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SURFING Philly kid has the drive to make it big in L.A. The top-rated morning drive radio show in Los Angeles, stars Philadelphia's Ralph Garman. By LAURA NACHMAN Courier Times The top-rated morning drive radio show in Los Angeles, "Kevin and Bean" on KROQ 106.7-FM, stars Philadelphia's Ralph Garman, 37. Garman, who graduated from Northeast High in 1982 and LaSalle University in 1986, has been doing impressions, comedy bits and running characters the last five years as the show's sidekick. Besides his highly successful radio gig, Garman has branched out into TV. He has appeared on "NYPD Blue" six times, including two nights ago as "Officer Gruden." Garman also did several voices on "The Family Guy" on Fox and recently was one of the "talking heads" on VH1's "20 Guiltiest Pleasures Countdown." (In case you were wondering, "Dancing Queen" by ABBA topped the list). Garman, who appeared in all the plays in high school and college, moved to Los Angeles immediately after graduating from LaSalle. Joining the sketch comedy group "The Acme Comedy Theatre," he befriended Adam Carolla, who would go on to fame as the co-host of "The Man Show" on Comedy Central. Before Carolla became a TV personality, he was part of KROQ, along with "Man Show" partner Jimmy Kimmel. When they left radio, Garman took over on the popular show that beats Howard Stern and Rick Dees in the ratings in L.A. Appearing on the top-rated morning show in the entertainment capital of the world has opened doors for Garman. He got his job on "NYPD Blue" because executive producer Mark Tinker heard Garman rave about the show. Garman hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of the other former Los Angeles radio personalities who were recruited for TV, includng Carson Daly, Kennedy, Brian Dunkleman and Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol." Garman, whose parents lived in Yardley for a few years when his father worked for Paramount Pictures in New York City, keeps up with the Eagles, and does the Eagles' chant on the air. He watches every game at a Philly-type bar and restaurant called "The Shack" in Santa Monica. Garman is pitching a show to the networks and is looking forward to returning to town for his 20th high school reunion next month. Many viewers are tuning into "KYW Newsradio" on WPSG 57 from 5 a.m. - 8 a.m. The weather graphics are alone reason to watch, as a viewer doesn't have to wait more than 30 seconds to get the day's forecast. The ratings have increased a rating point for WPSG from a year ago. Beth Tripani is the only KYW-AM anchor that gets face time. But television reporters beware - the radio reports that are edited with video from KYW-3 could make your jobs obsolete. Was I the only one that was
bugged that WPVI broke into "America's Funniest Home Videos"
Friday night for a report on the sniper? As one of the few shows
that parents and children can watch together, it was uncomfortable being
put in a position of explaining the news story to a young child.
"Batman Forever" WPHL
is flying high over the initial success of "Birds of Prey."
Its debut had an 8.7 rating which helped the news score a 5.6 rating.
Each rating point equals 28,010 households. "Wally World" Wally Kennedy,
who was getting by with only "Sunday Live" a month ago, found
himself hosting three shows Sunday - "Sunday Live,"
"Inside Story" and "The Columbus Day Parade."
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