THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602230058
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
NOBODY ASKED ME, but. . .
It must be the November sweeps. If it weren't, would a classy guy like WVEC anchorman Terry Zahn be reporting on vampires?
I can't stop myself from singing along with the 7-Up ``It's-an-up-thing!'' commercial.
Kathy Najimy, who plays a manic depressive psychiatrist on ``Chicago Hope,'' is the best thing to happen to that show since Mandy Patinkin left.
While doing a Valentine's Day report, it was darn slick of WAVY's single guy Charles Pugh to work in the fact that he's available. The line forms on the right, ladies.
Spring must be right around the corner. If it weren't, would ESPN be releasing its schedule of baseball telecasts? First game: March 31 at 9 p.m.
I can't help laughing when I see the commercial with Candice Bergen sitting in a diner touting a long-distance service. She wouldn't eat in any place that didn't have a maitre d'.
If I ever run into WVEC meteorologist Jeff Lawson I'll ask what he means by ``calm winds.'' How can it be windy and calm at the same time, Jeff?
You channel-surfing cable junkie voyeurs don't have to feel deprived because CNBC canceled ``Real Personal.'' Check out ``Late Date with Sari'' on Lifetime weeknights at 12:30.
I guess daytime soap operas aren't as popular as they used to be. When WAVY moved ``The 21st Annual Soap Opera Awards'' to WVBT to make room for a basketball game, only one person called me to complain. Speaking for himself and his wife, John Williams of Exmore asked, ``How could WAVY do that to us?''
I can't be the only one who thinks of the Cafe de Colombia coffee commercials when I see WTKR reporters peeking through that outline of Virginia on the news set.
I say Jennifer Aniston cheated on Ross of ``Friends'' when she played kissy-kissy with John Cryer on last week's ``Partners.'' Agree?
Just once, I'd like to hear the guys who do sports on TV say it right. It's not ``time outs.'' It's ``times out.''
CNN finds its Middle East experts in the darndest places. Like Norfolk. Old Dominion U. assistant professor of political science Steve Yetiv will appear on ``CNN Special Report - Back to Baghdad'' on Sunday at 9 p.m.
With two imitations of ``Absolutely Fabulous'' already on the air (``Cybill'' and ``High Society'' on CBS) we don't need a third. Are you listening, Roseanne?
Just about the neatest sounding name in TV news is Toria Tolley of CNN. Toria Tolley. Toria Tolley. Toria Tolley.
If you've been wondering what's become of ``Today'' weatherman Willard Scott, you are not alone. Jack Johnston of Virginia Beach is among a dozen readers who called to ask, ``Where's Willard?'' He's semi-retired, Jack.
I am not alone in thinking that WTKR's rooftop weather reporters need a fashion boost. Writes Virginia W. Anderson of Nags Head, N.C., ``Duane Harding's replacements may be young but they're also dull, uninteresting and have ugly outerwear.''
If Mike and Maty, George and Alana, Tammy Faye and Jim J. and Regis and Kathie Lee can do a talk show side by side, why not Maury Povich and his unemployed wife Connie Chung?
Lately, when networks fall into a ratings' funk, they call on figure skaters with buns of steel to pull them out of it.
In my fantasy life, I'm Dan Tanna of ``Vega$,'' seen at 11 p.m. on fX. WPEN sent feminism back to the Stone Age recently when it aired a program called ``Party in Progress.'' Wall to wall women in bikinis on parade.
I'm betting that you still haven't used the advertised-on-TV Salad Shooter that was under your Christmas tree. by CNB