Dan Gross: WIP tackling 'YSP?!

STRONG RUMORS around the local CBS Radio cluster suggest that 94 WYSP will become the FM home of Sportsradio 610 WIP and drop its longtime rock format around Labor Day.

WIP program director Andy Bloom said that he could neither confirm nor deny the rumor but that there were rumors about the stations all the time. CBS Radio market manager Marc Rayfield said essentially the same thing.

But CBS Radio recently flipped two underperforming music stations - WJZ FM in Baltimore and WBZ in Boston - to sports.

When WIP's rival sports-talk station, ESPN 950 AM, began to be simulcast on 97.5 The Fanatic in 2009, it made a tremendous increase in listenership - especially young listeners who are targeted by advertisers.

One possible sign of 'YSP's future could be Danny Bonaduce, the biggest name and salary at the station. His most recent contract was renewed for only one year.

Roy Orbison's

"It's Over" played at 11:58 p.m. Sunday on WHAT 1340-AM before the station went silent. We reported a few weeks ago that Aug. 1 would be the day the station flipped formats. We have since heard it may be dark for a week before being re-launched as a Spanish- and brokered-talk format. Efforts to reach station management have been unsucessful.

In the meantime, host Mike Bowe, among those recently let go, and his wife, Debby, are playing music and hosting a 5 to 7 p.m. happy hour at Sam's Saloon (105 S. MacDade) in Glenolden on Thursdays.

Also, WHAT fans of the oldies and standards may enjoy the Andy Kortman Show from 7 to 10 a.m. weekdays on 1360 WNJC and online at andykortman.com.

Jason Lee

put away a 28-ounce porterhouse at Smith & Wollensky in the Rittenhouse, where he dined twice over the weekend.

The "My Name is Earl" and "Chasing Amy" star was in town for Legends of the Motorcycle and to kick off an AmFAR AIDS charity ride that took off from from Kiehl's (18th & Walnut) yesterday.

Nicki Minaj stopped by the BET Young Stars show Saturday at the TLA (334 South) after opening for Britney Spears at the Wells Fargo Center. Marsha Ambrosius was also at the BET show where Tyga, Mindless Behavior, and Diggy Simmons were among performers.

New Kids on the Block Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight got haircuts at Bubbles Salon (1605 Walnut) Friday afternoon before their show with the Backstreet Boys at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

Singer Josh Groban, who also appears in the new film "Crazy, Stupid Love," sipped sake and ate sushi and soba noodles with bacon, scallops, parmesan and truffles at Buddakan (325 Chestnut) Thursday night. He played the Wells Fargo Center Friday.

Charles Barkley spent some time at the bar of the new A. Kitchen inside the AKA Rittenhouse (138 S. 18th) Friday night.

Former Sixers star Aaron McKie partied by the pool at the Chelsea in Atlantic City Friday after dining at the hotel's Chelsea Prime steakhouse.

Former Ravens lineman John Odgen, not to be confused with the former NBC10 traffic guy, stopped at Legal Sea Foods at Philadelphia International Airport Friday night.

If you want to be a meteorologist at CBS 3, it helps if your name begins with K-A-T.

Katie Fehlinger

, of New York's WCBS, will soon replace

Kate Bilo

on the morning newscasts as Bilo moves to the 5 and 6 p.m. shows. And of course

Kathy Orr

handles the 11 p.m. news on CBS 3, as well as the 10 p.m. broadcast on CW Philly.