John Bolaris Makes Local News More Fun

The Inquirer’s Michael Klein got a cover story in yesterday’s Inquirer about Larry Mendte, and how some people liked him, and others didn’t. Wow, it’s kinda like me, except people like him.

The article was pretty good if only because it reminded me that Mendte was the first host of Access Hollywood; perhaps he will return to a different celebrity newsmagazine (say, Extra!) to team with the guy from Sugar Ray. But the best part was John Bolaris’ quote; the Fox weatherman was one of the few people to go on the record about Mendte. (Vai Sikahema also gave a positive quote about Larry inbetween knockouts.)

In 2001, while Bolaris was catching grief for predicting a huge snowstorm that didn’t materialize, Mendte confronted him.

Mendte “calls me into a room and says, ‘How dare you destroy what I’ve created here?’ I said, ‘What you have created here?’ He said, ‘I mean we.’ ” Bolaris said Mendte later apologized.

Bolaris, one of the few local TV personalities who agreed to speak publicly about Mendte, said that if Mendte had been spying on Lane, “I hope he gets what he deserves. I also think he owes a big-time apology to Alycia Lane, the viewers, his family” and his station.

What makes this even better is Bolaris works with Mendte’s wife, Dawn Stensland. Ha ha, the 10 O’Clock News could be hilarious tonight.

Mendte could push either way [Inquirer]

John Bolaris, Crimefighter

A promo last night let us know John Bolaris has a special tonight about how he (I guess, maybe not him) can fight crime with the weather. “Because the weather never lies,” he tells us; please note he did not say the weather forecast never lies.

Redlasso clip after the jump.

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God Warns Us Of Impending Bolaris Return

Most of the month of December was spent with bees buzzing by our ears. (Well, it would have been were bees not suddenly all dead.) It was warm, and it gave us something to complain about. “Where’s all the snow?” “Global warming!” and so forth.

Well now we have something new to complain about: It’s too cold! (It’s also an easy topic for first-thing-in-the-morning blog posts.) The temperature today is around 20 degrees and it feels like negative 100. And I already got my John Bolaris joke out of the way, so let’s just move on.

Kerri-Lee Halkett Attempts To Regain City’s Attention

If you’re a more recent visit to this website, you might believe Alycia Lane is my favorite news anchor in the city. You’d be wrong. The news anchor thing goes back a while, but earlier this year Kerri-Lee Halkett was chronicled with Alycia Lane-like precision. (And, really, I can’t believe there isn’t a feature on Philadelphia Will Do called “Erin O’Hearnspotting.”)

Halkett didn’t do anything like punch a cop, but she did hold off Vince Fumo’s advances (stay with me here) to eventually date NBC 10 anchor Jamison Uhler.

Yesterday, Dan Gross reported the two have split, and Michael Klein says they’re just too busy to date. I’m not really sure what this means — that thing where you stop dating someone but still sleep with them? — but the 36-year-old Halkett said something about relationships and time and I dunno.

Halkett is also apparently busy with a local “Dancing with Local Celebrities” event along with new Fox 29 weatherguy John Bolaris. No word on what other news anchors are included in this list of, uhm, celebrities.

John Bolaris To Make Triumphant Return

Dan Gross reports some of the happiest, greatest news in the history of this city today, perhaps rivaling the independence of this nation itself: John Bolaris might be returning to Philadelphia.

Bolaris was last seen in the Philadelphia news when, in 2001, he famously predicted 70 inches of snow or something and we only got a half inch. (This is “Bolaris’ Last Stand.”) He then fled to New York because of 9/11 — I don’t know, either — and currently works at WCBS in the Big Apple, although he reportedly didn’t renew his contract after being shifted to the weekends. He reportedly wants to return to Philadelphia because there are actual celebrities in NYC, whereas in Philadelphia he can monopolize the gossip pages.

Gross reports there are casual, discreet talks going on with CBS 3, NBC 10 and Fox 29. (Oh no! Who will cast doubt on global warming if David Aldrich isn’t around?) Bolaris will make much, much more than you or I will ever make for reading the weather once he returns to Philly.

Dan Gross | Forecast calls for a chance of Bolaris blowing back into town [Daily News]

It’s coming!

Finally, after what seems like months since our last snowfall, the big one is about to hit. Well, okay, the six-to-twelve incher, which isn’t bad and certainly should be fun for those of us (me) who don’t drive and who live near a park (or parks).

Over at Philadelphia Weather, where I don’t understand the data but I love the analysis, he’s saying about 6-to-10 for the Philly area. (He promises a final call later today.) Meanwhile, on NBC 10, they’re predicting a billion inches of snow. No, wait, they’re saying about 5-to-6 inches.

A friend who lives in New York actually called me last night to say John Bolaris was up on CBS 2 in NYC saying there was going to be about two feet of snow. Oh, sounds like someone wants back home!

Anyway, get over to the ACME, buy all the bread and milk in the city and pull out some covers, it’s snow time!

Forecast: First Call For February 11th-12th [Philadelphia Weather]
Major Snow Storm Possible For Weekend [NBC 10]