Philly has never had a four-way battle for local TV news in one time slot, but that's what's about to happen at 6 p.m.

Fox29 will launch a half-hour weekday show Sept. 7, the same day it expands Good Day Philadelphia by an hour, to 10 a.m.

Fox29 general manager Mike Renda calls the 6 p.m. show, anchored by the 5 p.m. team of Kerri-Lee Halkett and Thomas Drayton and featuring meteorologist John Bolaris, a "natural extension of what we do." It will require no additional staffing, Renda told me.

According to May's Nielsen "sweeps," Action News on 6ABC was far and away tops in households at 6 p.m., followed by CBS3 and NBC10. Fox29's broadcast of the tabloid-news show TMZ was right behind.

TMZ will slide to 6:30. The Simpsons will air at 7, followed by Seinfeld at 7:30.

The move will bring Fox29 to eight hours of local news a day, edging out Eyewitness News' 7 1/2 hours of output on CBS3 and CW Philly; NBC10, which produces 6 1/2 hours (including the 10! show and its MYPHL 'cast); and 6ABC, five hours (including the middle-of-the-night rerun of the 11 p.m. Action News).

Weighty issue

Eagles coach Andy Reid is down 75 pounds, thanks to Medifast, and Gov. Rendell has shed 30, thanks to a reality check. His Edness, 65, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Brad Bumsted that he started a diet and exercise regimen after his federal- judge wife, Marjorie, asked him how many overweight people he knew at age 80. Rendell told Bumsted he's down to 230, with a goal of 200.

TV dinners

Excitement is building over the sixth-season premiere of Bravo's Top Chef, which will have two Philly chefs competing as the show tapes in Las Vegas: Jennifer Carroll of 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton and Jennifer Zavala of El Camino Real. Both their restaurants are planning launch parties for the Aug. 19 opener, and 10 Arts will show each week's episodes. From time to time throughout the season, Carroll will offer dishes she created the week before. Also, the restaurant will sell $1 "Go Jenny" buttons - good, I guess, for both Philly chefs - with proceeds donated to Philabundance. El Camino Real owner Owen Kamihira yesterday said he was not ready to announce his plans for the premiere, which may involve a big-screen viewing party at the Piazza at Schmidts across the street.

Briefly noted

Piggybacking with the release of the movie Fame, MGM is hosting a national talent competition. Local tryouts will be Saturday at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N. J. See http://bit.ly/v27em for details.

Joey Fortman, who's been pulling shifts at Now 97.5, was named afternoon host. She and husband Matt Nahigian both work for Greater Media; he's program director of 950ESPN.

The cast of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will be at the Tower Theater on Sept. 17 for a one-night staging of "The Nightman Cometh," the hilarious rock opera that was part of a Season 4 episode. Tickets are on sale tomorrow through Live Nation.com. The show's fifth season launches the same day.

Film, Eagles, film

Eyeballs bulged yesterday at Drexel University, where James L. Brooks and crew are filming a comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd. About two dozen Eagles cheerleaders showed up for a casting call. Producers need well-put-together women to play baseball players' wives and girlfriends. All cheerleaders won roles and some will start as soon as tomorrow. As for star sightings: Rudd, Witherspoon, and her beau Jake Gyllenhaal showed up Tuesday for dinner at Marathon Grill at 40th and Walnut Streets, while Wilson, seeking a beer, padded into Parc on Rittenhouse Square wearing white slippers from his hotel. At least they were white.

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Contact columnist Michael Klein at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. See his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider.

On Twitter: @phillyinsider.