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  • After more than three decades, Cecily Tynan delivers her final forecast for 6abc

    After more than three decades, Cecily Tynan delivers her final forecast for 6abc

    The long-term forecast for 6abc? No more Cecily Tynan.

    The beloved meteorologist offered her final weather report on Action News Monday night, capping off a career spanning three decades as one of Philadelphia’s most-watched personalities.

    Tynan choked up as she thanked 6abc for giving her a chance nearly 31 years ago and praised her colleagues for letting her be her “authentic self” as she rose up the ranks from weekend weather anchor to become the station’s first meteorologist.

    “We’ve been through so much together,” Tynan said before ticking off major storms like the record snowstorm of January 1996 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. “But after I leave here, that’s not what I will remember the most. I’ll be thinking about just how much fun I’ve had here for more than three decades now.”

    “I may be retiring, and you won’t see me here on the news anymore, but I know I will always be part of the Action News team,” Tynan added. “And I thank you for that.”

    Tynan devoted most of her farewell message to thanking viewers across the Delaware Valley, who have followed her career — and weather forecasts — for more than a generation.

    “I’ve met families who’ve been watching Action News for several generations. Most people in this area can sing the Action News theme song, and I’ve even met several young Cecily’s named after me,” Tynan said. “What an honor.”

    Among those on hand to celebrate Tynan’s final broadcast was retired Action News anchor Jim Gardner, a Philly media institution in his own right who trekked back to his former studio to celebrate his former TV partner.

    “The viewers will miss her terribly,” Gardner said. “She such a compelling television personality who really owns the screen when she’s on camera. The rest of us just appeared on TV.”

    “I’m not sure people give her enough credit for being a scientist, which is what she is first and foremost,” Gardner added. “She’s so committed to keeping viewers safe and informed when the weather presents serious challenges.”

    6abc’s Cecily Tynan discusses her surprise retirement, sealed after a brief bout with vertigo
    Cecily Tynan, seen here in 6abc’s weather center, has been the station’s chief meteorologist since 2009. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Tynan’s other longtime partner, current Action News anchor Rick Williams, was there in 1995 when she first joined the station fresh off a stint in Las Vegas. Nearly 31 years later, Williams offered a heartfelt goodbye during the 5 p.m. newscast to his “closest friend,” though the two couldn’t avoid cracking a joke or two.

    “You’re my work husband,” Tynan said.

    “And we’re getting divorced,” Williams shot back.

    Despite retiring relatively young at 57, Tynan has no immediate plans, outside of splitting her time between her Delaware County home and waterskiing at her second house in Florida with her husband, Greg. She even turned down a chance to host the Thanksgiving parade one final time so she could spend the holiday with her family.

    “We’ve always been in a hotel by the parade route, and I’ve never actually cooked,” Tynan told The Inquirer last month. “This year I was like, ‘No, I’m going to stay home. I’m going to cook Thanksgiving dinner from scratch.’ Hopefully my family appreciates it.”

    Tynan’s departure is the latest in a string of exits in recent years by some of the city’s most-beloved and longest-serving media personalities.

    Tracy Davidson retired from NBC10 last year after nearly 30 years with the station, while Jim Donovan said goodbye to CBS3 after 22 years. Muckraker Jeff Cole also walked away from the spotlight last year after spending 25 years with Fox 29.

    They were all preceded by Gardner, who delivered his final newscast nearly four years ago.

    “Retirement is a thief, if you ask me,” longtime 6abc anchor Brian Taff joked on social media.

    6ABC meteorologist Cecily Tynan grabs a shoe from one of two shoe drawers she has in the weather center.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    6abc hasn’t yet announced who will replace Tynan as the station’s chief meteorologist on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions of Action News. The obvious candidates are 6abc veterans Karen Rogers and Adam Joseph, both of whom have spent more than 20 years on Action News.

    “Channel 6 is so much bigger than any individual, and it will continue on with extremely talented people doing the weather,” Gardner said. “But there’s only one Cecily Tynan.”

  • NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Tom McCarthy will miss most of Phillies-Angels series

    NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Tom McCarthy will miss most of Phillies-Angels series

    One familiar Phillies voice will replace another this weekend during the team’s series against the Los Angeles Angels.

    Tom McCarthy, in his 20th season as the TV voice of the Phillies, will call Friday night’s game on NBC Sports Philadelphia alongside Ben Davis. Scott Franzke, the team’s longtime radio announcer on 94.1 WIP and other stations throughout the Delaware Valley, will take over Saturday and Sunday alongside Davis, with Gregg Murphy calling the game on radio with Kevin Stocker.

    So where will McCarthy be? He’ll be on Peacock and NBCSN calling a noon matchup between the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins, part of an NBC Sunday triple-header. Joining him in the booth is one-time Phillies radio announcer Kevin Frandsen and four-time World Series champion Jeff Nelson.

    But unlike John Kruk, McCarthy has no issues wearing a suit.

    McCarthy initially though he might call Saturday night’s Phillies game, then take an overnight flight to Miami. But the notorious workaholic thought better of trying to navigate such a narrow window.

    “It just wasn’t prudent to get in at 5:30 a.m. to do an early game,” McCarthy said. “I like to work. I like the opportunity. I like the adrenaline rush. But I also thought it was probably better for everybody if I didn’t do that.”

    Phillies radio announcer Scott Franzke will be on TV this weekend. NBC Sports Philadelphia

    The late-season shifting is nothing new for McCarthy or Philly fans. In addition to his role calling Phillies games, McCarthy is also entering his 13th NFL season as a play-by-play announcer with CBS. This year he expects to call around 10 games, but he won’t do it alongside Ross Tucker, who was promoted to the network’s No. 2 booth alongside Ian Eagle.

    “I’ve known him since he was 18 years old. I’m very proud of him,” McCarthy said of Tucker. “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around.”

    Instead, McCarthy will call games with former Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin in his first season as an NFL color analyst.

    Because the start of the NFL season was pushed back by a late Labor Day, McCarthy will actually end up missing fewer Phillies games this season.

    Last season, Tom McCarthy (left) called NFL games alongside Ross Tucker. CBS

    His first NFL game is the Week 1 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 13, somewhat appropriate because he once called Browns preseason games. As a result, he’ll miss all three games of the Braves-Phillies series that weekend.

    He’ll also work Week 2 and Week 3 for CBS, though the network hasn’t publicly announced which games he’s calling. But thanks to national broadcasts, McCarthy will only miss a total of three Phillies games on NBC Sports Philadelphia those two weekends, though it does include the season finale against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 27.

    “The Phillies are great about it,” McCarthy said. “I don’t miss any games during the regular season, kind of by design. Unless it’s my kid’s graduation. … I save it for football season.”

    The Eagles have two games scheduled to air on CBS, though the Birds’ Week 11 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a national 4:25 p.m. game. The other is a Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

    While McCarthy has called Eagles games on the radio for Westwood One, he’s never had the opportunity to broadcast the Birds on CBS. The streak will likely continue this season, since McCarthy isn’t assigned any games that weekend.

    “I would love to do an Eagles game. I think it’d be a hoot,” McCarthy said. “But I just roll with wherever they send me.”

    McCarthy’s absence is a Phillies tradition that goes back to the late, great Harry Kalas, who called Notre Dame football games in September and national radio games for Westwood One. He also missed games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to do voice-over work for NFL Films.

    It was actually one of those absences where McCarthy got his first opportunities to call the Phillies on TV.

    While Sunday is McCarthy’s first-and-only regular season game for NBC, he’ll call a wild-card series next month for the network. That means for the first time, McCarthy has the chance to actually call some Phillies postseason games.

    “I don’t know if NBC would put me there or not, but I think there’s a possibility,” McCarthy said. “It would be awesome.”

    Phillies’ standings and NL playoff picture

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    If the season were to end today, the Phillies would be the No. 2 wild card in the National League. That would currently mean a best-of-three series against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field, with the winner advancing to the National League Divisional Series.

    Here’s how the wild-card race in the National League currently shakes out:

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    Phillies news

    Bryce Harper has five homers this month and is hitting .338 and slugging .600. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Remaining Phillies TV schedule

    • Phillies at Angels
    • Phillies at Diamondbacks
    • Braves at Phillies
    • Astros at Phillies
    • Phillies at Braves
    • Phillies at Nationals
    • Phillies at Mets
    • Brewers at Phillies
    • Rays at Phillies
  • Sheri Herman, pioneering internet and cable TV executive, has died at 71

    Sheri Herman, pioneering internet and cable TV executive, has died at 71

    Sheri Herman, 71, formerly of Philadelphia, pioneering internet and cable TV executive, former senior vice president of content and business development for E! Entertainment Television, former president of internet startup American Cybercast, founder of SLH Communications, tech prophet, and dancer, died Thursday, Aug. 6, of heart failure at her home in Telogia, Fla., about 35 miles west of Tallahassee.

    A magna cum laude communications graduate at Temple University, Ms. Herman went to New York after college to produce commercials for an ad agency. Over the next 27 years, she relocated to Denver and Los Angeles, successfully marketed, programmed, and developed dozens of TV networks and online companies, and pioneered the integration of TV and the emerging internet.

    She was “mesmerized” by Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, her sister, Nadine, said, and predicted in the 1970s that one personal device would eventually take pictures, send messages, stream content, and still make phone calls. Jarl Mohn, former president and chief executive officer at E!, called Ms. Herman “a pioneer in incorporating new technologies and branding in entertainment.”

    He said: “She also brought passion and conviction to everything she worked on.”

    Ms. Herman founded her own firm, SLH Communications, in 1999. Courtesy of the family

    Ms. Herman helped turn the startup Movietime channel into E! Entertainment Television in 1990 and told the Los Angeles Times: “We’re going to totally reposition the network. You won’t recognize us.” Over the next few years, E! grew its subscriber base from two million to 55 million, and Ms. Herman won industry awards for her marketing campaigns.

    At American Cybercast, she championed The Spot, a groundbreaking interactive online reality show, in 1995, and told the Los Angeles Times in 1996: “We’re creating a new medium, but we’re kind of a cross between publishing and broadcasting in that we’re going to be advertising driven. If we were a movie studio, we’d be Miramax with a little more edge.”

    Why did best-selling author Carol Saline email The Inquirer’s obit writer?

    Russell Collins, founder of American Cybercast, said: “Sheri Herman was nothing if not fearless. Her determination was boundless and fierce.”

    Ms. Herman was especially effective at fundraising for projects and combining online content with ads and product placement. She trailblazed new internet publishing formats that included text, photos, and videos, and predicted the collision of TV and internet content. In 1996, she told Variety: “Eyeballs will move from TV to PC.”

    Ms. Herman (left) oversaw the development of the Discovery Channel, the Fashion Channel, QVC, and other networks.Courtesy of the family

    As director of programming for the United Cable Television Corp. in the mid-1980s, Ms. Herman collaborated with dozens of networks and oversaw the development of the Discovery Channel, the Fashion Channel, QVC, and other networks.

    As senior vice president of programming and production for the Access Entertainment Network in the late 1990s, she reintroduced popular music videos and, according to Variety in 1998, gained six million subscribers in the network’s first three months of existence.

    Survivors give advice about mourning their loved ones, as told to The Inquirer’s obit writer

    She founded her own firm, SLH Communications, in 1999 and contracted with TV Guide, Barnes & Noble, Hilton Hotels, musicians Quincy Jones and Jon Bon Jovi, and other entertainers and businesses. In New York, in the 1980s, she worked with cosmetics mogul Estée Lauder.

    Temple officials noted her “influential career” in a tribute, and longtime friend and colleague Martin Lewis said: “She had a relentless thirst for charting new paths forward. She proselytized new media, new approaches, new everything.”

    Ms. Herman (right) enjoyed time with her family.Courtesy of the family

    In 2007, Ms. Herman reduced her daily responsibilities after being seriously injured in an auto accident in California. She moved to Florida in 2021.

    Lewis said: “She was inventive, creative, exhilarating.”

    When parents die, even the mundane memories comfort their children. Here are their tales, as told to The Inquirer’s obit writer.

    Sheri Lynn Herman was born May 21, 1955, in Philadelphia. She grew up in Overbrook Park with her parents and older sister, and graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls.

    Her family featured several singers, and she spent many holidays singing songs and playing guitar around the piano at her grandparents’ home in Wynnefield. She loved music, studied ballet when she was young, and performed later with the Janosik Polish Dance Ensemble.

    Ms. Herman was a magna cum laude communications graduate at Temple University.Courtesy of the family

    Stylish and social, Ms. Herman enjoyed traveling and entertaining. She was a skilled seamstress who made her own clothes, an accomplished chef, and adept at interior decorating. She doted on her cats and dogs.

    She married and divorced twice, and, after Philadelphia, lived in New York, Denver, and Los Angeles before Florida. Her sister said: “She was brilliant.”

    In addition to her sister, Ms. Herman is survived by other relatives.

    A celebration of her life is to be held later. Family, friends, and colleagues can connect at www.SheriHerman.com.

    Donations in her name may be made to the Temple University Klein College Recruitment Fund, Annenberg Hall, 2020 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122.

    Stylish and social, Ms. Herman enjoyed traveling and entertaining.Courtesy of the family
  • A new voice and different channel for Eagles final preseason game

    A new voice and different channel for Eagles final preseason game

    The Eagles will take the field for their final preseason game Friday night, but the broadcast will look and feel different for Birds fans.

    For starters, the game isn’t airing on NBC10, which has broadcast Eagles preseason games since 2015. Instead, the game will air nationally on CBS, with veteran play-by-player Andrew Catalon calling the action.

    In theory, that means Birds fans won’t get a hometown TV broadcast and will also hear about backup Cincinnati Bengals players all night. But Catalon, who also calls Buffalo Bills preseason games, will be joined in the booth by regular Eagles preseason announcer Ross Tucker, so expect a fair amount of focus on the Birds’ backups.

    “Doing Bills preseason games for as long as I have, I don’t really focus on the other teams,” Catalon said. “But that’s why I think having Ross is a huge plus for us … You’ll have someone who’s been at Eagles practice every day.”

    Andrew Catalon (left) called NFL games last season on CBS alongside Jason McCourty and Charles Davis.CBS

    That’s not to say Catalon hasn’t done his research. The New Jersey native can normally fit the names and information on all the players on a manilla folder, front and back. For Friday’s game, which could see more than 160 players take the field, Catalon will be walking into the booth with a giant poster board with information.

    Like everyone else, Catalon is most interested to see rookie defenders Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru, dubbed by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as the Birds’ “foreign exchange students,” because of how new they are to football.

    Their first game was just a few weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens. Now both hope to land a coveted spot on the Birds’ 53-man roster.

    “They’re both tremendous stories,” Catalon said. “I’m fascinated after the game how Howie Roseman’s going to deal with them. Do you expose them to waivers or not?”

    Catalon isn’t stressed about the game or working with Tucker for the first time — Catalon has had five different broadcast partners the last six seasons, so he’s used to a shuffling crew. What he’s most worried about is getting from Buffalo to Philadelphia on Friday without major delays.

    “I don’t typically travel the day of the game,” Catalon said, “but [sideline reporter] AJ Ross and I will be doing that because we got the Bills-Steelers game Thursday night.”

    While Catalon has only ever called a handful of Eagles games, he’s been around Philly a lot the past few months to call the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club and some men’s NCAA championship games at Xfinity Mobile Arena alongside Steve Lappas. He’s also not trekking too far away following the game.

    “My parents live down in Point Pleasant,” Catalon said. “So I’ll be at the Shore not too long after that final horn sounds.”

    Eagles-Bengals preseason TV and radio details

    • When: Friday, Aug. 28
    • Where: Lincoln Financial Field
    • Time: 8 p.m.
    • TV: CBS (Andrew Catalon, Ross Tucker, AJ Ross)
    • Radio: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick)

    Where can I stream the Eagles-Bengals preseason game?

    Friday’s game will be free to stream on the Eagles app and PhiladelphiaEagles.com if you live in the Philadelphia or Cincinnati TV market.

    The game will also stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries CBS, including YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Most offer a free trial. You can also stream it on Paramount+, the network’s subscription streaming service.

    CBS3 is also available for free in and around Philadelphia using a digital antenna.

    Fans can also stream the game on NFL+, the league streaming service. It’ll set you back $6.99 a month, though there is a free seven-day trial.

    Live Eagles coverage from The Inquirer

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, and Jeff Neiburg will be covering the action live on GameDay Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Eagles-Bengals: Live coverage of final preseason game

    Next up for the Eagles? Roster cuts.

    Eagles GM Howie Roseman signs autographs before the team’s first preseason game.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    NFL teams have been able to keep their rosters at 90 players throughout the preseason. But that will end Sunday, with the Eagles and every other team must cut their rosters down to 53-players.

    In addition to the 53-man active roster, the Eagles will be able to carry up to 16 players on their practice squad.

    Eagles 53-man roster projection 4.0: A few changes — and a trade — after another preseason game

    Eagles news

    The Eagles took tight end Eli Stowers in the second-round of this year’s draft. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Eagles preseason schedule

    • Aug. 28: Final preseason game, Bengals at Eagles, 8 p.m. (CBS)
    • Aug. 30: Rosters must be cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m.

    Eagles 2026 TV schedule

    • Week 1: Commanders at Eagles — Sunday, Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 2: Eagles at Titans — Sunday, Sept. 20, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 3: Eagles at Bears — Monday, Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 4: Rams at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 5: Eagles at Jaguars (London) — Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
    • Week 6: Panthers at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. (CBS)
    • Week 7: Cowboys at Eagles — Monday, Oct. 26, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 8: Eagles at Commanders — Sunday, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
    • Week 9: Giants at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 10: Bye week
    • Week 11: Steelers at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
    • Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys — Thursday, Nov. 26, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 13: Eagles at Cardinals — Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:05 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 14: Colts at Eagles — Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 15: Seahawks at Eagles — Saturday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 16: Texans at Eagles — Thursday, Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
    • Week 17: Eagles at 49ers — Sunday, Jan. 3, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
    • Week 18: Eagles at Giants — TBD (TBD)
  • Ron Avery, retired Daily News reporter and Philadelphia historian, has died at 85

    Ron Avery, retired Daily News reporter and Philadelphia historian, has died at 85

    Ron Avery, 85, of Philadelphia, retired eclectic reporter and columnist for the Daily News, Philadelphia historian, volunteer city tour guide, author, high school history teacher, veteran, and canoe enthusiast, died Sunday, Aug. 2, of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at his home in East Falls.

    Reared in Fairmount, Mr. Avery graduated from Thomas Edison High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Pennsylvania State University. He was assigned to the ship newspaper in the Navy after college, found a creative niche in journalism, and went on to work for more than 30 years at the Associated Press, the Bucks County Courier Times, the Courier-Post in South Jersey, and the Daily News.

    He wrote for the Daily News as a correspondent in 1981, joined the staff in 1982, and, until his retirement in 2000, wrote thousands of stories about crime, casinos, war orphans, historic houses, the MOVE bombing, local notables, and other subjects. His columns, “Poor Ronald’s Almanac” and “One of Us,” hammered away at local issues and featured everyday people doing exceptional things.

    “He covered every nook and cranny of the city,” said his son Serge. “That burning curiosity sustained him till his last days.”

    He wrote three books about Philadelphia, including A Concise History of Philadelphia in 1999. He produced a series of video guides he called the Urban Explorer for local TV in 2004 and posted blogs about the city from 2017 to 2019 on a website called Philadelphia Cracks Me Up.

    “Like all cities,” he said in a 1995 Daily News column, “Philadelphia is honeycombed with hidden spaces and forgotten places.” In a 1997 review of his book, City of Brotherly Mayhem: Philadelphia Crimes and Criminals, The Inquirer’s Thomas Brady said: “The book … is decidedly a fun read.”

    Alex Strang, his director on the Urban Explorer videos, called Mr. Avery an “unforgettable legend” and “a walking encyclopedia of the city’s history and eccentricities” in a Facebook tribute. Other former colleagues said he was “a clever journalist” and “a true Philadelphian.”

    Longtime Daily News colleague Robin Palley said on Facebook: “He had an amazing knack of finding quirky people with fascinating skills or habits and making them come to life on our pages.”

    Mr. Avery (left) mans a Salvation Army donation kettle in 1999.Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

    Before the Daily News, Mr. Avery wrote news and feature stories for the Courier-Post in the 1970s, and the Courier Times and the AP in the 1960s. He moved to Israel for six months in 1972 but returned to work for the Courier-Post in 1973.

    He also wrote freelance pieces for the Hidden City Daily, PhillyHistory.org, UShistory.org, and op-eds later for The Inquirer and Daily News. He served in the Navy from 1964 to 1966, joined the Philadelphia Canoe Club later, and led water trips in the New Jersey Pine Barrens and elsewhere.

    Ron Avery: Philadelphia tour guides should be educated, tested, and licensed

    Knowledgeable, energetic, and naturally affable, he was a tireless promoter and volunteer guide in Philadelphia. He led walking tours throughout the city for students, civic groups, and other organizations, and his explanatory video tours featured cobblestone alleys, urban gardens, museums, statues, and other features of city life.

    He was a stickler for details and historical accuracy, and he helped spur City Council to pass an ordinance in 2008 to educate and certify paid Center City tour guides. “They score high as Philadelphia ambassadors of good will,” he said in a 1995 column about uneducated guides, “but as historians they often flunk out.”

    Mr. Avery wrote a column for the Courier-Post in 1974.Newspapers.com

    Ronald Avery was born June 10, 1941, in Strawberry Mansion. He joined the Boy Scouts, earned his bachelor’s degree at Penn State in 1963, and taught history at Bensalem High School for a year.

    He was a boxer in college and, mesmerized by the sport, later worked as a referee for amateur matches.

    Ron Avery: When journalism involved typewriters and glue pots

    He met Suzet Habif in Israel in 1967, and they married in 1968. They had sons Serge and Ben, and lived for years in a rowhouse in Oxford Circle.

    Mr. Avery cared for his wife during her long illness in the 1980s and ’90s. She died in 1993.

    Mr. Avery liked to hang out with Benjamin Franklin and other historic figures. Alex Strang

    He lived later in Pennsport and East Falls, was diagnosed with ALS in 2015, and proudly outlived its average life expectancy of 18 months by nearly a decade. “He defied that diagnosis and did not let it define him,” his son Serge said. “He always said he had a lot to live for.”

    Mr. Avery was an avid reader and street photographer. He liked poetry, wrote limericks on birthday cards, and posted hundreds of his photos on flickr.com. One of his photos won a contest and was displayed at the airport.

    Ron Avery: History repeats itself with the reincarnation of the hateful Know-Nothing Party

    He enjoyed jazz and jokes, led the prayers at family gatherings, and gave Yiddish quizzes to his two grandsons. He shared favorite recipes with Daily News colleagues and whipped up memorable homemade soups, especially white bean.

    “I’ll greatly miss his endless anecdotes about all things Philadelphia,” said his daughter-in-law, Rebecca Houlding, “the stories about the local criminals, and his love of his family and friends.”

    Mr. Avery wrote about his life in Northeast Philadelphia for the Daily News in 1997.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    His son Serge said: “He loved chasing the stories from the back alleys and driveways, highlighting the working people of our town.”

    In addition to his sons, daughter-in-law, and grandsons, Mr. Avery is survived by other relatives. A sister died earlier.

    Services were held earlier.

    Donations in his name may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, Box 758589, Topeka, Kan. 66675; and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Box 8688, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101.

    Mr. Avery “loved chasing the stories from the back alleys and driveways, highlighting the working people of our town,” his son Serge said.Alex Strang
  • How much will LeBron boost NBC Sports Philadelphia? Here’s what the past says.

    How much will LeBron boost NBC Sports Philadelphia? Here’s what the past says.

    Outside of the 76ers, one of the biggest winners of the LeBron James’ sweepstakes is NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    We won’t know how much of a boon James will be for the city or the network until the 41-year-old takes the court in a couple of months. A lot will depend on the future Hall of Famer’s health during his unprecedented 24th NBA season, but James has remained remarkably healthy, averaging over 62 starts a year over the past five season.

    If the Sixers match expectations and James can remain on the court, NBC Sports Philadelphia can expect a big boost in viewership based on what happened at his previous stops, according to an Inquirer analysis of Nielsen data previously reported by Sports Business Journal and provided by its media reporter, Austin Karp.

    Before James famously made his decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010, games on the city’s now-defunct regional sports network, FanDuel Sports Network Sun (known then as Sun Sports), averaged a 2.51 rating, roughly 40,000 households. After James joined the team, ratings nearly doubled to a 4.92. By the 2012-13 season, after James helped lead the Heat to two straight NBA championships, games were averaging a 7.14 rating on Sun Sports, nearly three times higher than before he came to town.

    In 2014, James decided to leave Miami to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ratings tripled on the now-defunct regional sports network, formerly known as Fox Sports Ohio, jumping from a 2.79 rating (roughly 41,000 households) before James to a 9.31 rating (roughly 139,000 households) as he led the Cavaliers to their first and only NBA championship in 2016.

    In 2018, James took his talents to Los Angeles to join the Lakers, whose local TV ratings were already among the strongest in the NBA. Lakers ratings still increased 31% on Spectrum SportsNet, the highest since 2013.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia averaged 86,000 viewers per Sixers game last season, according to Nielsen numbers obtained by The Inquirer. If James can provide the same spark he did in both Cleveland and Miami, you can expect upward of 250,000 fans tuning in locally to watch the Sixers on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    The network is certainly counting on a boost. NBC Sports Philadelphia is working to improve its production capabilities and add staff, potentially including a third personality alongside announcers Kate Scott and Alaa Abdelnaby who can do interviews and bring the atmosphere of the stadium to fans watching at home.

    “I think you need a voice on the court where Alaa and Kate can’t be to give us insight, do pre- and postgame interviews, analysis, all of that,” Alexandra Matcham, the vice president of content for NBC Sports Philadelphia, previously told The Inquirer.

    The only bad news for NBC Sports Philadelphia is that ratings tanked for the markets James left.

    When he left the Cavaliers for the Heat, ratings in Cleveland dropped 54%. The same thing happened when he returned to Cleveland — ratings on Sun Sports in Miami dropped 28%.

    After James joined the Lakers, Cavaliers’ ratings on Fox Sports Ohio dropped 58%. It remains to be seen whether Spectrum SportsNet will suffer a similar fate this season.

    Fortunately, that’s a future problem for NBC Sports Philadelphia to deal with, as James signed a two-year deal with the Sixers.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia still finalizing its Sixers schedule

    Sixers announcers Kate Scott and Alaa Abdelnaby ahead of a 2014 game. Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

    The Sixers have 34 nationally televised games this season, the most in franchise history, but most of them will also air locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    Just 15 of those games are exclusive to national broadcasters, including the Sixers first two games — Oct. 20 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (NBC), and the Sixers’ home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Oct. 22 (ESPN).

    That means the first Sixers regular-season game that will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia will be Oct. 24 against the Milwaukee Bucks in South Philly.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia will air at least 67 Sixers games this season, but the full schedule needs to be approved by the NBA before it’s released publicly. There’s also some juggling that needs to happen, since the network also broadcasts Flyers games.

    The network will air all four Sixers preseason games, beginning Oct. 5 against the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which could be the first time fans see James suit up for Philly.

    Regardless of when he plays, the expectations are sky-high for the Sixers this season.

    “Championship or bust,” Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal said during a recent interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I know LeBron wants to get one last one. … If they don’t win the championship, I think all those players will be very, very disappointed.”

  • Jason Kelce gets a new gig at ESPN and a new teammate: Pat McAfee

    Jason Kelce gets a new gig at ESPN and a new teammate: Pat McAfee

    Jason Kelce spent 13 seasons with the Eagles. Now he’ll get the chance to call a Birds game.

    The former offensive lineman turned podcaster and ESPN announcer is jumping to the booth to call a handful of NFL games this season on the NFL Network, the network announced.

    Kelce will join play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner to call four games, including the Eagles’ Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 11.

    Here are the four games Kelce, Pasch, and Warner are slated to call:

    • Week 4: Colts at Commanders in London (Oct. 4)
    • Week 5: Eagles at Jaguars in London (Oct. 11)
    • Week 7: Steelers at Saints in Paris (Oct. 25)
    • Week 16: TBD matchup (Dec. 26)

    ESPN inherited seven NFL games as part of its purchase of the NFL Network. The remaining three will be called by play-by-player Bob Wischusen and one-time Eagles executive Louis Riddick.

    Molly McGrath will serve as sideline reporter for both teams.

    Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are back to call Monday Night Football, with King of Prussia native Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge on the sidelines. Because of his role as a consultant with the Miami Dolphins, Aikman won’t have access to practice facilities or team practices this season, the same restrictions placed on Tom Brady.

    Jason Kelce is entering his third NFL season with ESPN. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    While Kelce has yet to call a full NFL game, he did swap out his South Philly tuxedo for a suit to call part of a 2024 Eagles game alongside Monday Night Football’s Buck and Aikman.

    “I think I got better as it went. There were a couple [of moments] trying to figure out where you fit in and what to say,” Kelce said following the game. “In the heat of the moment, you have to offer a perspective or something the viewer can take and enjoy … it’s difficult.”

    Kelce will also be back for his third season as a studio analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Countown alongside Marcus Spears and host Scott Van Pelt. The show is adding two new analysts: Jason McCourty (replacing Ryan Clark, who was laid off last month) and Pat McAfee, ESPN’s omnipresent star who will still host his daily show and continue as a co-host of College Gameday.

    Pat McAfee will join Jason Kelce on “Monday Night Countdown” this season. Darron Cummings

    Kelce is in the final year of a three-year deal he signed with ESPN in 2024. During that time, he’s appeared on the network’s coverage of the Masters and The Golf League, and a five-episode stint as a late-night host in Philly.

    He also launched a new YouTube series called Kelce Versus, which features the former offensive lineman trying out other sports, including driving for NASCAR and learning how to dunk a basketball (which he did in front of a live crowd in Los Angeles in June). It’s unclear how many episodes there will be.

    Kelce also remains a presence at Eagles training camp and continues to host the popular New Heights podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

    Exhausted? Some fans are, too. But Kelce has a lot of time to fill since having retired from the Eagles in 2024 and is focused on bucket-list stuff he couldn’t do during his playing days.

    “We’re definitely capitalizing on the ability to go and do random things,” Kelce told CBS analyst and Eagles pregame announcer Ross Tucker on his podcast last month. “Maybe too much. We got to talk as a team, but it’s been fun.”

  • With 6abc potentially facing a Trump-forced blackout, ABC sues the FCC

    With 6abc potentially facing a Trump-forced blackout, ABC sues the FCC

    ABC is moving to block President Donald Trump’s administration from the unprecedented step of taking eight local stations off the air, including 6abc in Philadelphia.

    On Tuesday, the network filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, which is threatening to take away the stations’ broadcast licenses in a move ABC described as an “existential threat” to its business.

    “Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” said the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    The FCC has the power to regulate 6abc and the other stations because they broadcast over public airwaves.

    The lawsuit comes as the FCC considers its next move following an unusual early review of the stations’ broadcast licenses in April. That review came shortly after Trump called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke he made involving first lady Melania Trump.

    ABC also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against the FCC’s attempt to force an early renewal.

    “Again and again, the administration has attacked ABC’s speech,” the lawsuit states. “Over time, those attacks have escalated into express demands that ABC be stripped of its broadcast licenses because of its speech.”

    6abc’s broadcast license, renewed without controversy in 2023, runs through 2030.

    The FCC, led by chairman Brendan Carr, contends the review stems from an earlier investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at ABC’s parent company, Disney, citing “the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.” Carr also said the agency would consider ABC’s decisions not to air Trump’s primetime address on election security last month, in which he repeated his baseless claims about the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to former President Joe Biden.

    “All broadcasters have a legal obligation to operate in the public interest — even Disney,” an FCC spokesperson said in a statement. “Disney is obviously very concerned about the FCC’s proceeding, as evidenced by their ongoing campaign of disinformation as well as their decision to ask a court to stop the FCC from further pursuing matters.”

    So far, the FCC has not presented evidence 6abc or the other seven ABC stations have violated public interest requirements.

    “We’re very principled on this. We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity,” Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said during a CNBC interview last week. “And we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business.”

    FCC could move against 6abc and others soon

    FCC Chairman Brendan Carr with then President-elect Donald Trump in November 2024. Brandon Bell

    The next step would be for the FCC to issue a hearing designation order, which would officially begin a legal process that could end with the stations losing their broadcast licenses.

    ABC said in its lawsuit if the FCC issued such an order, an “adverse outcome is all-but-guaranteed.”

    A hearing would normally be decided by an administrative law judge, but the Trump-controlled commission could designate itself to to preside over the case. The commission has two Trump appointees and one Biden appointee, Anna Gomez, who praised ABC’s “courage” and willingness to fight back.

    “For months, the FCC has waged a campaign of censorship and control against Disney’s ABC stations, using the threat of broadcast license revocations to punish a company for speech this administration doesn’t like,” Gomez said in a statement. “This should be a welcome sign for every broadcaster who has felt the weight of this overreaching government pressure in silence.”

    If the FCC moves to revoke 6abc and the other stations’ broadcast licenses, Disney could appeal the case to federal court. The legal process could take years.

    “Regardless of the outcome, the adjudication itself would be immensely harmful to ABC and the stations,” the lawsuit states. “The proceedings are likely to be expensive and protracted.”

    It’s been nearly 40 years since the FCC revoked a TV station’s broadcast license. The last time it happened was in 1987, when RKO General Inc. lost its licenses in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles because of business misconduct.

    There is no official timeline, but the FCC’s final deadline for public comments was Aug. 5, and respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of 6abc and the network’s other local stations.

    “The loss of 6ABC broadcasting would deeply impact the Philadelphia region,” wrote the Philadelphia Police Foundation, ”removing a trusted journalistic voice and a critical pillar of support that local nonprofits and public safety organizations rely upon.”

  • Phillies jump to Iowa and Netflix for Field of Dreams game. Scott Franzke just hopes there’s a booth.

    Phillies jump to Iowa and Netflix for Field of Dreams game. Scott Franzke just hopes there’s a booth.

    After losing two straight series, the Phillies hope to find a bit of heaven in Iowa.

    The Phillies will take on the Minnesota Twins in Dyersville, Iowa Thursday night (7:30 p.m., Netflix) in MLB’s first Field of Dreams game in four years, named after the beloved film starring Kevin Costner.

    Costner will be on hand as part of Netflix’s exclusive coverage, with veteran play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian calling all the action. He’ll be joined in the booth by CC Sabathia and former Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence, with Lauren Shehadi reporting throughout the game.

    Netflix’s pregame coverage will once again be hosted by Elle Duncan and feature Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rizzo. Bonds and Rizzo worked particularly well together during Netflix’s coverage of the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park last month.

    Despite that, the pregame show felt overstuffed, needlessly shoehorning in Will Ferrell in an attempt to promote his new Netflix show. They took a similar approach during MLB’s opening night in March, drawing widespread criticism for the number of promos.

    Gabe Spitzer, Netflix’s VP of sports, signaled on a recent conference call that Thursday night’s approach for the Field of Dreams game might be different, noting the teams and setting make a case for “not overthinking this and not trying to do too much.”

    “It’s a game that matters for these two teams in the playoff chase, it’s an iconic venue, and we want to let that do most of the work,” Spitzer said.

    As for the Phillies, they’re certainly testing the whole “if you build it” mentality. Since the All-Star break, the team and its $321 million payroll — fourth most in all of baseball, according to Spotrac — has lost six of eight series, and slumping new addition Luis Arráez has just seven hits and one walk in 38 plate appearances with the Phillies (though he did drive in the team’s only run during Wednesday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals)

    If the season ended today, the Phillies wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs, missing out on the final wild-card spot to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    At least they’ll get to sport cool 1939-inspired throwback jerseys as part of the Field of Dreams game festivities, which even include a centennial patch all teams wore that season.

    Bryce Harper sports the 1939-inspired jersey the Phillies will wear Thursday night. Daniel Shirey

    Latest weather forecast for Field of Dreams game

    They built it, but mother nature was threatening to show up.

    Earlier forecasts were seeing chances for heavy rain and thunderstorms around first pitch.

    However, it appeared the rains were backing off Thursday afternoon, said Alex Gibbs, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Davenport, Ohio, and weather prospects were brightening considerably.

    “We have a pretty good feeling,” said Gibbs (a diehard Milwaukee Brewers fan). “It looks like a good window.” He said the only concern was the potential for thunderstorms — with lightning, of course — later at night. While chances are they would hold off until the game was over, “We have to keep an eye on stuff,” he said. Timing and location of thunderstorms in summer are notoriously unpredictable, as Philadelphians are aware.

    The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch just south of Dyersville through Friday afternoon, but there remains a lot of uncertainty on the timing or exact location of the potential storms.

    If the game is rained out Thursday, both teams will take the field Friday, but showers are again possible in the evening, said Gibbs.

    Rains threaten the Phillies ‘Field of Dreams’ game Thursday night

    Scott Franzke just hopes there’s a booth

    Phillies radio announcer Scott Franzke will call all the action on 94.1 WIP. NBC Sports Philadelphia

    While Netflix will exclusively stream the game, Phillies fans can still tune into 94.1 WIP to hear Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker call all the action.

    Despite the hyped-up setting and national spotlight, Franzke hasn’t been told what to expect.

    “I don’t have any idea about the broadcast conditions. Is it a big booth or a small booth? I imagine it’s pretty small,” Franzke said. “I’m assuming there’s a booth. There wasn’t in London. We just did it from the seats.”

    Franzke said as an announcer, these event-style games are a fun diversion. But he’s not sure how the team feels about them.

    “It does create a little different wrinkle in the rhythm of the summer and the travel, and it’s not an exhibition game,” Franzke said. “There’s a lot at stake, both for us and the Twins. One game can make all the difference in the world.”

    Phillies TV announcers Tom McCarthy and Rubén Amaro Jr. were to travel with the team to Iowa, despite NBC Sports Philadelphia not broadcasting the game. They’ll call the final two games against the Twins Saturday and Sunday at Target Field in Minneapolis, but don’t expect to hear them on Thursday’s radio broadcast.

    “I think they’re just going to hang out,” Franzke said.

    One big plus is Franzke and his colleagues won’t have to rely on Porta Potties to get through the night, thanks to recent renovations that added amenities like running toilets and sewer lines.

    “I always appreciate some good indoor plumbing,” Franzke said.

    Phillies NL East standings

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    NL wild card standings

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    Phillies news

    Phillies slugger Bryce Harper. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Upcoming Phillies TV schedule

    • Phillies at Twins
    • Marlins at Phillies
    • Cardinals at Phillies
    • Phillies at Mariners
    • Phillies at Angels
  • ‘One week at a time’: Ross Tucker talks CBS promotion as Tony Romo drama could impact an Eagles game

    ‘One week at a time’: Ross Tucker talks CBS promotion as Tony Romo drama could impact an Eagles game

    Tony Romo’s arrest and subsequent absence forced CBS into a game of NFL musical chairs, and one of the beneficiaries is a familiar Philly voice.

    Ross Tucker, the Eagles preseason announcer on NBC10 since 2019, is jumping to the No. 2 booth at CBS alongside veteran play-by-play voice Ian Eagle.

    It’s a big promotion for Tucker, a Wyomissing native and former NFL offensive lineman, though for now it’s just Week 1. He’ll replace former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, who will fill in for Romo alongside Jim Nantz in CBS’ No. 1 booth.

    “I’m getting hundreds of text messages from people congratulating me. It’s kind of crazy,” Tucker said.

    When Romo comes back is anyone’s guess. CBS placed him on indefinite leave following his arrest in Wisconsin on July 23 for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday, Sept. 21, at the end of Week 2.

    “I don’t think they have a timeline on anything,” Tucker said. “It sounds like we’re taking it one week at a time.”

    One reason CBS bumped Tucker up is that he and Eagle already have a great rapport in the booth. The two have called at least 20 games together on Westwood One, including the Eagles’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season.

    “There’s a real comfort level and familiarity there,” Tucker said. “And he has the quickest wit of almost anybody I’ve ever been around.”

    In just one example, during Westwood One’s radio broadcast of a 2024 Thursday Night Football game between the Eagles and Washington Commanders, Ross reacted to a play made by Birds defender Zack Baun with the call, “Baun. Zack Baun.”

    “Ian, with no hesitation, said, ‘Shaken and stirred!’” Tucker said. “I wasn’t expecting him to have a follow-up … but he’s just so good.”

    In addition to his role with CBS, Tucker will call all three Eagles preseason games — two on NBC10 with Scott Graham and one on CBS alongside Andrew Catalon. He’ll also call his fair share of Thursday Night Football games on Westwood One, which has given him something of an upper hand leading into Sunday’s games on TV.

    “Sometimes on the field talking to players and coaches, I’ll ask them about the game I have Sunday and their opinion on it, and I’ll get good insight there,” Tucker said. “So there’s a lot of value in doing both.”

    The only downside for now is he will no longer call games alongside Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy, whose friendship with Tucker goes back to calling his college football games at Princeton.

    Instead, McCarthy will pair up former running back Robert Turbin, who has been a college football analyst for CBS Sports Network since 2022.

    Former NFL defender and South Jersey native Logan Ryan will replace Charles Davis alongside Catalon. Davis is shifting over to college football, where he’ll join a stable of analysts that includes former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.

    The other new face for CBS is former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week. Kuechly was also recently hired by Netflix as the streamer’s top NFL analyst, where he’ll call games alongside Noah Eagle.

    Romo could miss an Eagles game … if he’s gone that long

    Tony Romo, seen here before a 2022 game, is on indefinite leave at CBS. Michael Ainsworth

    Romo wasn’t in New York on Tuesday for CBS’ media day event, a result of his indefinite suspension from the network following his arrest in Wisconsin last month.

    The former Cowboys quarterback, entering his 10th season with CBS, was arrested and charged with suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He was also cited for having an open container in the vehicle and refusing to take an intoxication test. Bodycam footage of his arrest has been widely shared on social media.

    David Berson, president of CBS Sports, told reporters it’s an “evolving situation” and there’s “no timetable or final decision” on when — or if — Romo could be back in the booth.

    “Fortunately, we have a very deep bench, and I’m really proud of the way everyone’s stepping up and responding,” Berson said.

    The Eagles have two games scheduled to air on CBS. Romo had been slated to call the Birds’ Week 11 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 22, but that’s uncertain until his legal situation is resolved.

    Sports media pundits have speculated that this could be a convenient way for CBS to move on from Romo and his reportedly $18-million-a-year contract, which runs through the 2029 season. But police have yet to release the results of his delayed blood alcohol test, and CBS could find itself ensnared in a nasty legal battle if it attempts to force Romo out using a morality clause in his contract.

    “There is no extant reality in which CBS fires its No. 1 NFL analyst for ‘unsafe passing on the right’ or ‘crossing the gore area,’” Sportico’s Anthony Crupi wrote.

    Other top announcers and sports media personalities have been able to come back from drunken driving incidents.

    In 2009, Charles Barkley was suspended by TNT for six weeks after being arrested on New Year’s Eve for driving under the influence. Barkley ultimately pleaded guilty and served three days in jail.

    Jalen Rose was suspended but later returned to ESPN after his DUI arrest in 2011, despite waiting three weeks to tell the network. Al Michaels was arrested for DUI in 2013, but NBC took no disciplinary action and he didn’t miss any Sunday Night Football games since his legal issues were resolved before the start of the season.

    Quick hits

    Former Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. is headed to CBS. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    • Former Eagles defender and Super Bowl champ Darius Slay is headed to CBS as a studio analyst on The NFL Today+, the network’s streaming Sunday pregame show. He’ll be joined by fellow former NFLers Russell Wilson, Antonio Pierce, and Kyle Long. CBS Sports betting analyst Mackenzie Brooks, a Philly native and Central Bucks West alumna, will also contribute to the show.
    • 94.1 WIP won’t have an Eagles sideline reporter during Birds radio broadcasts for the first time since 2010. The move comes after the station laid off its previous Eagles sideline reporter, Devan Kaney, as part of companywide cutbacks in March.
    • Former Sunday Night Football sideline reporter Michele Tafoya easily won the U.S. Senate Republican primary in Minnesota on Tuesday night. She’ll face Democrat Peggy Flanagan in November’s midterm elections.