After spending the last 10 days on vacation in Hawaii, WTXF
"Good Day Philadelphia" co-host Mike Jerrick is saying
"aloha" to Philadelphia when his contract expires
Sept. 19. He'll take a position with the Fox News Channel in New
York City.
"I've loved my three years here. It was a tough
decision. The show is on a roll and it's hard to walk
away," said Jerrick who signed a three-year deal that
includes co-hosting the weekend edition of "Fox and
Friends" from 7 to 10 a.m.
That means he won't escape the killer early morning hours.
"All the people who work these hours do is talk about sleep
- how we slept the night before, when we'll get more
sleep," he said.
This will be Jerrick's third tour of duty in the Big Apple.
He previously hosted an "Evening Magazine" type show
for the New York Fox affiliate and a late night show for CNBC.
Jerrick, who lived in the Rittenhouse Square section of town,
will be moving to Manhattan, not too far from former partner
Donya Archer whose wedding was postponed until January.
He's excited about returning to NYC and becoming a "Fox
Fan." "Maybe I'll get to have lunch with Bill O'Reilly
in the Fox cafeteria sometime," Jerrick joked. Meanwhile,
WTXF is already getting flooded with tapes since news of
Jerrick's departure leaked out. The station hopes it can
continue to improve in the ratings with co-host Kerri Lee
Halkett, who began in April.
WORKIN' IN THE COAL MINES
When KYW weekday morning anchor Tom Negovan reported on the
coal miners' rescue from western Pennsylvania, he knew of what
he spoke. Negovan worked in a mine in his hometown of Flin Flon,
Manitoba, Canada, and his father and brother were miners. His
brother, who had once been trapped and rescued from a mine
collapse, now serves as a mine rescue expert. Negovan was on the
phone with both of them throughout the crisis to solicit their
advice and opinion.
Local freelance producer Thomas Baldrick covered the dramatic
story for ABC, live Sunday morning between 1:15 - 3:15 a.m. when
the miners were rescued. He also set up the first interview with
Gov. Mark Schweiker for "Good Morning America" on ABC.
ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
Hot adult contemporary Alice 104.5 (FM), which was in its
latest incarnation, is changing its format again. Since
yesterday morning, the station has been continuously playing the
Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," and the Website has
been taken down except for the Clear Channel communications'
logo.
When the 104.5 office was contacted, the receptionist said
the station was in a format change and referred other questions
to the Clear Channel offices. A spokesman there could not be
reached for comment.
HOT TIME IN THE CITY
The "Philadelphia Magazine Best of Philly" party
and special televised on KYW Monday was hot -literally, as it
took place outside at the Fairmount Waterworks in 90 degree-plus
weather. Hosts Robin Rieger and Ukee Washington sweated it out,
as Rieger wore a black dress and Washington was in a suit and
tie.
Weather anchor Paul Deanno and his pink tie also did on-air
duty at the 2nd annual special. Station personalities Larry
Kane, Pat Ciarrocchi and Chris Dunn were spotted, as well as
news director Susan Schiller and vice president and general
manager Marcellus Alexander. Rieger's husband, Tom McGinnis,
radio announcer for the Sixers, attended the party, but was
dressed more casually than his wife as he wore shorts and
sandals.
BYE, BYE BYRON
WPHL is on the hunt for a new general assignment reporter,
since the station didn't renew Byron Scott's contract. Former
WPVI reporter Rose Tibayan's name has been mentioned as a
candidate for the job.
The new creative services director at KYW is Verdell
Christopherson, who arrives from Dallas, Texas. Christopherson
is a native of New Brunswick, Canada. Dave Huddleston of WTXF
got some national exposure. He filed a report on the Erica Pratt
kidnapping case for "The O'Reilly Factor" last week on
Fox News Channel.
It looks like the newest accessory for anchors is
heavy-framed glasses. Jack Brayboy of WPVI, Joyce Evans of WTXF
and Tracy Davidson of WCAU are wearing new specs.
Laura Nachman can be reached at bradyresident@aol.com.
August 01, 2002