icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

I haven’t had nice things to say about Philadelphia television -- where the caffeinated (Pat Croce), the boorish (Howard Eskin), the creepy (Channel 10’s new news team), the dated ("hip" reports on Jelly bracelets) and the downright stupid (Don Polec) coexist -- for a long time. So to have fun things to say about it (outside DUTV and WHYY) is a relief. Like having a sadly underrated Hack and its star, David Morse, picked up for nine more locally filmed episodes. Or that Philadelphia Casting is working with NBC for the reality TV show Adventures In Love. Philly’s "hottest singles, 21 or older" can get a chance to televise the luckless-but-expensive lives they lead by e-mailing descriptions/JPEGs to

phillyadventuresinlove@hotmail.com by Dec. 3. Then there’s Banyan Productions (led by Ray Murray, Jan Dickler and his wife, Susan Cohen-Dickler), whose fab Ambush Makeover reality show will get boosted by Twentieth Television beyond the 26 Fox owned-and-operated stations it's currently on to the entirety of Fox's network, plus distribution at non-Fox stations, by fall '04. Banyan's Ambush and its relationship to Fox National developed, like the show, over time in a slow roll out. "I remember Ray at lunch, downtown, three years ago, seeing someone and thinking, "That guy could use a makeover,'" says Cohen-Dickler, who put Ambush on in July 2003. While Banyan press rep Don Ciaramella of The Lippin Group sees a show featuring terroristic makeovers from top-notch stylists as an amazing national story, like Banyan's other hit, A Dating Story, and their TLC smash, Trading Spaces, Cohen-Dickler sees this as a local triumph. "It's unique to work with giants like TLC and Fox. We have a small L.A. office, but as long as there's a Banyan, we'll stay based in Philly."… WhoWhatWhere: Pink hung out with her mom and her rumored beau (Pink's, not mom's), Tommy Lee, at Clive Davis' party for Alicia Keys at Industria Superstudio in N.Y.C.'s West Village. Celebrity boxing at Deco brought out, sadly, "Toughest Midget" Beetlejuice, co-star to Corey Feldman in Steve Grasse's Bikini Bandits movie, which celebrates its DVD release at Tower with Feldman on Nov. 25. The BB/Gyro crew and assorted hangers-on will then head to Delilah's to hear Jazzy Jeff. That same night, Philly Soulquarians James Poyser and Ahmir Thompson play behind Jay-Z for HOVA's farewell show at Madison Square Garden. Beyoncé or Corey? Hmm. Elijah Wood was seen at the Balcony, making out with a woman, while MTV2's Ian Robinson and his band, Puny Human, played on. No sooner was Barry Manilow set to watch a rehearsal of his World War II-based musical, Springtime for -- sorry, Harmony, at the Forrest, a note from his publicity office came out stating "the producers of Harmony have canceled the show's engagement." Asked why, the answer was "financing fell through."… Not falling but relocating is Wayne Edwards' tony Walnut Street men's clothier, moving to an unknown (or unspoken) location after December. I heard Jack Kellmer is putting a jewelry salon in Edwards' former location. But they won't answer my calls.… The opening of Scott "Not Simon" Lebon's Suede was delayed -- by typical L&I stuff -- from last week to Nov. 20. L&I types have been stalking the Rittenhouse area for noisy bars and underagers. Doesn't matter. The gold rush is on 19th Street, with Sonjia and Matt Spector's BYOB, Matyson, and Tragos, a tequila-based nightspot, opening this week. The latter will surely make competition for D'Angelo's on 20th. No matter. I hear Sal D'Angelo's people are reviving Jimmy's Milan on 19th.… Big pimping headline (from Nov. 16's Philly.com): "Giants capitalize on opening muff."… Philly's Chief Kamachi just signed to Good Hands for his first CD, Cult Status, due in '04, after collaborating with Grand Agent, Baby Blak, Guru and Bahamadia on a baker's dozen of 12-inches. Congratulate the Chief, opening for High and Mighty Nov. 24 at TLA.… 32° fuses Pop art and mod fashions with "Pop Couture" on Nov. 20, where Tom Marotta, director of couture for Saks, styles a marvy Marc Jacobs show while John Stango shows off new paintings.… Ms. DJ Chatty Cathy hits Hot Point with DJ Trishylicious for Stonegraham girLs' "Circuit Kitty," Nov. 20.… Brendan O, Mike Nyce, Kenny Meez, Rahsaan and Joey Blanco take over Fridays at Transit with the Square Biz/Beautiful Peoples crew Nov. 21.… Nov. 21 is Nude Nite, V Groove's exposure showcase of "performance art, body presses and live sculpture," at 114 S. 12th St.… Plain Parade celebrates its first anniversary with Mimi (a Tokyo expat by way of Manhattan) of the band Mimirock rip-snorting through Doc Watson's, Nov. 21. Emerald City celebrates its first by welcoming DJ Jimmy Mac to his Friday residency in the courtyard, and with a Saturday-till-8 a.m. jamboree on Nov. 22 with DJs Jackie Christie, Alex Adrock, Dozia, Tommyboy and Mike Alba.