Dan Gross: CBS3 anchor Alycia Lane reportedly approached Fox 29 and NBC 10 for a job

IT TURNS OUT that Alycia Lane tried to return to work in Philadelphia before she recently re-signed with KNBC in L.A.

We learned that Lane's agent, Gregg Willinger, contacted Fox 29 and NBC 10 to gauge their interest in the former CBS 3 anchor.

Lane referred our inquiry to Willinger, who told us that "several stations in Philly showed interest in Alycia when her contract was coming up with KNBC in Los Angeles. She still has warm feelings for the people of Philadelphia and still has many friends there as well.

"In the end, she decided to re-sign with KNBC and continue to anchor their morning newscast there," Willinger said.

Sources tell us that neither NBC10 nor Fox 29 was serious about hiring Lane.

An NBC 10 spokeswoman said the station does not comment on personnel matters and a Fox 29 spokeswoman did not return requests for comment.

Dawn Stensland and Larry Mendte will make their first television appearance together Nov. 8 on the premiere episode of "A New Dawn," Stensland's new weekly show at 7 p.m. Thursdays on WMCN. The couple will discuss the impact on their marriage of Mendte's hacking into former co-anchor Alycia Lane's emails, for which he was convicted and served six months' house arrest. Mendte, now hosting mornings on IQ 106.9-FM, will discuss love, forgiveness and rebuilding his marriage.

The show also will feature Flyers anthemist Lauren Hart and skin-care-company founder Lindy Snider, friends of Stensland's in whom she confided during the scandal, which took place while she was a news anchor on Fox 29.

Next week, WMCN also launches new weekly shows with Talk Radio 1210's Dom Giordano and former Philly sportscasters Don Tollefson, a Fox 29 alum, and Phil Andrews, ex-6ABC.

"Dom Time" airs at 7 p.m. Mondays; "Tolly's Awesome Friends" airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, and Andrews' "Philly Sports Spotlight" is on at 7 Wednesday nights. Each show reruns at 11:30 p.m. on the night it airs. WMCN airs on Comcast HD Channel 794. For other channel listings or for more information on WMCN, visit wmcn.tv.

Howard Eskin plans to pick eight to 12 local charities to benefit from his promise last Thursday on Fox 29 and on his Saturday 94 WIP radio show to donate two weeks' pay to charity if the Eagles lost to the Atlanta Falcons.

Eskin declined Tuesday to identify any charities, saying he would do so on his own airwaves. He also would not say how much money two weeks' pay was. "I'll play the role of a professional sports team, terms undisclosed," he told us. "I want to try and help a lot of people."

Eskin added, "I'm one of the guys who has guts and doesn't piddle-paddle about making a prediction."

He then refused to predict a winner for the Eagles/New Orleans Saints game next Monday night. "I predict the [Super]dome won't collapse on the players," he offered.