Archive for the ‘Stone Phillips’ Category

People of the Year — 20. Stone Phillips

Sunday, December 9th, 2007

itw_people17.jpgAround the time Dateline NBC should have been firing the folks responsible for its “To Catch a Predator� segment (after a failed sting operation led a district attorney to shoot himself), the network was making a more Machiavellian move: dropping Phillips, the show’s co-anchor. The decision, last May, not to renew the Dobbs Ferry resident’s contract reportedly boiled down to cost-cutting. This after Phillips spent 15 years with the network, during which time he turned the newsmagazine into one of its prime-time staples. Talk about stone cold!

Prediction for 2008: Shortly after his June 2 departure from Dateline, Phillips told LoHud’s Suburbarazzi blog he would be taking time off, traveling, and “then taking on some independent projects.� One of those projects, we hope, will involve teaming up with fellow network refugee Ted Koppel over at the Discovery Channel—a better place for quality TV journalism these days, anyway.

(Stuart Ramson / AP Photo) 

Adapted from “People of the Year,� InTown Westchester, December 2007

Posted in Dateline NBC, Dobbs Ferry, Stone Phillips, Suburbarazzi People of the Year | No Comments »

Suburbarazzi Week in Review on RNN: Stone rolls, Kalter quips and Rosie not the closest to the actual retail price without going over

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

After the break, find out the answer to this week’s quiz question: Which local stand-up comedian received early show business advice from the late father of Tarrytown product and fellow stand-up Greg Fitzsimmons?

Download:

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Posted in Alan Kalter, Bob Fitzsimmons, Chris Serico, Dobbs Ferry, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Greenburgh, Greg Fitzsimmons, Kevin Meaney, Mamaroneck, Nick DiPaolo, Nyack, RNN, Robert Klein, Rosie O'Donnell, Stone Phillips, Tarrytown, The Price is Right | 2 Comments »

The Scoop: Behind the scenes at star-studded charity golf tourney

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007

Photo by Seth Harrison/The Journal News

If you want the formal account of yesterday’s Autism Speaks celebrity-laden tournament at Mamaroneck’s Winged Foot Golf Club, check out this story in today’s Journal News.

In it, you’ll find quotes by former NBC Chairman Bob Wright, who cofounded the charity; “Dateline NBC” co-anchor and Dobbs Ferry homeowner Stone Phillips; “Fox5 News at 10” meterorologist and New Rochelle resident Nick Gregory; National Football League Hall-of-Famer Harry Carson; fellow former New York Giant and one-time star of “The Bachelor” Jesse Palmer; and “Late Show with David Letterman” announcer Alan Kalter.

Now for some behind-the-scenes gossip that didn’t appear in print due to the constraints of space, time and relevance:

• Some of the other celebrities to appear at the event, in alphabetical order: actor Gregg Bello; CBS sportscaster Don Criqui; Kansas drummer Phil Ehart; CourtTV commentator Jack Ford; “Squawk Box” cohost Joe Kernen; actor Richard Kind; former NFL cornerback Jeremy Lincoln; “Today in New York” sports anchor Otis Livingston; music producer Brendan O’Brien; and musician Tyrone Vaughan, who is the nephew of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.

• Among those scheduled to appear at the event, but didn’t show, were season-five “American Idol� champ Taylor Hicks, “Today� show cohost Matt Lauer and comedian George Lopez.

• True to his persona on “The Bachelor,” Palmer charmed members of the public and media, enthusiastically posing for photos and answering questions.

• Carson said he was happy to help out the charity, despite repeatedly stating that his golf game “sucks.” Asked what his score was minutes after completing the 18-hole course, Carson said, “I have no idea.”

• Celebrity golf handicaps (or at least those they want us to believe): Kalter, 14; Palmer, 15; Lincoln, 16; Wright, 18; Gregory, 26.

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Posted in Alan Kalter, Bob Wright, Brendan O'Brien, Carlos Mencia, David Letterman, Derek Jeter, Dobbs Ferry, Don Criqui, Doug Flutie, George Lopez, Greg Bello, Harry Carson, Irvington, Jack Ford, Jeremy Lincoln, Jesse Palmer, Joe Kernan, Mamaroneck, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New York Giants, Nick Gregory, North Salem, Otis Livingston, Phil Ehart, Richard Kind, Rob Thomas, Sanjaya Malakar, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stone Phillips, Taylor Hicks, The Bachelor, Tom Cruise, Tyrone Vaughan, Winged Foot Golf Club | No Comments »

EXCLUSIVE: Stone Phillips’ post-’Dateline’ plans: ‘Traveling, rest and relaxation’

Monday, June 18th, 2007

AP file photo

Dobbs Ferry homeowner Stone Phillips was one of many celebrities to appear at today’s Winged Foot Golf Club outing in Mamaroneck to fundraise for the Autism Speaks charity.

Just before heading to the links, Phillips chatted exclusively with Suburbarazzi about the prospect of providing piano accompaniment for event no-show Taylor Hicks; the similarities between football and golf; and his plans after his employer opted not to renew his “Dateline NBC” contract, which expires at the end of the month.

Suburbarazzi: You played piano and serenaded Katie Couric on her “Today” show finale, and “American Idol” champ Taylor Hicks was expected to be here today, but didn’t show. Would you have accompanied him on a song had he shown up?

Stone Phillips: I would not. Because I wouldn’t have embarrassed him or me by trying to do that.

Suburbarazzi: You were the starting quarterback on Yale’s 1976 Ivy League Champion football team. Do any of those skills translate to anything on the golf course?

Stone Phillips: Yeah, I think some of them do. To me, it’s visualization. You have to visualize the point of junction between and the receiver and the ball you throw. And in golf it’s a lot of visualization, too. Other than that, I just try to have fun. I enjoy playing football and I enjoy playing golf.

Suburbarazzi: What are your plans, post-“Dateline�?

Stone Phillips: Nothing immediately. Nothing for a while. You know, I’m going to take some time off and do some traveling with my wife and take it from there. It’s gonna be a nice long period of rest and relaxation, and then taking on some independent projects.

Posted in Dobbs Ferry, Exclusive, Mamaroneck, Stone Phillips, Suburbarazzi Exclusive, Taylor Hicks | 2 Comments »

Matt Lauer, Stone Phillips, Taylor Hicks to tee off at Mamaroneck charity outing

Tuesday, June 12th, 2007

charity-celebs.jpg

Local NBC veterans Matt Lauer and Stone Phillips are expected join Season 5 “American Idol” champ Taylor Hicks and other celebs at Winged Foot Gold Club in Mamaroneck this Monday to fundraise for an autism charity at the ninth-annual Celebrity Golf Challenge.

Founded by former NBC CEO Bob Wright and his wife Susan, Autism Speaks sent invitations to the “Today” show co-host, who spent part of his childhood in Chappaqua, Ardsley and Hartsdale; the “Dateline” alumnus, who owns property in Dobbs Ferry; and the silver-haired “Idol,” who, um, will be in Westchester County possibly for the first time.

Among the other celebrities expected to attend are Gregg Bello, Joe Kernen, Jeremy Lincoln, Jack Ford and Don Criqui, according to the organization.

Many thanks to fellow Remote Access contributor Amy Vernon for the tip.

(Lauer photo by Mark Vergari/The Journal News; Phillips photo by Stuart Ramson/Associated Press; Hicks photo by Frank Micelotta/Fox)

Posted in Ardsley, Chappaqua, Dobbs Ferry, Hartsdale, Mamaroneck, Matt Lauer, New Castle, Stone Phillips, Taylor Hicks | 17 Comments »

Breaking: Stone Phillips out at Dateline

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007

tjndc5-5ewmnc8nkvlg7fza1bb_layout.jpgThe Dobbs Ferry resident is leaving his signature post as the anchor of Dateline NBC at the end of June, the network announced today.

The network will allow Phillips’ contract to expire, rather than renew it, in a move meant to help the cash-strapped news division save money.

“It’s been a wonderful 15 years, I’m profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the `Dateline’ family,â€? Phillips said, according to a press release issued by the network. “This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best.â€?

Phillips can take comfort in the fact that NBC apparently deems him irreplaceable. No permanent anchor will take his place. Instead, Ann Curry—the show’s currently co-host—and several NBC News reporters will rotate in the role.

(AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)

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Stone Phillips works it in a kilt

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007

tjndc5-5e75zu5vg2qpc3bdkbe_layout.jpgYou need some serious gravitas to pull this off. Phillips, the Hastings resident and anchor of Dateline NBC, joined model Marcus Schenkenberg and actor Matthew Modine, modeling kilts at the “Dressed to Kilt� fashion show at Capitale Monday. The show benefited Friends of Scotland.

Another model was Ivanka Trump, spawn of Donald. The Donald stayed out of a kilt, though did attend the event to cheer his daughter on, according to the New York Observer.

“My mother was from Scotland,� Mr. Trump told the paper. “And I have tremendous land holdings in Scotland, mostly in Aberdeen. We’re doing a tremendous development there—one of the biggest in Europe.�

The biggest question, of course, for Phillips, Trump, et. al, was did they go commando, as is the custom. Alas, the paper never asked.

 


 

tjndc5-5e75oc1q9udsiiq5kbe_layout.jpgtjndc5-5e75l3i753nuk4kukbe_layout.jpg
(AP Photos/Diane Bondareff)

Posted in Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Stone Phillips | No Comments »