Changes Ahead at NBC10

NBC10 News Director Anzio Williams is under the microscope of NBC management to bring more viewers to the NBC10 newscasts. Former News Director Chris Blackman was sent walking six months ago followed by Assistant News Director Dave Parker. Now, changes have begun to effect on-air talent as Williams begins to weed out some in the newsroom. Long-time anchor Tim Lake was let go December 7th after his last on-air appearance that night. He had been at CAU for over eleven years. Now, Dawn Timmeney has also been shown the door this past Friday. Word has it that the next individual will be weather guy Dave Warren. An announcement has been made of new hire Nefertiti Jaquez joining the team in January. Jaquez comes from Houston where she has spent the last three years. Prior to that she was here--at FOX29. Also coming on board is Meteorologist Brittney Ship from Phoenix. Shipp starts in January as well and is rumored to be Warren's replacement.

Random Observations

Well, here I am! I return with some random observations. *Tango Traffic continues to be as bad as ever. How this channel remains on-air is beyond me. The "talent", If that is what they're called, is horrible! Only Jason Lee, Rhonda Finkwhitman, Dale Shaw, Robert Block and Stephanie Humphrey would rate as "talent" in my opinion. In watching a "David Itelle" today, this guy attempted to tell his viewers that Wonder Woman is somehow tied to the meaning of Athena! Athena is the name of this first winter storm, as named by the folks at The Weather Channel. TWC announced this past summer their plan to begin naming winter storms this year. Itelle mentioned that "some big name weather types have decided to name this storm because its going to be so bad, and, on the heels of Sandy". His information couldn't have been more wrong. Basically, Wonder Woman has nothing to do with the meaning of "Athena". Rather, "Athena" was the Greek goddess of wisdom, handicrafts and warfare--to name a few. In fairness, a segment later, Itelle corrected himself and stated the accurate meaning of Athena. Gina Gannon who reports weeknights in the 7p-10p timeframe probably has to be their worst on-air type. She stumbles, mumbles and comes across as being totally out of contact with what she's trying to convey. *The weather folks at "Action News" busted their butts with their nonstop coverage of Storm Sandy throughout the region. Joseph tweets quite often, allowing viewers into a look into his life within and outside of his television life. Joseph tweeted recently that he began a prescheduled move the weekend of Sandy. He had just sold his Manayunk digs after seven years of being a homeowner there. So, on top of storm Sandy's planned "ramped-up coverage", Joseph had total chaos in his new place as well as having to attend a funeral for the passing of a cousin. Joseph and Cecily Tynan put in long hours with Melissa Magee and the news team to provide nonstop storm coverage. During the height of the storm, Tynan tossed her airtime over to Joseph when he began speaking and realized his microphone was not on. In fumbling for his mic pack, one could hear Tynan offering hers--and saying "more on?" Joseph managed to get his mic turned on, but not before leaving some viewers to think they heard something different. Viewers turned to Twitter and Facebook that Tynan called Joseph a "moron" Jim Gardner set the record straight in the next segment that the Action News family are that. Family. And therefore, would never resort to name calling...something beginning with "M", ending in "N" and "O, R and O" in between! He then laughed, said Tynan and Joseph are best of friends and that Joseph indeed is "a big moron"! Joseph can be found on twitter at @6abcadamjoseph Adam Joseph definitely comes across as very down-to-earth and approachable. He's probably the top tweeter at 6abc making himself available to his viewers. *Word from former FOX29 weather guy, John Bolaris, tweets that he is now doing weather reports for Howard Stern's satellite radio show. Bolaris tweets local weather information quite often. Bolaris can be found at @johnbolaris Bolaris wasn't successful in finding a weather gig in the Philadelphia market. He is writing a weekly column for The Metro which began last week. *Online reports indicate former CBS3 "Eyewitness News" anchor Alycia Lane (now anchoring early mornings in Los Angeles) made it known she would have liked to return to a TV gig here! Prior to resigning with her current station in L.A., Lane's agent put the feelers out here on behalf of Lane. Unfortunately for her, there were no takers who could compete with her salary at KNBC. Lane dated Q102 DJ Chris Booker at one time who also relocated to L.A. *FOX 29's Lauren Cohn, a former reporter/anchor at NBC10, has announced she is leaving FOX once her contract ends. Cohn was once thought to be the replacement for Kerrie Lee Halket's main anchor seat. That, unfortunately, did not come to pass.

ON HIATUS

Due to time constraints these days--I must put the blog on hiatus.

Bolaris Leaving Philadelphia?

John Bolaris, former Chief Meteorologist at FOX 29, has taken to Twitter to announce he may possibly be leaving his "beloved city" and "beloved daughter". There are rumors he's headed to New York's WNBC. However, Bolaris tweeted he cannot comment on anything. He did tweet that he just has had no luck in landing a position here and hoped to finish out his weather calling here in Philadelphia. Best of luck in wherever he lands.

The Return of Erin O'Hearn to PVI

WPVI "Action News" favorite, Erin O'Hearn, is set to return to the station after more than a year on maternity leave. O'Hearn is scheduled to join Walter Perez as co-anchor of the Sunday morning/midday newscasts. In addition, she will work on special projects for the station as well. Meanwhile, Nydia Han who has been anchoring the Sunday shows with Perez, is out on her own maternity leave.

Pat Ciarrocchi at KYW 30 Years

Pat Ciarrocchi celebrates 30 years at KYW-TV's CBS-3. Her broadcast career began at WAMS radio in Wilmington DE in 1974 where she remained for the next five years. By 1979, it was time for a new challenge--to television that is. She went to WHAG-TV in Hagerstown Maryland where she served as a producer, reporter & anchor until her arrival in Philadelphia some three years later. Pat grew the morning's "KYW-3 Today" morning newscast from a thirty minute broadcast to a two hour show. She transferred to the 5:30 newscast in 1988 to co-anchor "Eyewitness News" with Jerry Penacoli. She was anhor for a year of "Evening Magazine" and has anchored the noon newscast off and on over the years and continues today--"Talk Philly", with fellow broadcaster Uke Washington. Below is a link to a clip I found on YOUTUBE from 1988 as she bid farewell to the dawn patrol with the late Gary Geers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC0WMuH80iY

CHECK OUT THE LAST "EVENING MAGAZINE" on KYW-TV. Pat co-anchored with Ray Murray the last year.Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUQ6QcR9TkI
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgdXnJcY7U

Local Blurbs

News from KYW's CBS-3 is the departure of Investigative reporter, Jim Osman. He and the station were unable to come to terms on a new contract and he made the decision to pursue other opportunities.
At WCAU's NBC-10, morning anchor Terry Ruggles hits the streets beginning Monday. Management made the decision to relegate Ruggles back to "reporter" status and to promote weekend anchor, Stacey Stauffer.
Across the street at PVI's "Action News", reporter Sarah Bloomquist returned to the air this week following her maternity leave and we said goodbye to long-time reporter Cathy Gandolfo who retired.

FOX 29's John Bolaris Given the Heave-Ho

Dan Gross reports today on philly.com that FOX 29 meteorologist John Bolaris has been given his walking papers. Bolaris was suspended last month over an interview he did with Playboy magazine. The formal word is "both parties have agreed to part ways". This very well may be Bolaris' swan song for Philadelphia TV news. He began in this market at WCAU's NBC 10 until he departed for New York's WCBS where he was eventually let go. The position is now open until management makes their next move.