Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
May 4, 2004

 

KYW's news anchor Alycia Lane "gets real" by talking about her recent divorce with "Dr. Phil" during tonight's (Tuesday) 6 and 11 p.m. news.

Lane and other television anchors from around the country were allotted a few minutes to interview "Dr. Phil" to promote his "Relationship Rescue Retreat" shows which will air this month during May sweeps.

Lane, who will turn 32 next month, ended up crying to "Dr. Phil" while discussing her divorce from former minor league baseball player Dino Calandriello.  They were married for three years.

In a telephone conversation, Lane said "Divorce is really difficult.  Coming to Philadelphia from Miami (in September) alone was hard.  Things are better now.  I don't cry every night before I go to bed.  I am a family-oriented person.  I want to be married and be a mom." 

Lane has been dating a North Carolina man in the insurance industry the last two months. 

 

Going into the first week of May sweeps, WTXF has some changes in front of and behind the camera.  First, news director Scott Matthews is leaving WTXF to become the news director at WNYW-FOX5 and WWOR-UPN9 in New York City.  Matthews was the news director here since July 2001.

And, due to doctor's orders, news anchor Dawn Stensland won't be returning to WTXF for May sweeps.  The "Ten O'clock News" anchor gave birth to son, Michael Mendte on April 1, a few weeks before her scheduled due date.  According to Stensland's husband, Larry Mendte of KYW, after spending one day at home three days after his birth, Michael was rushed back to the hospital with a temperature of 95 degrees.  The baby spent the next week in the hospital.  Though Michael has been home since April 10, Stensland's doctor felt that it would be in the best interest of the mother and baby for Stensland not to return to work at this time.  

"Good Day Philadelphia's" Kerri Lee Halkett and weekend anchor Joyce Evans will split time co-anchoring with Dave Huddleston.

"The Greatest Summer Gig Ever" is returning to WCAU.  Open auditions to become a traffic reporter on Channel 10 will take place at the Loews hotel in Center City May 6 and 7 from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.  This year's winner will join WCAU's current full-time traffic reporter, John Ogden, who won last year's contest. 

Though it still seems like 22-year-old Ogden should say "Back to you mom and dad," when he throws it back to the older anchors, the LaSalle University graduate has done a nice job this year. 

"The Women of Eyewitness News" once again will be part of the 14th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Philadelphia "Race for the Cure" on Mother's Day, May 9.  Amy Caples, Pat Ciarrocchi, Carol Erickson, Tamsen Fadal, Alycia Lane, Kathy Orr, Denise Saunders and Stephanie Stahl will host the 5-K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run to Eakins Oval at the Art Museum beginning at 8:30 a.m. 

Station athletes Marc Howard, Fadal and Saunders will run the race too. 

"Living it Up with Ali & Jack" has died.  The low rated syndicated "Regis & Kelly" wannabe with Alexandra Wentworth and Jack Ford was canceled by "King World."  It aired on KYW at 9 a.m.  It will remain in production until May 27.

The Game Show Network will air "Extreme Dodgeball" beginning June 15.  The classic playground game will also be the subject of a feature film with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn this summer.  I'm waiting for a celebrity kickball tournament.