http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/ent...on/4857430.htm ... Starting Monday, a familiar face will return to the Philadelphia news scene - that of Marc Howard, formerly of WPVI, soon to start on KYW. Will you be watching?

Two nights in to Mr. Howard's run ... what do you think?

I, personally, like it.

I'm usually a Channel 6 person - certainly at 5 and 6. But I think I'll watch channel 3 at night now ... I think he's doing a nice job, and so are Kathy and Beasley.

Thoughts?

~JK

Not bad, but he is not quite the same as Larry Kane. I am still a Channel 10 guy. Marc Howard just doesn't have as much personality.

I read in the Daily News that on his first night, he started ending the show with his usual Action News bit, then caught himself and did it the new way.
He said it felt like everyone else was on vacation and he was still on the old set.

I got a chuckle out of it, but I totally understand. You do something for a long as he did Action News and you're locked into a pattern.

As for actually watching the news, I can't give an opinion. I haven't watched a local news broadcast from start to finish in years. I usually find out about things I haven't read online in the paper the next morning.

It's funny hoow the Web has changed things like that. The only local news that has tried to leverage that at all is Channel 10, who routinely refers viewers to their Web site with polls, contests and interactive segments.

I always enjoyed Larry Kane. Marc Howard is in a tough spot trying to fill his shoes.

A follow-up on Marc Howard's adjusting to life at the new station:

Marc, 3; Kathy, 1

"If you're keeping score, it's 3 for Marc Howard, 1 for Kathy Orr.

Three times WPVI exile Howard, now solo anchoring the 11 p.m. news at Channel 3, said "Action News" instead of "Eyewitness News." There were a couple of near misses when he nearly said "Chopper Six" when he meant "Chopper 3."

One night last week, meteorologist Orr identified her forecast as EarthWatch, which is what it's called at NBC-10, where she worked until late last year.

Howard is the scorekeeper, finding himself getting more comfortable in his new surroundings every day. "I feel good. I feel like I'm off and running," says the lifelong jogger. "I have located the men's room. I have located the coffee machine. The rest is simple."

He denies a rumor that a management meeting was held to discuss his fluffs. "Something was mentioned in passing," he says. News director Susan Schiller agrees. "There was no 'big' meeting," she says. "We review the show. We talk about what we like and what we don't like."

Both deny a rumor that someone sneaked into Howard's office and put up CBS 3 signs to remind him where he works now, after 25 years at the other place. Schiller says new signs have been hung everywhere for the benefit of all the reporters.

New signage will be easily noticed on the new set, which is planned to be unveiled during tonight's 5 p.m. news."

That would be funny to watch. Its interesting how each network seems to be swapping and recycling anchors and weather people. Where is the new talent?

NBC has apparently hired new meteorologist Amy Freeze. However, their own news story is a non-working link. Great job, NBC10.com web team.

From what I remember reading about it in the paper, Freeze is her actual maiden name, though she is married.

Just in time for the next arctic blast!

Personally as far as network tv goes, you can not beat channel 6. Though far and away the best news station is Fox News Channel. Now it even has Mike Jerrick from Fox Philadelphia...

JS