Della Reese, who was out at the TV Critics press tour in LA yesterday (at the Beverly Hilton Hotel), captivated her audience while discussing her GMC movie, “Christmas Angel,” which airs in December with co-stars Tamera Mowry-Housley, Terri Polo and Kevin Sorbo.
Reese was telling stories to the assembled TV writers — and was so eloquent that “you could hear a pin drop,” an eyewitness told me, with everyone putting their pens down to listen to Della.
“Boss” star Kelsey Grammer, meanwhile, had a different experience while talking to TV types about his STARZ show, which kicks off its season season Aug. 17 (9 p.m.).
Grammer surprised everyone when he answered his cell phone while up on stage — to talk to his wife, Kayte. “Some things are more important than others and the well-being of my wife sits atop the charts,” he told the audience.
Wise man.
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Bach on the air: Gregg Whiteside, who was a New York radio fixture for years on WQXR, has landed in Philadelphia at WRTI (90.1 FM), the city’s premiere classical music station. Whiteside, who left ’QXR in 2003 — after 25 years at the station — was officially named WRTI’s new weekday morning host (6-10 a.m.) after having filled in the past six months after Dave Conant vacated his airshift (and after the station held a nationwide search). Conant continues as WRTI’s general manager.
Gregg hosted his first “official” airshift yesterday. “I look forward to many years of giving classical music the setting that entices people to enter this special, beautiful world,” says Gregg — who’s still missed by many of his fans here nine years after his ’QXR departure.
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Last, but not least:
* “Dallas” snared 3.2 million viewers on TNT Wednesday night leading into its season finale, which airs next Wednesday, Aug. 8. It’s currently cable’s top-rated new drama in adults 18-29 and 25-54 . . . Ch. 4’s Pei-Sze Cheng emcees tomorrow’s opening ceremonies (at noon) for the 22nd Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Flushing Meadow Park (Meadow Lake) . . . That was Karina Smirnoff getting new bangs and a black 15in1 blow out from Louise O’Connor at OC61 Salon (E. 61st.) . . . Good-guy publicist Don Halcombe — who’s worked on “Oprah,” “Nate Berkus” and “Dr. Oz” — has added “The Steve Harvey Show” to his Doncomm PR stable and will rep the Chicago-based show in the Windy City when it premieres this fall . . . Roger Bart, Anna Chlumsky and Raul Esparza will guest-star in a fall episode of NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” called “Twenty-Five Acts” which has plotline echoes of the best-selling book, “Fifty Shades of Grey” . . . Season 1 of the Cinemax series “Strike Back” will be released on Blu-ray with Cinemax Select (includes Blu-ray DVD and Digital Download) next Tuesday, Aug. 7 — 10 days before the show’s second season kicks off on the Cinemax mothership. The series stars Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton.