Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
January 13, 2004

"Don't Walk Away Renee"
WCAU must be happy that news anchor Renee Chenualt-Fattah is back from maternity leave in time for February sweeps.  She is back on the 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. shows with Tim Lake.  WCAU was in second place behind WPVI in those timeslots in November without Renee.

Expect "The Tony Danza Show" to replace "The Wayne Brady Show" in the fall at 10 a.m. on WPVI.  Though it won Emmys last year for best daytime talk show and best daytime talk show host, the show was canceled.  Though the first reaction is to scoff at the Danza show, he's been one of the big successes from "Taxi."  Where have you gone Jeff Conaway?

Jamie Smith is the new reporter on KYW.  He joins the station from the NBC affiliate in Erie, PA.

"Spring Fling for Professor Kerri-Lee"
Fox-Philadelphia "Good Day Philadelphia" host Kerri-Lee Halkett will be teaching a class for Temple's broadcasting department for the spring semester, which starts next week.  Since Halkett is off the air by 9 a.m., it shouldn't be difficult for her to make room in her day to schedule a class. 

Philadelphia's Chef Joseph Poon will be on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" today at 3 p.m. on WCAU.  The Joseph Poon Asian Fusion restaurant is on 10th and Arch Street in Chinatown.  Ellen has received almost universal critical praise for her talk show.

"Can We Talk About Jewelry?"
Joan Rivers will help QVC launch its annual national search for a host on Monday in Port. St. Lucie, Florida.  The auditions will take place in five other cities across the country where QVC has call centers, but won't have an audition this year at its studio in West Chester.  Viewers will get to choose the next host among five finalists in May.

"I Feel Great in Your House"
Former Sixers president Pat Croce star in his own syndicated reality show called "Pat Croce: Moving In" from Sony Pictures Television.  How about he moves into Allen Iverson's house?

There are two new reporters on CN8, Darryl Carver, most recently of the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., and Kyle Schmoyer, of the ABC affiliate in Wilkes- Barre/Scranton.  Behind the scenes, new assignment desk manager Tara Facenda joins news director John Mussoni at CN8.  Both worked for WTXF in the same roles.

Britney Need Not Apply
If you just got engaged, you should enter the "Ultimate Wedding" contest on CN8's show "Your Morning."  One lucky couple with "the truest love story" will be chosen for an all-expenses paid marriage ceremony and reception.  The contest kicks off January 22nd on "Your Morning" which airs from 9-11 a.m.

There are a couple of programming changes at WBCB 1490-AM.  "Smiling" Lou Powers and his "Sunshine Music Memories Program" will be moving to the midday slot.  "Coffee with Kahuna" and WBCB program director Paul Baroli will take over the afternoon drive slot from 3-5 p.m. with live requests and local traffic every 15 minutes.  "Speak Your Piece" remains at noon and Irv Homer continues from 1-3 p.m

Bob Kelly, who already is seen on KYW and heard on WYSP 94.1-FM will add Infinity sister station WOGL 98.1-FM to his to-do list. He will do traffic reports for the oldies station.  He also does reports on EagleVision at Eagles home games and JumboTron for Flyers and Sixers home games (he probably just wants to see the games for free).