Marc Summers reveals his cancer battle on Preston and Steve

TELEVISION HOST, producer and part-time Philly resident Marc Summers revealed on WWMR's Preston and Steve Show yesterday morning that he is a cancer survivor.

Summers, best known as the host of Nickelodeon's "Double Dare" and the Food Network's "Unwrapped" (which doesn't even touch on the numerous shows on which he's served as producer), told listeners that he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia five years ago. He was in chemo for two years, yet still went about his daily business, not revealing his diagnosis. During this time, Summers also was involved in a taxi crash. Summers acknowledged that it wasn't an easy time, calling it "hell."

At one point, Summers relayed that a beautiful young doctor walked in for treatment and, upon seeing Summers, said, "It's the Nickelodeon guy!"

In December, Summers got the all-clear sign.

Summers said he was thinking of revealing his diagnosis to Oprah while appearing on a "Where Are They Now?" segment but decided that he had no attachment to Winfrey and her crew. He did, on the other hand, have a connection to Preston and Steve, who initially thought that Summers was coming out of the closet.

P&S's Steve Morrison revealed in January that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He's now cancer-free.

* Summers ran into the P&S crew this weekend at 97.5 the Fanatic's Jon Marks and Sean Brace's Striking Out for Cancer at McFadden's Ballpark (1 Citizens Bank Way) on Saturday. The event raised more than $8,500 for mega-Phillies fan and cancer fighter Julie Kramer, who last year appeared on "The Ellen Show," where she was surprised by Phillie Chase Utley. In addition to Summers and the P&S crew, the Fanatic's Mike Missanelli, Harry Mayes and Pat Gallen; Comcast SportsNet's John Clarke; "Good Day Philadelphia" host Mike Jerrick and Fox 29 colleagues Alex Holley, Chris Murphy, Jennifer Joyce and Tom Louden; and the Union's Peter Pappas all came to show their support for Kramer.

Old City's National Liberty Museum is holding an essay contest in honor of the movie "Selma," about Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights. Rapper Common, who is nominated for an Academy Award along with Penn grad John Legend for their original song "Glory" in the movie, is one of the judges of the contest open to high schoolers. The prompt: Dr. King used his words to change history. How will you use yours?

For more info go to libertymuseumselmacontest.org. Essays are due Sunday, with the grand-prize winner receiving $5,000.

* Speaking of Academy Awards, come hang out with the Daily News and Inquirer for the Oscars telecast Feb. 22 at the Hard Rock Cafe (1113-31 Market St.). A $20 ticket gets you red-carpet action (including paparazzi photos) starting at 7 p.m., free food and Bluecoat gin cocktails.

But, y'know what? 'Cause I love my readers so much, I'll hook you up with a promo code for discounted tix. Go to philly.com/oscars2015 and input the code DAILYNEWS for a $5 ticket. And follow me on Twitter at @PhillyGossipDN for a chance to win a pair of free tix.

* A "Girl" and a Toad hit up Theatre Exile's Studio X (1340 S. 13th St.) this weekend. "Girls" star Zosia Mamet (she plays hyper Shoshanna) and her boyfriend, Evan Jonigkeit, who played Toad alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender in last summer's "X-Men: Days of Future Past," sat in on Theatre Exile's production of "The Whale," featuring actor Scott Greer (one of my fave Philly actors) playing a 600-pound man attempting to reconnect with his long-lost daughter. The show runs through March 1. Go to theatreexile.org for more details.

* Former WIP afternoon host Anthony Gargano stopped by Shank's Original (901 S. Columbus Blvd.) on Sunday for lunch. What's the Cuz up to now that he doesn't have WIP? Keep checking this space for some future movement.

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