerrick, comparing it to "serving pieces of a seeing eye dog to a blind person."

According to a WCAU producer, Irwin initially wanted to cancel his following appearance on "10," but acquiesced, and criticized Fox producers on the air.

A WTXF official said the station attempted to contact Irwin's public relations firm before his appearance to make sure the crocodile meat wouldn't be offensive to the Australian wild life expert, but the firm didn't return the station's call.

The official said the station thought it was being sensitive in separating the Irwin interview and the crocodile-tasting portion of the show.

Looks like the station thought wrong.

 

NO MOORE MARTHA

Add Philadelphia's Moore College of Art & Design to the anti-Martha Stewart club.

The school has postponed an Oct. 4 ceremony to present Stewart its inaugural Visionary Woman Award.

The school did not say whether it would give her the award at a later date or pick another honoree. A spokesperson said that Stewart and the college "mutually agreed" to postpone the ceremony, but declined to give a reason.

ADIOS, CHRISTINE

After six years as a reporter at WCAU, Christine Perez left the station this week.

A station spokesperson said Perez left to pursue another television opportunity, but did not know where.

PAT ON THE BACK FROM KELLY

KYW's Pat Ciarrocchi was mentioned on "Regis and Kelly" by Kelly Ripa, who is from South Jersey. During Regis and Kelly's daily chat on Monday, Regis asked Kelly about her holiday weekend in Berlin, New Jersey visiting her mother.

Kelly reported that she attended the Fourth of July parade, but that the big celebrity there was the Grand Marshal of the parade, Ciarrocchi, whom Ripa said "is a legend in Philly and a very nice person."

RED, WHITE, AND ACTION BLUE

WPVI had reason to celebrate on Independence Day.

It easily took the top spot in the ratings from 7-11 p.m. with a 10 rating/18 share. Each local rating point equals 28,010 households.

TOUR DE SUZANNE

Cross-country bicycle partners Larry and Diane Zullinger, who are in their late 60s, are featured on "Seeking Solutions with Suzanne" on CN8 at 6 p.m.

 

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write to her in care of the of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, Pa., 19057, fax 215-949-4177 or email her at bradyresident@aol.com

 

July 11, 2002