CBS3 responds to Nicole Brewer-Carol Erickson viral video

A VIDEO OF EDITED clips featuring CBS3 morning anchor Nicole Brewer and meteorologist Carol Erickson snarking at each other went viral yesterday.

The video makes it seem as if the two are in the midst of a bitter feud. At one point in the video, the backdrop makes it look as if Erickson is bathed in light, giving her a halo. Brewer responds, "It always comes into question when it's you and a halo."

The video, from AmazingLife247, had more than 400,000 views as of last night, though Mark Pygas, human resources and community manager of AmazingLife247, says the website expected the numbers to reach 500,000 to 600,000 by the end of the day yesterday. Pygas said videos on the site come from both their team and viewers who submit clips to them.

Outlets far and wide picked up the video, including Grantland writer Mark Lisanti, who described "the crackling magic generated by two people who can't turn off their mutual hate just because there's a camera pointed at them. This isn't going to end well for anybody, except the Internet."

A rep from CBS3 called the video "ridiculous."

"It's edited out of context," the rep told me. "Carol has been a mentor to Nicole, and they're friendly both in the newsroom and out. It gives a totally false impression of what they're relationship is like. Their viewers who've watched them over the years know they're more than friendly."

Brewer's Twitter feed shows several tweets with the two looking pretty friendly together as recently as a couple of days ago. One from 24 days ago read, "Out in the field with one fine lady, Love ya [Erickson]," and then a picture of Erickson and Brewer together.

So is it hatred or just bad comedic timing?

North Philly-born and -bred comedian Kevin Hart will host the 4th of July Jam, part of the Wawa Welcome America Festival, on the Ben Franklin Parkway. The show will feature previously announced sets from John Mayer, J. Cole, Grace Potter, Jill Scott, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato and, of course, the Roots.

Can't make it to the Parkway for the festivities? It will be simulcast on 6ABC.

It'll be a big week for Hart. His next stand-up movie, "Let Me Explain," hits theaters July 3, which is, coincidentally, Hart's 33rd birthday.

Na'eem Douglas, who grew up in Philly, will be the newest face at NBC10 as a general-assignment reporter. He'll start June 17. Douglas comes to the station from News 12 Brooklyn in New York, where he has been a reporter and fill-in anchor since 2007.

Douglas is a Franklin Learning Center alum and was a production assistant at NBC10 before striking out on his own.

NBC10 has made a lot of changes of late, including new hires (Jacqueline London, George Spencer, Matt DeLucia), departures (Lori Wilson) and a schedule shift that put Rosemary Connors in the weekend anchor chair.

Mayor Nutter and Comcast-Spectacor has proclaimed June 17 to 21 as Rolling Stones Week in anticipation of their two shows at the Wells Fargo Center. Noted music lover Nutter and Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko will present Mick, Keith and the boys with a replica Liberty Bell and read them a proclamation before their first show. Tickets to see the Stones on June 18 or 21 are available now at ComcastTIX.com.

A group of Cirque du Soleil performers, including five Chinese acrobats on 7-foot-tall unicycles juggling metal bowls, will be at the Shops at Liberty Place tomorrow at 12:30 and 1:15 p.m. It's all part of Cirque's newest show, Totem, which plays through June 30 on the Camden Waterfront.

* Golfer Phil Mickelson dined at the Conshohocken Cafe with his caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay. I hear Mickelson dined on a healthy breakfast, a good choice considering the upcoming U.S. Open.

* Comedian Kevin Pollak had drinks at Oh! Shea's Pub after his weekend show at Helium Comedy Club. Onlookers said he was great, posing for pics and talking with fans.