ON THE AIR Bucks County natives pushed out by WPHL Geraud Moncure completed his first whirlwind week as WPHL's sports director, working the last eight consecutive days. The 36-year-old initially was to be hired as the weekend sports anchor, but was in the right place at the right time and was offered the weekday position when negotiations fell through with Mike Missanelli. Third-stringer Blaine Applegate, who was told by station management that he is not being considered for the weekend job, will work Friday and Saturday nights until a permanent replacement is found (at this rate that could be in 2005.) There has been a vacancy since April when Jenna Wolfe left the station. WPHL cut loose one Bucks county native, Missanelli, and did not promote another, Applegate, to give the job to a guy with no local ties who isn't especially better than the former two. Maybe Missanelli knew that something else was around the corner because there may be some changes at other stations in town. According to sources, KYW's Beasley Reece may be headed to WCBS-TV in New York City. If Reece leaves, sources say WTXF weekday sports anchor Don Tollefson and Comcast SportsNet star Leslie Gudel are being mentioned as possible replacements to take over at Channel 3. Philadelphia is long overdue to have a female weekday sports anchor on a broadcast station. Sources say Missanelli could take over Tollefson's job at WTXF. Fredericks moved again WIP announced that Steve Fredericks, who returned to the air a few weeks ago, will work the graveyard shift. This seems harsh, even for radio. Let's give the 63-year-old guy who recently underwent heart bypass surgery and is suffering from emphysema the overnight shift. Fredericks had been working evenings until June when he became ill. The station used part-timers for a few weeks, then moved Glen Macnow to that shift at the end of the summer. Because the station probably didn't want to pay two salaries for the low-rated evening shift, they moved Fredericks. Happy 500th ABC's "Monday Night Football" celebrates its 500th episode Monday night when the Oakland Raiders play the Denver Broncos. The series began in 1970. Ratings are up only three percent this year with the addition of John Madden. The network must be a little disappointed that those numbers aren't higher. Frank Gifford was the announcer who spent the most time on the show - 27 years. Keith Jackson, Fred Williamson and Joe Namath lasted only a season apiece. The announcer most associated with the show, the late Howard Cosell, was on "MNF" for 13 years. Where have you gone Alex Karras? Rendell returns The Eagles-Colts game will be televised on CBS at 1 p.m. Sunday. Marcus Allen will report on the Eagles' defense for "The NFL Today" at noon. Governor-elect Ed Rendell returns to "Eagles Post Game Live" on Comcast SportsNet immediately following the game. Rendell missed the first eight games due to the campaign. Can somebody nominate Dave Brown for office? Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. She can be reached at bradyresident@aol.com. November 08, 2002