Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
October 7, 2003


Philadelphia showed its unfriendly side to Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" during its live telecast from the University of Pennsylvania Friday.  Throughout the show, student protesters were seen holding signs such as "Faux News" and "Fox News" with a swastika in place of the "x" in Fox (unfriendly but clever).   The conservative network shouldn't have been surprised that the liberal students at the Ivy League school weren't "Fox Fans."

The previous evening, Bucks county resident and Fox News Channel commentator Dave Christian presented a citation to Fox News Channel personalities Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, E.D. Hill, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade proclaiming October 2 "Fox News Channel Day" in Philadelphia (is there a Hallmark card for that?) at a reception at the Palm restaurant following the "Hannity and Colmes" taping at the Forrest Theatre.

"Street Fight"

Expect a "Street Fight" as Philadelphia mayor John Street and Republican candidate Sam Katz will debate live from Drexel University Thursday on CN8 at 7 p.m.  CN8 anchor Arthur Fennell will moderate.

One probable winner of the Rush Limbaugh/Donovan McNabb controversy was WPHT 1210-AM which airs his show weekdays from noon-3 p.m.  It's safe to say that people who don't normally listen to Rush (like me) sampled his show to hear his side of the story. 

The head honchos of nine area television stations shared their views about the state of the industry during a "Meet the GMs" breakfast sponsored by the local chapter of the National Television Academy Friday at the Adams Mark hotel in Philadelphia. 
WPHL's Steve Highsmith moderated the panel of Bill Marrazo of WHYY (PBS), Kevin O'Kane of WPGS (UPN), Dennis Bianchi of WCAU, Sherri Hope Culver of WYBE (PBS), Elizabeth Christopherson of NJN (PBS), Perry Casiato (Program Director) of KYW (CBS), Paul Quinn of WGAL in Lancaster and Jon Gorchow of CN8. 

Some of the topics discussed were the Rush Limbaugh controversy, the (over)use of newscrawls, the increase in the hiring of young talent for this market, and trying to compete with hundreds of cable channels.

"General Hospital" fans will be amused to learn that B-101 FM morning co-host Tiffany Hill shares the same name as the old "GH" character.  Where have you gone "Ice Princess?"

David Boreanaz ("Angel") is starring in the video for the new Dido hit song "Black Flag." 

Another Blow for the Broadcasting Schools
Following the pattern of finding a traffic reporter (WCAU), and a talk show host  (WPHT 1210-AM) through an open casting call, WYSP is looking for a new midday host though a talent search.