Dan Gross: Roy-al treatment: NBC News reaches for another local anchor

LOOKS LIKE A national tryout for NBC 10 anchor/reporter Aditi Roy, who will spend the summer in Los Angeles working for NBC News. She'll be there from June 27 to Sept. 5.

If this story sounds familiar, it's because last year NBC 10's Kristen Welker also was tapped for the national stage, and spent a summer in Burbank, before being promoted full-time to NBC News.

Although Roy's summer gig isn't being billed as a tryout, it certainly seems that way, and NBC News President Steve Capus is known to have a soft spot for NBC 10. The Warminster native and Temple grad spent several years at the station in the 1980s.

An NBC 10 spokeswoman said that various staffers will fill in for Roy on the 5-to-7 a.m. broadcast, starting with Lori Wilson.

Buckingham Palace

gets Comcastic

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts was a guest at not one, but two recent Buckingham Palace dinners, the first hosted by Queen Elizabeth and the second by President Obama. A Comcast spokesman declined to comment on how Roberts came to be invited to the royal receptions.

'Office' actress performs tomorrow

"It was so bittersweet," says Ardmore-native "Office" actress Kate Flannery of the departure of Steve Carell from the NBC series. "They really sent Steve off in such a beautiful way," says the Archbishop Carroll graduate, who was glad that "we all got to say what we wanted and share our feelings with him."

Flannery and comedic partner Scot Robinson bring their lounge act, The Lampshades, to Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom) at 8 p.m. tomorrow. Unlike past visits to Helium, Flannery can't go around the corner to her family's bar, T.A. Flannery's, which closed earlier this year. You can see a preview of the duo's act at TheLampshades.com. The pair appeared on a recent episode of "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Flannery, who has been dating NBC photographer Chris Haston for about five years, says that it was great working with Will Ferrell, but she swears to have no knowledge as to who, if anyone, will be tapped as a permanent replacement for Carell. She hopes that if there is a new star, that that person is "as nice, and calm and amazing."

The actress recently shot a Hallmark Christmas special with Melissa Gilbert. "This is something my mother may actually watch," Flannery jokes. She is hoping to get to Ocean City for a couple of days before returning to work on "The Office" in late July.

Vieira producing Wilma show

Wonder if Meredith Vieira will turn up in town for "Life in a Marital Institution (20 Years of Monogamy in One Terrifying Hour)," which the recently departed "Today" host is producing at the Wilma Theater.

The show runs July 5 to July 16 and stars NPR's James Braly. For info, visit wilmatheater.org.

Matthews lunches with mayor

Nicetown native and MSNBC/NBC host Chris Matthews joined Mayor Nutter for lunch at the Capital Grille (Broad & Chestnut) Thursday afternoon while in town for the NBC News Education Nation program. Matthews had Nutter and wife Lisa on "Hardball," which broadcast from the lawn of the National Constitution Center, to discuss public education.

Good times with Jimmie Walker

"Good Times" star Jimmie "JJ" Walker performs stand-up Wednesday at Anthony's (4900 State Road) in Drexel Hill, along with a handful of other comedians. Tickets for the 8 p.m. Dyno-Mite tour are $40, which includes an Italian buffet dinner, online at webtix.net.

A lullaby fit for an Utley

More good news for Jennifer and Chase Utley, who are expecting their first child, as we reported Friday at PhillyGossip.com and in Saturday's Daily News. The Phillies star's batting entrance song, Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," is among the tunes on the "Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Led Zeppelin" CD. We can't recommend the CD enough, and just received it as a baby gift from No Quarter record mogul Mike Quinn.

Charitably minded

_ Tickets are still available for tonight's Top of the Town tasting event by Eagles tight end Brent Celek's Take Flight Foundation, at the Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Celek's foundation helps area children.

For more info, visit brentcelek.org.

* 6ABC's Matt O'Donnell, Fox 29's Mike Jerrick, Sixers broadcaster Marc Zumoff and CW Philly 57's Kharisma McIlwaine participate in a Hole-In-One contest tomorrow afternoon at the Whitemarsh Valley County Club, in Lafayette Hill. Firstrust Bank will donate $10,000 to Variety, the children's charity, on behalf of the contest.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or email grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit www.philly.com/DanGross.