BARTELSTEIN RETURNS -- I'll Be Good TV

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

"Please bring STEVE BARTELSTEIN back faster," a reader wrote, after learning in THE DAILY NEWS that the WABC, Channel 7 anchor was off the air following a suspension and vacation.

The writer said she liked BILL RITTER and LISA COLAGRASSI, who, along with MICHELLE CHARLESWORTH and others, filled in for Bartelstein, but, she added, "the day is not the same without our STEVE."

It was the only favorable note we got about Bartelstein's absence. Several others poked fun at his being away.

Bartelstein is expected to return Monday, which should make for good TV as his on-air pals deal with the absence.

"Nobody is 100% perfect in this world," the reader wrote. "We all make mistakes, but enough!"

Bartelstein's mistakes were calling in sick late one day and missing a news break because, as the story goes, he was away from the studio trying to meet SAMUEL L. JACKSON on LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY.
[Idiot.]

Since we reported on Bartelstein's absence, WABC weatherman BILL EVANS and traffic correspondent JOE NOLAN -- who both do the same on WPLJ RADIO -- have been teased repeatedly about the missing anchor while on air with SCOTT SHANNON and TODD PETTENGILL.

For Evans' and Nolan's sake, we hope that Bartelstein is back on Monday so the teasing might end.

Okay, we're kidding on that point -- it's simply too much fun to listen to those guys squirm while not discussing Bartelstein.