Thea Andrews will join Kevin Frazier as co-host of the awkwardly named “omg!Insider,” the revamped version of “The Insider” which launches next month.
Andrews is a former correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight” and a host for the show’s weekend edition, and also worked at ESPN and ABC Sports. In addition to Andrews, Michael Yo and Mary Kitchen are also joining “omg!Insider” as on-air correspondents — with Kristen Aldridge, Keltie Colleen, Nina Parker and Theo Von joining as contributors.
(Former “Insider” co-anchor Brooke Anderson is moving to sister show “ET” as a correspondent.)
More hosting news . . . Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”) will host the fifth season of documentary series “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange,” which is produced by Black Public Media. The new season premieres Jan. 22 on WORLD channel and will air through Feb. 5 before being distributed on American Public Television stations.
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WPLJ’s “Scott & Todd” show (Scott Shannon, Todd Pettengill) will hold its annual Live Broadcast/Auction for Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla this Friday (6-10 a.m.).
This year, the duo will auction off, among other items, four VIP tickets for next year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a VIP meet-and-greet tour for four with TLC star Buddy Valastro (“Cake Boss”) at his Hoboken bakery and two tickets to the sold-out Rihanna concert at Barclays Center (May 4).
As always, all proceeds will benefit Blythedale, the only hospital in New York State devoted exclusively to caring for children with a wide range of medical problems resulting from injury or disease (the hospital also provides various rehabilitation services).
Listeners can make donations during the live auction by calling (914) 592-1643.
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TV-related books . . .
“Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf’s maiden novel, “The Intercept,” is winning rave reviews from the likes of Kirkus, Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly.
The novel, which hits bookstores next Wednesday, Dec. 26, is centered around NYPD Det. Jeremy Fisk, a member of the NYPD’s Intelligence Division of the Join Terrorism Task Force. After passengers and a flight attendant on an SAS flight foil a potential hijacking — just before the dedication of the new One World Trade Center building — Fisk and his partner, Kirsten Gersten, suspect there might be more at play, including a Saudi Arabian national who’s now entered Manhattan and vanished into thin air.
Meanwhile, TV talent uber-agent Ken Lindner, who’s authored several books, is pumped up for his next offering, “Your Killer Emotions: The 7 Steps to Mastering the Toxic Emotions, Urges, and Impulses That Sabotage You.”
In his new book, out Jan. 1, Lindner says he will show readers “how to channel the energy charges from their positive and negative emotions, so that they are inevitably led to make life choices that are consistent with their most cherished goals and dreams.”
Lindner is a graduate of Harvard and Cornell Law School, and the founder of Life-Choice Psychology. His firm’s clients include Matt Lauer, Nancy O’Dell, Robin Meade, Mario Lopez and Lester Holt.
The book, Ken says, is his attempt “to truly make a difference on a grand scale.” He’s also written “Broadcasting Realities” — which was updated last year to “The New Broadcasting Realities” — and “Crunch Time: 8 Steps to Making the Right Life Decisions At The Right Times.”
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Last, but not least:
* “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher has invested some scratch in Duolingo, a new company which allows people to learn a language online — for free . . . Maybe I’ll get it next year: Ryan Murphy (“Nip/Tuck,” “Glee,” “American Horror Story”) is the first recipient of The William S. Paley Television Festival’s “PaleyFest Icon” award. The festival unfolds March 1-15 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills . . . If you want your holiday gift wrapped in “American Idol”-themed paper, stop by The Westchester (125 Westchester Ave., White Plains) today through Monday for a promotion sponsored by Fox, “American Idol” and the American Red Cross. “Idol” alum Anthony Fedorov will be there tomorrow (1 p.m.). Hours are 1 -9 p.m. tomorrow through Sunday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday.