The Philadelphia Theater Company had to scramble recently after Kathy Bates dropped out of Terrence McNally’s drama Unusual Acts of Devotion. The veteran actress, known for Misery and Fried Green Tomatoes, was set to appear October 23rd through December 2nd at the new Suzanne Roberts Theatre, but she’s backed out of the play for health reasons — and now PTC has to open its season without her star power.

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ESPN analyst, author and former Inquirer reporter Sal Paolantonio suffered another high-profile radio breakup last week when he and “Big Talker” Michael Smerconish got into it while debating the local media’s coverage of Andy Reid’s family troubles. Paolantonio wouldn’t go into the specifics about the fight, but did say that he and Smerconish mutually agreed that it’s probably best he doesn’t appear on the show anymore.

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Bikini’d-photo-sending anchorwoman Alycia Lane made the Post again yesterday, thanks to her reported burgeoning romance with a New York-based CBS anchorman, Chris Wragge. The Post gave the story a big Page 3 photo with a huge “CO-ANCHORING” headline. The Inquirer offered up the usual 50-word blurb in Michael Klein’s “Inklings” column. How come New York is more interested in Alycia Lane than Philadelphia?

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Inquirer reporter Sam Carchidi (pictured) is demanding an apology. So is Phillies reliever Brett Myers. But as of right now, neither side is budging after a Saturday-night locker-room dustup that resulted in both men being restrained and Carchidi being escorted out.

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POLITICS: Google’s PAC loves Arlen Specter

TOURISM: Philly nabs bonus promo cash; small cities whine, ad men rejoice

LAW: Economic downturn means M & A, structured finance attorneys possible pink-slip candidates (free sub. req.)

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Kill your Idols: Former “American Idol” contestant and Bucks County resident Anthony Federov offers tips on how to spend eight hours of your Saturday at the Wachovia Center parking lot waiting for a chance to audition in front of AI producers. [Bucks County Courier Times]

Go away, crazy Silly String woman: A Gloucester County woman who collected 80,000 cans of Silly String, which can help soldiers detect trip wires, is getting resistance from the military about actually sending them. [South Jersey Courier Post]

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According to the latest in-state polls from Quinnipiac University, Pennsylvanians are heating up over Sen. Hillary Clinton. Clinton took a commanding lead over the fading Barack Obama when 524 state Democrats were polled August 14th through 20th.

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The Andy Reid Quit Watch has officially begun. The head coach of the Eagles has had a tumultuous family life since the start of 2007, and it just got worse, thanks to his 22-year-old son, Britt, getting arrested on suspicion of driving drunk in a shopping center parking lot. Although the professionally guarded coach (and equally guarded organization) has declined commenting on his private life, his family’s unraveling suggests a leave of absence for Big Red is forthcoming.

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Former Philadelphia police commissioner John Timoney is not feeling as worshipped in Miami as he did here. His no-nonsense top-copping has, to put it mildly, rubbed pretty much every Miami police officer the wrong way.

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More trouble at the roost: Britt Reid fails a sobriety test after he’s seen crashing into a shoping cart in a Plymouth Township parking lot. [Inquirer]

Margate killer was all class: Robert Davies, 46, a convicted sex offender, has been charged with the stabbing Lavern P. Rich last August 12 outside a local shore bar. [Inquirer]

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