Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
February 20, 2003

Here are some observations from the weather frenzy that dominated local television Sunday morning through Monday evening. 

So Many Meteorologists, So Little Time for Correct Predictions - Everyone said the storm would start at 5 p.m. Sunday night.  It arrived at 8 a.m. that day.

A for Effort - WCAU's Larry Mendte and KYW's Ukee Washington did double duty by reporting to work on Sunday.

Can't Have Enough Weather Anchors - WCAU's Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz, Bill Henley, and Amy Freeze; WPVI's Cecily Tynan, Dave Roberts, David Murphy, and Sally Ann Mosey; and KYW's Kathy Orr, Chris Dunn, Paul Deanno, and Tom Lamaine all logged tons of airtime.

Battle at the "Snow-K" Corral - WPVI's Jim Gardner, WCAU's Larry Mendte and Renee Chenault Fattah, and KYW's Marc Howard duked it out at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Worth the Big Bucks - KYW's new weather star, Kathy Orr, who practically is a co-anchor on a regular newscast, was a rock. 

Worst Fashion Statement - The CBS 3 jackets worn by the reporters.  Are they a news team or a high school basketball team?

Hot Word - Calling the storm an "event."

Silly Word - WPVI's "Snowtographs"

He Won't Leave - "Mr. Storm of the Century" John Bolaris, formerly of WCAU, popped up on KYW Monday around 4 p.m. with a report from his new station WCBS in New York City.



WCAU weekend anchor and Bucks County resident Lisa Mishler is scheduled to be off the air for the next few weeks because of a freak accident.  According to a source at the station, Mishler accidentally swallowed some glass that fell into her egg salad that was prepared at her home.  After being hospitalized, Mishler is recovering at home and is expected to return to work in a few weeks. Karen Hepp and other reporters have been subbing for Mishler, who according to station sources was offered the morning weekday co-anchor slot before, but declined to spend more time at home with her young child.

Business is booming at Delilah's Southern Café in the Reading Terminal Market in Center City after it was named the maker of the best macaroni and cheese in the country by none other than Oprah.  On "Oprah's" show last week, Delilah's won a taste test that included Oprah as a judge. 

The Mark of Zora

Sharp-eyed viewers noticed that one of the producers of "Joe Millionaire," was Ray Guiliani, who was a producer for the late "Evening Magazine" in Philadelphia. P.S.  Doesn't Zora look like "Sex and the City's" Kristin Davis?

According to a radio insider, Barsky, who recently left WMMR 93.3-FM, is expected to begin on WPTP 96.5-FM on March 3, as he is already shopping for a female co-host.   



Queen of All Media


WPVI reporter Nora Muchanic was on "The Howard Stern Show" last week, as it played an old report of hers when former New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman named a rest stop on the N.J. Turnpike after Stern.