Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
February 10, 2004

"Hey Ya for the Grammys on CBS3"

The Grammys were music to the ears of CBS3, as the CBS broadcast of the annual music awards earned a 20.4 rating/28 share, the best Grammy telecast ratings in at least five years.  Eyewitness News, which ran at 11:30 with Anchors Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane got a 11.4 rating/23 share making it the #1 rated late news in the market Sunday night.

For those who have given up expecting "Saturday Night Live" to be funny, viewers were treated to a pleasant surprise - it was hilarious.  Guest host Megan Mullally of "Will and Grace" more than held her own with the latest crop of funny women on the show.  Amy Poehler did a great Sharon Stone impersonation, Rachel Dratch spoofed Barbara Walters, and Maya Rudolph as Oprah was another winner.  Upper Darby's Tina Fey, who is the head writer for the show deserves lots of credit.

Hellos and Goodbyes

There's a new Donovan in town - Jim Donovan, the new consumer reporter on KYW (CBS-3).  Donovan replaces Paul Moriarty, whose contract wasn't renewed after 17-years.  Donovan arrives from the CBS affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

Amber Rupinta's left WCAU to become a weekend anchor in Raleigh, NC.  Rupinta was a traffic and general assignment reporter for Channel 10.  Also, Lauren Cohn has joined WCAU as a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor.  She arrives from Chicago, IL.  WCAU anchor and reporter Joe Vasquez and his wife are expecting their first child in April.

Meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin who departed WPHL in December will be the weekend weather anchor for the NBC affiliate in Dallas, Texas.

Finale Encore for Sciaky

WMGK 102.9-FM will air a final salute to disc jockey Ed Sciaky, who died of a heart attack by airing a three-hour special featuring colleagues and friends of Ed's talking about his life Sunday at 6 p.m.  That will be the final "Sundays with Springsteen," the show devoted to Bruce Springsteen that Sciaky hosted for almost two years. According to WMGK spokesperson Scott Segelbaum, the station and Ed's wife, Judy felt the show couldn't be done the same without Ed, so it will end.  If anyone could continue, it could be Judy, who attended over 300 Springsteen shows with her husband.

Try to experience "The Wendy Williams Experience" on Power 99 weekdays from 3 - 7 p.m.  Williams, who once was a DJ at Power 99, does the show from New York City and she's brutally honest.  In the 10-minutes that I listened one day, I learned that she is "clean and sober" and had two miscarriages before successfully delivering a child.  Williams can also be seen in "Wendy Williams is on Fire" on VH1 this month.

Reality Show Update
Philadelphia's Heidi Bressler barely survived this week's installment of "The Apprentice" on NBC.  She was one of the three who could have been eliminated, but someone else got "fired."  Meanwhile, my favorite person on the show is Donald Trump's female sidekick in the boardroom.

Philly's Sean "The Chef" got kicked off "Average Joe 2" last week.

WPHL may have to play more "Cheers" reruns next year.  Its parent company Tribune cancelled "The Sharon Osbourne Show."  Sharon will have to go back to her reality show on MTV and forcing her husband Ozzy to tour again.