It’s a revamped look for LX’s 1stLook with a familiar face.

Maria Sansone needs no introduction to regular viewers of New York Live on WNBC/Channel 4. For the past year, Sansone has also has been co-host of 1stLook with Pedro Andrade.

She kept up those duties after leaving LX-produced New York Live for California in April.

“I was sort of the [co-] anchor, if you will, and we had correspondents all over the country doing the actual pieces for us,” Sansone tells FishbowlNY.

Now, the talented TV personality is back on 1stLook—and make no mistake—this is her show.

“What we’re doing this season is just having one single host, and I am traveling to all of the cities.”

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Though he’s virtually unknown to today’s younger generation, during a four-decade span, nobody was smoother at spinning records on New York radio than the incomparable William B. Williams (right).

Williams was synonymous with hosting the Make Believe Ballroom on WNEW 1130, which he started in 1957. He is credited with giving Frank Sinatra his famous title “Chairman of the Board.”  

Williams was honored for his iconic role in radio with a spot in the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Radio Halls of Fame.

Fittingly, Williams was to be enshrined last month in the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Williams, sadly, died before receiving any of the well-deserved accolades.

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Veteran WNYW/Channel 5 anchorman Ernie Anastos was emcee for the New York Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame ceremonies Monday night on Lake George.

The next morning, Regis Philbin, a member of this year’s Hall class, showed several pictures from the event on Live with Regis and Kelly. One photo had Philbin displaying his trophy, alongside NBC Nightly News anchor and Broadcaster of the Year, Brian Williams, and the 2007 inductee Anastos.

Of his Philbin said Anastos “was terrific.”

In addition to Philbin, among those being inducted in the NYSBA’s Hall of Fame were the  late but legendary air personality William B. Williams and Rick Buckley, the head of Buckley Broadcasting and WOR.

At it’s annual dinner the New York State Broadcasters Association distributed Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting.

WCBS/Channel 2 was the big winner last night among New York City television stations, with five honors.

WCBS won awards for Outstanding Spot News (CBS 2 News at 11: Gas Explosion), Outstanding Hard News Story (Staten Island Bias Attacks), Outstanding Feature News Story (Robo-Tripping), Outstanding Locally Originated Newscast (CBS 2 News at 11: Tornados Hit NYC), and Outstanding Sportscast (Road to Glory: Feud in Foxborough).

WXTV, the Univisión owned-and-operated Channel 41, earned a nod for Outstanding Promotion Announcement or Series (X-Final), while WPIX/Channel 11, won for Outstanding Locally Produced TV Show (PIX Presents 2011 N.Y. International Auto Show).

A look at the radio winners after the jump

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Regis Philbin has been no stranger to broadcasting or the broadcasting accolades. As Philbin, 79, prepares to leave Live with Regis and Kelly this year, he has been receiving various lifetime achievements.

The latest for Philbin is that he is being honored with induction into the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA) Hall of Fame.

Philbin, who grew up in the Bronx, has been working steadily in New York since 1982, although nationally syndicated since 1988.

In 1999, his career surged into prime time, hosting the hugely successful Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

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• TVNewser: Regis Philbin is apparently thinking about a new TV show. We’ll follow you anywhere Regis! Well, maybe not us, but someone will! We’re sure of it.
• SportsNewser: The final four candidates to become the face of Madden 2012 are set. And yes, that is a Cleveland Browns’ player listed. The team might actually win something.
• UnBeige: Get a job at Bloomingdale’s. If you do because of us, please get us some discounts.

WABC/Channel 7 is losing two mainstays of its daytime lineup this year–Oprah Winfrey and Regis Philbin.

WABC, for a quarter-century, has been fortunate to have Winfrey’s strong ratings as a lead-in for their 5 p.m. newscast.

Now, WABC execs are at the “what next?” portion of the show.

Crain’s New York reports station management has decided to use Oprah’s departure to go back to basics–more news.

WABC will air news, becoming the only New York TV station with a 4 p.m. newscast.  

Dave Davis, WABC general manager, told Crain’s that being alone at 4 o’clock is an advantage for Channel 7.

On the topic of Philbin, Davis said a replacement for the 79-year-old legendary host hasn’t been made. He did say Philbin has been asked, and agreed, to say with Live with Regis and Kelly until November.

At this year’s TV Land Awards, the first held in New York City, broadcasting icon Regis Philbin will receive the Legend Award.

The awards will take place April 10 at the Jacob Javits Center, and debut on the channel April 17.

“Regis Philbin is an adored television icon,” said Larry W. Jones.  “A native New Yorker, he has given a slice of the city to all of his loyal viewers.  TV Land is thrilled to have an opportunity to honor him.”

Earlier this month, Philbin, 79, announced his retirement from Live with Regis and Kelly. He is planning to stay with the program through the summer.

Legendary TV host Regis Philbin, 79, announced his retirement this morning on ‘Live! with Regis and Kelly.’ He is expected to stay with the show until the summer.

The broadcast started locally with The Morning Show on WABC in 1983. By 1988, Disney syndicated the one-hour daily program with then co-host Kathie Lee Gifford.

“WABC is proud to be the home of ‘LIVE! with Regis and Kelly,’ and it will be difficult to say goodbye to Regis after 28 years as a member of our family,” commented Dave Davis, president and general manager, WABC. “We will miss him as a colleague and friend.  We’re fortunate, however, to have two real pros who can lead ‘LIVE’ into the future – Kelly Ripa, who has spent the last ten years developing her own amazing voice in daytime talk, and Michael Gelman, who has been with the show since its inception and is one of the best executive producers in daytime television.”

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Maybe Kelly Ripa shouldn’t be so cavalier in calling herself “the black widow.”

This morning, with “Live with Regis and Kelly” co-host Regis Philbin out for hip replacement surgery, Ripa coaxed some previously undisclosed information out of fill-in host Bryant Gumbel. And when Gumbel revealed to the world that he had a malignant tumor removed from his lung two months ago, Ripa looked so shocked she almost fell off her chair.

“Oh my gosh, I had no idea,” she said. “I thought we were friends!”

Thankfully, Gumbel seems to be doing okay after his surgery and following treatment. “They opened up my chest, they took a malignant tumor, and they took part of my lung and they took some other goodies, and pathology on most of the stuff came back benign,” the former “Today” show anchor said. “But enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor that it warranted some treatment, and I went through treatment, and it’s done now. We hope — we hope — it’s over and done with.”

Watch the whole thing unfold here. And here’s a tip for anyone who gets an offer to co-host with Ripa in the future: be very careful!

Bryant Gumbel: “I Had Cancer Surgery” –TVNewser