Gail Shister

Gail Shister joined The Inquirer in 1979 as its first female sportswriter, a barrier she also broke at The New Orleans States-Item (1975-78) and Buffalo Evening News (1974). She was the Inquirer's television columnist for 25 years.

See recent entries in Gail Shister's Q&A Forum
Email Gail at gshister@phillynews.com

Anthony Romero of the ACLU: "Momentum is on our side."

ACLU chief: Same-sex marriage 'a sure thing'

By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted 05/11/2009

Given the recent flurry of states saying "I do" to same-sex marriage, nationwide legalization is "a sure thing," says the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Judy Vredenburgh at her office on 13th Street.She is scheduled to step down as president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sistersof America in June after 10 years in the job.

Making things better, moving on

Big Brothers Big Sisters losing its mentor-in-chief.

By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted 04/11/2009

When she was 4, Judy Vredenburgh informed her mother that she didn't need her help to tie her shoelaces. So she plopped herself into a corner of the living room and didn't get up until she had mastered the skill.

Phila.'s gay Democrats emerge as a voting force - 03/31/2008: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

You don't see many women at Woody's, but Chelsea Clinton popped in last week. To a packed house of screaming supporters, the 28-year-old former first child led a presidential pep rally for her mother at one of the oldest gay bars in Philadelphia.
Gail Shister: Falco cried a river over 'Sopranos' demise - 03/28/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Columnist

It's the beginning of the end for The Sopranos, and Edie Falco is hurting. Falco, who plays Carmela Soprano on the landmark HBO mob drama, made like the Mississippi at the recent cast reading of Sopranos' swan-song script.
Gail Shister | Diane Sawyer lands Matos McGreevey in the morning - 03/29/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Columnist

Dina's doing Diane in the morning and - get this - NBC and CBS say it's no big whup. Dina Matos McGreevey, ex-wife of former New Jersey governor Jim "I'm a Gay American" McGreevey, will sit down with Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer for her only morning-show interview.
Gail Shister | Jeff Greenfield defends his new colleague Katie Couric - 04/03/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Columnist

Part of the reason CBS's Katie Couric can't catch a break is because she's a she, says new colleague Jeff Greenfield.
Gail Shister | Dobbs, not an a.m. guy, becoming an a.m. guy at CBS - 04/04/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Columnist

Just when you thought Lou Dobbs couldn't possibly suck up any more face time . . . Already seen seven nights a week at 6 on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, big Lou will add CBS's The Early Show to his portfolio, the Eye announced yesterday.
MSNBC pulls the plug on Imus - 04/12/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Columnist

With advertisers bailing and critics boiling, MSNBC yesterday canceled simulcasts of Don Imus' popular weekday radio show, Imus in the Morning.
Facing a storm, TV limits video - 04/20/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

In an unusual midcourse correction, TV networks have scaled back, or stopped altogether, running the disturbing video made by Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui.
No news would (briefly) be welcome news - 05/01/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

Steve Capus graduated from Temple with a degree in communications, but judging by the last few weeks, he should have majored in crisis management.
Young adults eschew traditional nightly news for "The Daily Show." - 05/11/2007: They'll take Jon, and that's the way it is

By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

Before Katie Couric was signed last year, rumors surfaced that Comedy Central's Jon Stewart might be in the running to anchor CBS Evening News.
Like young viewers, CW wakes a little late - 06/05/2007: By Gail Shister, Inquirer Staff Writer

Knock, knock. Who's there? The CW. Who? Who, indeed. The fledgling network with the weird name and the mongrel identity spent its inaugural season in Witness Protection. And with good reason.