We have always been Action News viewers as far back as I can remember. In fact, Mom would put on Channel 6 and leave it on all day. News, General Hospital, The Brady Bunch, Sally Starr, American Bandstand, you name it.
As a kid, most of my favorite shows were on ABC. Channel 6, specifically, was special to me. The aforementioned Sally Starr among others made my childhood. Watching The Mass every Sunday morning if I wasn't able to make it to church, was a must.My mom loved organist Larry Ferrari weekend afternoons. Catching Nightline with Ted Koppel was also nightly viewing. Pete Jennings was trusted, even more so than Dan Rather on CBS.
Action News is sort of like family. I grew up with Larry Kane, as the anchor, Joe Pelligrino doing sports, the late great Jim O'Brien as the weather guy. Mom would flip on Channel 6 and leave it on all day. We wouldn't even think of switching to another station. It just didn't feel right, to have a stranger read the news or give the scores to a baseball game, or tell us what the forecast would be for the weekend.
Now, I do the same things Mom did. I will turn on Action News ans leave it. Sure, I watch sports on other channels. But if I want the news- especially the local news- I stick with Six.
Here are some of my favorite Channel 6 personalities
* Larry Kane- the dean of Action News, he was part of the young, hip team of newscasters in the 70s.
* Joe Pelligrino-He did sports in the 70s, again,a young guy with curly dark-hair, a far cry from the old, experience sportscasters during that time. He didn't do anything special. He was just young and new.
* Jim O'Brien- Funny and wacky, made weather fun. He switched over to anchoring the news at times before he was sadly killed in a sky=diving accent From his sayings on clouds every night, to his to his wold ways with word ("Casa Grande!"), you never knew what he was going to do night to night. in the early 80s. A former DJ on WFIL-AM radio, I was lucky enough to meet Jim when he hosted the morning program, "Dialing for Dollars." Sadly missed, even now.
* Don Tollefson- Did sports after Pelligrino left. Always overly-enthusiastic, but lively n=and fun, a real homer. Got into trouble and did jail-time for ripping off people with a travel scam not long ago.
* Dave Roberts- retired now, he did the weather for years after O'Brien died. Also hosted events like the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. t first, no one could compare to Jim O'Brien. No one can, even now, but Dave Roberts carved out a niche of his own and I was sorry to see him retire. His son, David Boreanaz. is an actor and starred in the TV series Bones.
* Matt O'Donnell- One of my favorites now. Smart, hip and fun. I met him a few years ago,a s he was nice enough to visit Parkhouse and speak to a group of residents. Nice guy. Will be interesting to see wher ehe falls after longtime anchor Jim Gardner reties. Matt has paid his dues, working weekday early mornings for years. Will he get a more prime-time type of gig with Channel 6 down the road?
* Brian Taft- Great voice. Also young, lining up for a nightly anchor job after Gardner leaves. Currently doing the 4 p.m., sometimes 5 p.m. news.
* Rick Williams- Love his sense of humor. Usually does mid-day news.Does other gigs for Channel 6 too, including hosting parades ( Thanksgiving day) and celebrations ( 4th of July). Young enough still to be in line for the plum Gardner gig.Rick also acts and sings in local theater.
* Karen Rogers- Not only is she pretty, she seems very sweet and genuine. Does weather and other segments on Action News, including the FYI-Philly show on Saturday nights. Recently had touching segment on about her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, and what it's like to be a caregiver.
* David Murphy- Does the weather weekday mornings and at noon. Down-to eart guy with a sense of humor. Big Phillies fan. Childhood actor.
* Cecily Tynan- Beautiful, athletic Action News main weather person. Was rumored to join the ABC station in New York. She fills in at times for Good Morning America and World News Tonight. Big time jogger and runner.
* Chris Sauers- One of my new favorites. Does weekend weather. easy to understand and relatable.
* Adam Joseph- Weather guy who looks like second banana to Tynan. if she ever goes to New York, look for Joseph to become head meteorologist at the station. Still young enough to be a fixture for years. Friendly and easy-going.
* Annie McCormack- One of my favorite reporters, probably because she's gorgeous. Seems to be one of their elad reporters, as she is on some of their big stories.
* Bob Brooks- new reporter, getting big stories. Already settling in as a fixture.
* Jim Gardner- The big, icon guy at Channel 6. I remember him taking over for Larry Kane in the 70s .Seems like he's been there for so many big stories and events in the area in the last 40 years. He is trust and stable. I'll miss him when he's gone. No signs of him retiring. I had one personal experience with Jim: I had a resident at a nursing home who loved Jim Gardner. "He could park his shoes under my bed any time!" she would exclaim. Anyway, I wrote to Gardner, asking him to send her an autographed picture, suitable for framing for her wall, and he did send her a photo. which made her last days.
" Sarah Bloomquist- Cute reporter/anchor at noon and weekend nights. She has also become a familar, reliable face.
* Vernon Odum- I've come to respect him over the years. Again, he has always been there for the really big stories over the years. If Vernon Odum is covering a story in your town, it's a big deal. Will miss his trusty reporting when he retires.
* Alica Viterelli- Hasn't been around long, but does a variety of jobs at Channel 7. including anchoring. Unless she moves on to greener pastures, she should also be a fixture at the station for years.
* Monica Malpass- Another Channel 6 personality who has been around forever. From anchor to reporting to hosting local shows like Inside Story, she has done it all, always smiling. A mother of twins, she is on the board at Children's Hospital.
Ali Gorman- A registered nurse, she brings a down-to-earth perspective on health issues. Plus she's beautiful.
There are more reporters and anchors at Channel 6, too many to mention here, both in the past and present. They have recently updated and renovated their set, but hopefully they never change their basic format which has served them well for decades. I'll keep watching because Action News is family.
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