Dan Gross: Jonesy headed to Power 99?
TARSHA "JONESY" JONES is hosting mornings all week on Power 99 in what radio insiders say may likely become a permanent gig.
T
ARSHA "JONESY" JONES is hosting mornings all week on Power 99 in what radio insiders say may likely become a permanent gig.
The station, which boasts "Bangin' Hip Hop and R&B," has been searching for a morning show since early July, when it canceled the syndicated Big Boy's Neighborhood show. Jonesy, who formerly worked here for 100.3 the Beat - twice - auditioned for a few days earlier this month, and one of her shows has been replayed several times in recent weeks.
Jonesy was a controversial figure, yet one with high ratings, while hosting at the Beat from November 2002 to May 2004, when she was fired, and syndicated her Hot 97 show on the Beat from November 2007 to July 2008.
"Power is the heritage station; it's the official station of Philly," Jonesy told us yesterday. "After being on the wannabe station, it would be good to be at a company that seems to respect family, womanhood and entertainment."
A Power 99 spokeswoman says that a few hosts have been invited back to work a couple of more days and that no decision has been made about a permanent host.
Out and about
Actor/comedian Kevin Pollak, who performed at Helium (2031 Sansom) over the weekend, hit it off with the band Jet on Friday morning, when both were guests on 93.3 WMMR's Preston and Steve show. Pollak, who was seen in "The Usual Suspects" and who did a hilarious Christopher Walken impression in "The Aristocrats," stuck around to catch Jet's performance, and he and the band exchanged numbers. He plans to have them as guests on his online show, on which he interviews other celebrities.
* 102.9 WMGK's John DeBella caught
Jersey comic Vinnie Brand opening for Jim Breuer at the Borgata Saturday. Brand's a frequent DeBella guest.
Rockers unite for charity
A group of musicians that includes Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze, Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms, Mike Peters from the the Alarm, Cy Curnin of the Fixx, James Stevenson of Gene Loves Jezebel and Nick Harper, will perform at the Field House (1150 Filbert) at 8 p.m. Sept. 10 to raise money for the Love Hope Strength Foundation, which benefits cancer charities.
The artists, who make up Philly Rocks 2009, will also collect signatures for a "Prayer Flag" that they will take on tour as they support cancer programs in Africa. Proceeds will go to cancer centers around the world and the National Bone Marrow Registry.
Tickets are $50, or $125 for an open- bar ticket that includes a private ceremony with the musicians. For more info, check out lovehopestrength.org.
Treasury threatens vultures
The Pennnsylvania Treasury Department just threatened New Jersey's Asset Recovery Services to stop trying to profit from helping people find money they're owed by the state. One in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed something by the state, which each year publishes lists of people who have some type of money, cash, certificates of deposit, abandoned bank accounts, stock or safe-deposit-box contents.
The Treasury Department told Asset Recovery Services, which would contact people on the list and volunteer to "find" the money for a fee, to knock it off or face potential fraud charges. The state is sitting on $1.5 billion, and last year returned more than $86 million to more than 57,000 owners, who had seen their own names on the list. You can search the list at PATreasury.org.
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.