The Hunt For CHAMPION'S Replacement

(From The New York Daily News -- By Richard Huff)

The hunt is on for the new SAM CHAMPION at
WABC-Channel 7.

Station officials have talked to at least three people, including THE WEATHER CHANNEL's PAUL GOODLOE,
CNN's ROB MARCIANO, and LONNIE QUINN, a weathercaster at NBC's station in Miami, according to sources.

By moving to GOOD MORNING AMERICA, Champion has left a huge void at Ch. 7. But Champion has agreed to stay on and do the station's 5 and 6 pm newscasts for several months while
Ch. 7's weathercasters fill the 11 pm slot.

Goodloe, a New Rochelle native, has toured Ch. 7's weather operation, while the others have been talked to, according to sources.

Quinn, a Champion look-alike, grew up in Connecticut and broke into television as an actor on ALL MY CHILDREN. He's been at the Miami station since April 2002.

What's unknown is whether any of these guys is a front runner.

"We are in the process of finding a replacement," said a station spokeswoman. "In the interim, SAM CHAMPION is leading the EYEWITNESS NEWS weather team with
BILL EVANS, LEE GOLDBERG and HEIDI JONES."

[Maybe a reuniting of fellow Cornell meteorologists GOLDBERG and MARCIANO?]