WFMZ-TV69 Business Matters Show on Fake News Tonight - Honest!

This was shortly before Browning lunged at poor Martin Till.
Till claims to be special forces, but Browning is from Ky. 

This time last Monday, I told you that WFMZ-TV69's Business Matters' would be kicking off its new season that very night at 7:30 pm. I told you it would be a show on Fake News, hosted by Tony Iannelli and starring me (and three other completely forgettable guys.) As it happens, my report to you was Fake News. The new season actually starts tonight. WFMZ, which prides itself on being family-oriented, wanted to wait until all the guests were released from the hospital.

One of them, Dean Browning, had his jaw wired shut. I can't remember whether it was I or Tony who did that. He may never speak again.

Before you get worked up over my violent actions, I want you to know every guest signed a release in advance. Besides, Dean had it coming. He was kicking Martin Till's bald head like a soccer ball and screaming, "G-0-A-L-L-L-L!."

It's the first time I've ever seen Martin Till's head used for anything.

Till was released from the hospital late last week. It took doctors that long to realize there really is nothing in there.

Some of the show's technical crew were hospitalized as well. During one of the breaks, Ron Angle crashed the studio and did a strip tease Most of them have now decided to take a vow of celibacy.

Police were called in to make arrests, but we're all white. I told them Tony Phillips was at Bucky Boyle Park, so they rushed over there.

Do you think I'm giving you fake news? You'll just have to tune in.

Muller to Replace Iannelli on Airport Board

Tony denies he will be going into shit biz with Angle

Lehigh Valley International Airport, plagued by both declining passenger traffic and a $26 million judgment, is going to have to seek a new Chair for its 15-member governing board. Tony Iannelli, the current current captain of this sinking ship, is being replaced.

Lehigh County Executive-elect Tom Muller has advised Commissioners that he plans to replace Iannelli with one of their own, Mike Schware. They must approve this appointment, and I understand the matter has already been listed for January 8.

The airport board has come under fire by Northampton County Council members Bob Werner, Scott Parsons, John Cusick and Peg Ferraro in recent months, especially over plans to sell Braden Airpark in Forks Township. In adopting their most recent budget, Council unanimously rejected a request from the airport for $250,000. Plans to sell Queen City Airport, which have been shelved, angered many in Lehigh County.

But this same Council also recently re-appointed Lehigh Valley Partnership point man, Bert Daday, to the board.

Unanimously.

Even though he's 758 years old.

Iannelli is the CEO and President of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, hosts Business Matters on WFMZ-TV69 and was even an ice hockey ref.

Not sure how Tony feels about this, but if I were he, I'd be delighted.

This "international" airport has been little more than a monument to the egos inside the unelected aristocracy known as the Lehigh Valley Partnership. In their latest trick, they've hired a consultant to tell them that the shrinking passenger base is really a good thing.

Don't worry. Be happy.

Imagine if a publicly-held private sector company sent out a press release saying, "Sure, we're shrinking, but we're OK with that." At the very next stockholders' meeting, that management team would be out. Faster than you can say Business Matters.

Maybe, just maybe, they should look at the noncompetitive prices of flights out of ABE, the frequent delays suffered by BE passengers, high parking fees and the lack of marketing to the business traveler. What's the draw?

Happy 60th Birthday, Tony Iannellii

Business Matters host Tony Iannelli was surprised over the weekend, at some swanky country club, for his 60th birthday. His fiancee, whom I've never met, somehow pulled it off. Ron Angle, who attended with his wife Sharon, called to tell me that most of the LV's movers and shakers, Republican and Democrat, were there. What's more, everyone had a blast.

Besides Ron Angle, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was there. So was WAEB's radio host Bobby Gunther Walsh, soon-to-be former State Rep. Jenn Mann, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham, etc., etc.

I can also tell you, from my own experience, that they were there because Tony is a genuinely likable person. Over the years, I have seen a number of anonymous shots taken at him, both here and elsewhere. But I can honestly say I don't think the guy has a mean bone in his body.

He's even nice to me!

So if you see Tony in the next few days, wish him a happy 6oth.

One on One With Charlie Dent

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan is too busy getting ready for his big celebrity bartender event on Wednesday night to be worried about goofy things like homeland security, health insurance reform or jobs. Give him a break!

So tonight, at 8pm on WFMZ-TV (Channel 69), LV Congressman Charlie Dent will go one on one with Business Matter's Tony Iannelli.

Tony's crooning, "One on one I wanna play that game tonight / One on one I know I wanna play that /One on one I wanna play that game tonight / One on one so slow."

Tonight! Angle & O'Hare v. Donovan & Denis on Business Matters (or BMs)

Sooner or later, it had to happen. Tonight's the night. Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle and I team up on Business Matters (Channel 69, WFMZ-TV, 8 PM) for a cage match against Michael Donovan and former Obama campaign worker Jude-Laure Denis.

The subject? Is all criticism of President Barack Obama racially motivated? Michael and Jude staunchly defend all things Obama while Ron and I play the role of barbarian Visigoths. Rather effectively, I might add. Donovan and Jude did survive the encounter, but only because Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski fired Denis. She must have done something right.

I stopped counting after Angle had interrupted Donovan for the 32d time. Poor Michael eventually ran out of the studio, crying "How about some civility?"

Host Tony Iannellii, who I'm convinced is a cocaine addict, was taping about forty shows at once. While the make-up lady was getting a few extra barrels of whatever she needs to make The Morning Call's Paul Carpenter look like a human being, Angle and I let the air out of his tires. He can ride his frickin' bicycle.

All in all, it was a good day to be a racist.

All kidding aside, Donovan and Denis were terrific. But they were up against the varsity.

Pam Varkony Squares Off Against MSM Tonight

Pam Varkony, an Allentown writer and former member of Allentown city council, is one of my favorite people. Founder of Power of Women, her writing style makes me feel like I'm sitting in her living room, having a relaxed conversation with a friend. I was a loyal reader of her column and blog, Perspectives with Pamela Varkony. Tonight, she'll be one of the panelists on WFMZ's Business Matters at 7:30 PM, and it should be a pretty hot show.

Why? Because one of the other panelists is The Morning Call's managing editor, David Erdman. He's lucky I won't be asking the questions. I'd like to know why he dumped Varkony's blog. After that, I'd like to know how eliminating Pam's column and all those jobs improved the paper. Why do you lay people off when the paper is turning a profit? How gutless is it to lay people off by calling them at home on a Sunday? How can Erdman possibly justify the hate spewed on the reader forum?

Basically, why should readers pay more for a product that delivers less? The paper sent no one to cover the last two meetings of Nazareth borough council. According to Lynn Township supervisor David Najarian, it hasn't covered a meeting there in three years.

I doubt those hard questions will be asked, but I'm sure host Tony Iannelli will have a few of his own. Blogger Pam will be pitted against three MSM types.

They don't stand a chance.

Hey Tony, Why'd You Give That Money to Mayor Pawlowski?

You gotta' feel sorry for Tony Iannelli. After being nice enough to invite me to appear on his television show, Business Matters, I thanked him by grilling him on his campaign contributions to Allentown Mayor Ed "Pay to Play" Pawlowski.

I don't even think it was that much money. What's more, I actually like Tony and have been a fan of his show for several years. But I am a miserable bastard, and put Tony on the hot seat to give him a taste of what really goes on here in the blogosphere, where there are no sacred cows.

The show will air tonight on Channel 69 at 7:30 PM.

Tony had plenty of people there to put me in my place. Express Times Editor Joe Owens was there, and he describes me with charitable terms like "shameful blogger" and "Northampton County extremist." That's when he's in a good mood.

Unfortunately, Owens was in a bad mood.

Also in the house was Morning Call's state house reporter, John Micek, possibly Pennsylvania's best poliblogger. Micek, incidentally, is pretty much convinced I'm nutz, and spent most of his time there staring at me with his mouth open. But he was still nice to me. Before the show, he even made me a cup of coffee. Former blogger Chris Casey was also a panelist.

We met a cast of colorful characters because several shows were being taped at the same time. Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham dropped by, and had something nice to say to each one of us. But PPL's CEO, James Miller, who was also there, looked like he'd be more comfortable inside a bubble. He clearly disliked being surrounded by such insignificant people, and would not even glance at anyone. He even had a handler (Smithers?) who looked down his nose at us so Miller wouldn't have to do it.

If you have a chance, tune in tonight. Dem bossman Joe Long will love it.