THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180046
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
NOBODY ASKED me, but . . .
I nominate WAVY's Christy Carlo for success story of the month. It was just last September when she hired on as a reporter. On Monday, the Tufts U. grad became permanent co-anchor of the NBC affiliate's morning news strip. Six months from now she'll probably be running the station.
After watching Roseanne moonlighting in sketch comedy as producer-star of ``Saturday Night Special'' on Fox, I have this advice for her: Don't quit your day job.
``ER'' is the most popular drama on television, but it's not the best. ``Murder One'' is. The show ends its first season next week. Pity it's been ignored by millions.
I'll bet you were as surprised as your humble columnist to see WVEC meteorologist Jeff Lawson pop up on The Weather Channel. Starting this month, Lawson and Channel 13's three other weather reporters will do hourly local updates on TWC. WTKR has a similar cable service on CNN's Headline News.
If the guy anchoring CNN's ``World View'' nightly at 6 looks familiar, it's because he's former NBC Scud Stud Arthur Kent.
I hate to be the one to break the news to Catherine Bland of Virginia Beach and other readers who ask what's become of the George and Alana morning gabfest on WVEC. The word is that the show failed in the ratings and has been dropped. Channel 13 replaced George and Alana with Maury Povich at 10 a.m.
Now that WAVY has chosen Carlo to be part of the morning news team with Don Roberts, Jon Cash and Don Delulio, I expect Channel 10's new face, Erika Johnson, to get Carlo's old job as weekend co-anchor.
I'm guessing that Peter O'Toole must be broke. Why else would he be doing Pizza Hut commercials? This sure isn't ``Lawrence of Arabia.''
If I were Regina Mobley of WVEC, I'd hire an agent and start looking for opportunities in a larger TV market. She's ready to move up.
I figure MTV got serious about its ``Choose or Lose'' campaign when it asked Snoop Doggy Dogg to help get out the vote in November.
Paula Miller of WTKR is my idea of a solid, old pro TV reporter. She recently beat the pants off the opposition with her Thomas Smolka interview. From that, I learned that Smolka, recently freed after being convicted of his wife's murder, plans a career in real estate - even printed up business cards.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice that two of the most violent shows on TV are ``Cops'' and ``Top Cops.''
In the ever-changing world of local television, one thing is forever. That's Susan Gailey doing commercials for the Casey auto group.
I need to get a life. I've built my whole week around watching indoor lacrosse on ESPN.
I'd be lying to you if I said I watch ``Singled Out'' on MTV because I like dumb game shows. I watch because it's my duty as president of the local Jenny McCarthy fan club.
If you like ``Profit,'' the creepy new drama on Fox that preaches greed is good, you have company. Fifty readers checked in on Infoline (640-5555, press 2486) to say they're wild about ``Profit.'' From Pamela Price of the Outer Banks: ``The show is deliciously wicked. It's the coolest thing.''
This will be the year Susan Lucci wins a daytime Emmy. Positively. Maybe.
For my birthday, I'm hoping for the 12-hour boxed set of ``Upstairs Downstairs'' tapes from PBS home video.
Just when you thought the daytime talk shows couldn't get any sillier, here comes a 14-year-old to say she's bleached her hair more than 20 times just to be cool.
And finally, I'll barf if I see one more story about how Sharon Stone upset the fashion world by wearing a $10 black Gap T-shirt to the Oscars. Except for Mr. Blackwell, who cares? by CNB