David Boreanaz

Dave Roberts had the same curiosity as many of the viewers who watched as he, Cecily Tynan, and Karen Rogers presided over Channel 6’s coverage of the July 4 evening parade and concert. He wanted to know what the tattoo on Fantasia Barrino’s left thigh said; you know the tattoo right under where her rather short shorts with their rather long draw string ended.

"Or maybe it was better not to know," Dave said when we met at the opening night at Cirque du Soleil’s "Quidam" in South Philadelphia. We were talking about how we kept hoping the Channel 6 camera would zoom in on Barrino’s thigh, so we could see what the rather large bit of body art represented.

"For all I know, the camera did pick it up, and the director decided it was better not to show it," Dave said.

Accompanied by his wife, Patti, Roberts laughingly pointed out that both of them continue to work.

"For me, it’s because I love my job and my career. I enjoy going to work each day, and as long as that is true, I have no reason to retire."

Roberts has been with Channel 6 since 1978 when he came to Philadelphia from Buffalo to be the first host of a new program, "AM Philadelphia." Shortly after his arrival, he began doing the weather reports on Channel 6’s noon newscast and filling in for Jim O’Brien on evening shows when necessary. When O’Brien was killed in a parachute accident in 1983, Roberts became Channel 6’s primetime weather anchor, a post he held until about two years ago when he decided he wanted to end his workday after the 6 p.m. show. Dave remains at Channel 6’s weather map at 5 and 6 p.m. Cecily Tynan now appears at 5:30 and 11.

The great thing about Dave Roberts is he’s a true broadcaster who can handle any assignment Channel 6 chooses to give him. Having something informative and entertaining to say and keeping things moving, especially during a live broadcast, is an art not many in television today have mastered. Using the July 4 parade as an example, Roberts never lets a show go stale or become dull. He knows when to speak and when to let the pictures and natural sound do the work.

"I love live TV," Dave says. "Whenever a show is taped, and the director stops in the middle because of some small mistake, I think, ‘Why don’t we continue and make use of the situation as if we were live?’ Luckily, most of my career has been in live TV."

Roberts is also quite witty as an artist and weather commentator. For years, he drew the faces and wrote the sayings in the clouds that so are so much a part of the "Action News" weather tradition. For years, he and Patti have also been the parents of actor David Boreanaz. Dave points out that David’s hit series on Fox, "Bones," has some interesting twists when it begins its new season. The date for that is Aug. 30.

A couple of side notes: I was one of the people who waited eagerly to see Fantasia in performance last Tuesday. What a disappointment! Some of the problem had to do with Channel 6’s carriage of sound from the Art Museum stage. Some had to do with what seemed to be an undisciplined set by Fantasia as she warmed the crowd for top-billed Lionel Richie. Besides the limitations of her music, Fantasia’s outfit was wrong. The shorts and tank top might be right for a July 4 picnic, but not for a concert, especially one that is going to be televised. I still believe Fantasia has a lot of talent, but she needs to tame it.

"Quidam" must have been a magnet for people who are both weather anchors and talk hosts. Also in its opening night audience was Channel 10’s Bill Henley who tells about clouds and sunshine on his station’s dawn newscast, then becomes the main asset on Channel 10’s 10 a.m. talk show, "10!"

Another Channel 10 personality, Edie Huggins, was in the "Quidam" audience with her daughter, Laurie, now doing wonderful things in bringing business, charity, and civic initiatives together as a sales rep for Radio One.

Another ‘Survivor’ winner in legal scrape

 What is up with the winners of "Survivor?" First, premiere season champion Richard Hatch goes to prison for not paying the taxes on his $1 million prize. Now, "Survivor: Thailand" victor Brian Heidik is out on bail and possibly headed to prison for shooting a stray puppy with a bow and arrow.

Initial reports said Heidik thought the puppy was a rat. Heidik’s wife, C.C., told "Inside Edition" on Thursday that the shooting was deliberate and, perhaps, a result of a drinking problem.

I guess people who can triumph in extreme situations have extreme personalities. The shame is "Survivor" continues to be one of the more cleverly produced and compelling of the current spate of "reality" programs on national television. You want to be able to congratulate its champions and respect them for their ingenuity. Whether or not they are nice people is immaterial. When they turn criminal, and especially when they pick on animals that aren’t vicious and can’t defend themselves, the matter is different.

Does Joan Rivers ever go home?

 It’s time, I think, we began counting Joan Rivers as a Philadelphian.

Between my mother and my sister, I see (or hear) a couple of hours of QVC each week. It’s all either of them seem to watch. When I’m at either of their homes, QVC, in fore- or background, is a given.

As constant as QVC is in their lives is Joan Rivers. She must live at QVC.

Really. I go to pick up my sister for breakfast, and Joan Rivers is on QVC. I go to take out my mother’s trash at midnight, and Joan Rivers is on QVC. I click through the TV dial (by remote, of course) at 2 a.m., and Joan Rivers is on QVC. I click again at 3 the next afternoon, and lo and behold it’s Joan Rivers! I’m at the point where I’m almost buying her "incomparable" nail polishes and "indispensable" skin creams. Or maybe some jewelry (which is always tasteful, among the best you see on QVC or its knockoffs).

It’s gotten to the point where I tune in regularly to see if Joan is sitting there in sales mode. Rarely am I disappointed, especially because even while mastering the QVC, "Isn’t it exquisite? You’ll love it, and I promise, it will be so versatile" spiel, Rivers will come out with a funny line or two.

After that, it’s back to something real. Unless I’m with my mother or sister, in which case QVC, and Joan, are inescapable.