Anchor Rich Noonan was to remain on the air through the end of February, but he recently made a sarcastic, on-air comment about the quality of the news writing.

By LAURA NACHMAN
Courier Times
E-mail

A week after reporting in this column the unprofessional behavior of Fox-Philadelphia news anchor Rich Noonan, Fox management evidently agreed and took him off the air two weeks before his scheduled last day on the air.

The veteran anchor was told a few weeks ago that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the month. The original plan was for Noonan to remain on the air through the end of February, but Noonan recently made a sarcastic, on-air comment about the quality of the news writing.

"Noonan's situation had become a distraction here and we decided that it would be best for all concerned if we took him off. We wish Rich well," said Fox-Philadelphia vice president and general manager Roger LaMay.

LaMay added that the station is actively looking at potential replacements to join Dawn Stensland and hopes to have an announcement by early March. This makes sports anchor Don Tollefson the only remaining member of the "Ten O'clock News" team left from the beginning of last year. Weather anchor Frank Cariello, news anchor Jill Chernekoff, and now Noonan have been replaced.

OSCAR TALK

Hurray for Hollywood as Oscar nominees Dame Judi Dench and Mark Bowden will appear on "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" tonight at 9 on CN8. Dench is nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Iris," and Bowden's book turned movie "Black Hawk Down" was nominated for Best Director (Ridley Scott), as well as cinematography and film editing.

NBC 10 MOPPING UP

February is getting off to a fast start for NBC 10. Last Thursday, the 11 p.m. news had a 15.7 rating/26 share, handily beating 6ABC, which had a 10.7 rating/18 share. And its revamped 4 p.m. news with Renee Chenault-Fattah and Tracy Davidson almost beat "Oprah," as it had a 7.1 rating/14 share to "Oprah's" 7.2/15.

Then "The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies" drew a 30 rating/44 share for Friday night. That led the late news to a 23.8 rating/43 share victory over 6ABC which had a 6.8 rating/10 share. With the great lead-ins from the Olympics, it would be a surprise if NBC 10 didn't win February sweeps ... KYW-3 continues to tinker with its behind-the-scenes staff. The latest addition to the station is new assistant news director Alicia George Alii, who once was executive producer of "Good Day Philadelphia" on Fox-Philadelphia. Alii's most recent position was executive producer of news at WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. ... It's funny how when CN8 news reported that NBC 10 contributor and Philadelphia magazine reporter Carol Saline was fined for talking to a juror during the Rabbi Fred Neulander trial, it forgot to mention she hosts a daily cooking show on CN8.

Laura can be heard on WBCB 1490 AM Monday and Friday at 8:45 a.m. Laura can be reached at [email protected].

Thursday, February 14, 2002