The Insider

Don Polec to leave Action News

Don Polec, who's been doing goofy features for Action News since his arrival from Buffalo in November 1982, is on his way out.

83 comments

Don Polec to leave Action News

POSTED: Friday, March 13, 2009, 11:49 AM

Michael Klein, Philly.com

Don Polec, who's been doing goofy features for Action News since his arrival from Buffalo in November 1982, is on his way out, effective April 1.

A station source said he was headed off in a different direction and is looking to do reports with his wife's TV production company. Channel 6 may even air some of them.

"Long before Seinfeld, he was the guy who could take absolutely nothing and make it hilarious," said former colleague Marc Howard.

For your edification, here's a great Gail Shister story on Polec from 1984.

83 comments

Comments (83)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:14 PM, 03/13/2009

Polec added a lot of color to the news during the glory days in the late 70's-80's. Philly contributed a lot to pop culture during these years. Although nowadays Polec's news segment is outdated, what contributions to national pop culture come from Philadelphia today???

— road515

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:26 PM, 03/13/2009

Don will be missed. He had a staying power a select few have or had at 6ABC--Jim Gardner, Gary Papa, Lisa Thomas Laurie, Vernon Odom among them.

— mutleyaxp

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:08 PM, 03/15/2009

The biggest news of all this is that Don is married!! So, if you're still single guys, there is hope!!

— The Baron

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:50 PM, 03/22/2009

Methinks it's an April Fools joke.

— Yrral

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:56 AM, 04/29/2009

Always amusing!! Just as pleasant in regular life! At a time when too many things are taken too seriously, He was just plain fun. for those who didn't "Get it" (or him) What a Shame for You!!

— NickCataldi

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:45 AM, 05/20/2009

Maybe Channel 6 should revisit the old practice of being a center of local programming on weekends? That might be a niche that would click today again. If they played Captain Noah (which they do on another 6-affiliated station) and Chief Halftown reruns, I'd watch.

— 19151

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:45 PM, 10/15/2009

He is a genius! He will be missed, but he will be moving on to bigger and better things!

— mr.reality

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:43 PM, 05/18/2010

Don's segments were full of humor, entertainment and just plain fun. Philadelpians will miss his human interest stories. I do.

— duces

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About this blog

Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here. Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.