John Bolaris - TVSpy

John Bolaris Looks to Set Record Straight on ‘Dr. Phil’

Kevin Eck — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:31:45 +0000

Former Philadelphia meteorologist, John Bolaris went on “Dr. Phil” with fiancee Erica Smitheman to talk about everything from the loss of his job at WTXF, to the media coverage of his run-in with a Russian crime ring in 2010, and the more recent controversy over philly.com posting a naked picture of Smitheman.

A portion of the interview can be found on philly.com. Most notably, Bolaris repeated his assertions, despite what The Philly Post reported, he did not defecate in his pants during what many are calling his “real-life Hangover” after being drugged and swindled out of $43,000.

“Just before I’m getting out there to testify,” Bolaris told Dr. Phil. “I get a voicemail from this particular reporter saying, ‘You have thirty minutes to respond that you defecated in your pants and we’re going to run with it. You have thirty minutes to respond.’ And I can’t respond,” added Bolaris. “He ran with it. And that was the headline he ran with. That John Bolaris ‘blanked’ himself.” continued…

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Philly.com Posts Naked Photo of John Bolaris’ Fiancée, Blames ‘production glitch’

Merrill Knox — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:19:38 +0000

Former Philadelphia meteorologist John Bolaris is making headlines again after his fiancée, former Playboy model Erica Smitheman, took control of his Twitter account Sunday.

Hello this is Erica …love John , he loves you all,I guess it’s ok if I send you all a naked photo or two..don’t tell my love

— JOHN BOLARIS (@JohnBolaris) November 26, 2012

Philadelphia Daily News‘ Dan Gross, who frequently reports on the more sordid details of Bolaris’ escapades, reached out to Smitheman for comment:

“I am tweeting, he is sleeping. I am drinkinking and can’t take the haters! Lol,” she replied, later saying it was Pinot Grigio she had been drinking. Smitheman, who posed nude in a few Playboy special-edition magazines more than a decade ago, did not post any nude images, although she did tweet a lingerie shot from Playboy and several new bikini pics. continued…

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Former Philly Meteorologist John Bolaris Expected to Testify in Russian Crime Ring Trial

Merrill Knox — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:08:39 +0000

Former Philadelphia meteorologist John Bolaris is expected to testify this week in the case against Stanislav Pavlenko, the man accused of running an organized scheme to get men drunk and make expensive purchases on their credit cards.

Bolaris is one of 88 witnesses in the case, according to the Philly Post. The former WTXF chief meteorologist was targeted by Pavlenko’s group in 2010. Bolaris’ American Express was charged for $43,000 worth of booze, caviar and expensive artwork after he was allegedly drugged by two Latvian women he met in Miami.

The Philly Post has obtained a copy of the FBI report, which includes some sordid details from Bolaris’ night with the women: continued…

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Alleged Ringleader of Bolaris Scam Apprehended

Merrill Knox — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:52:12 +0000

The FBI has apprehended Alec Simchuk, the alleged leader of a crime ring that meteorologist John Bolaris was a victim of two years ago, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Bolaris, the former chief meteorologist at Philadelphia Fox O&O WTXF, was in Miami in 2010 when he met a pair of Eastern European women who allegedly drugged him and charged more than $43,000 to his American Express card. Bolaris parted ways with WXTF in December after recounting the experience for “Playboy.”

Simchuk owns a nightclub in Florida. He was arrested last week after returning to Florida from his native Latvia. continued…

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John Bolaris Recounts Experience of Being Roofied and Robbed on ABC’s ’20/20′

Merrill Knox — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:33:54 +0000

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Former WTXF meteorologist John Bolaris — and his now-infamous experience being roofied and robbed while on vacation in South Beach — was featured on Friday night’s edition of ABC’s “20/20″ (video above).

“They came across very cutesy, and very sincere, and very nice, like the girls next door,” Bolaris said. “This wasn’t a hooker type thing.” continued…

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Scott Williams Named Chief Meteorologist at WTXF, Replacing John Bolaris

Merrill Knox — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:05:50 +0000

Scott Williams is joining WTXF as chief meteorologist, the Philadelphia Fox O&O confirmed to TVSpy today.

Williams joins the station from The Weather Channel, where he is the early-morning meteorologist. He replaces John Bolaris, who parted ways with the station in January after serving a suspension for comments he made in an interview with Playboy.

Williams’ hire is effective today. He will make his on-air debut in Philadelphia on June 4.

>Update: News director Steve Schwaid‘s announcement to WTXF staffers is after the jump. continued…

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’20/20′ Interviews Meteorologist John Bolaris About His Roofied and Robbed Story

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:19:44 +0000

Longtime WTXF meteorologist John Bolaris, who left the station earlier this year following a controversial interview with Playboy in which he recounted being roofied and robbed while on vacation in South Beach, will be featured in an upcoming episode of ABC’s “20/20,” discussing his well-traveled story.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Bolaris was interviewed recently in New York and Miami for “20/20.”

“I have no control,” Bolaris told the Daily News about the upcoming piece. “I’m just as interested to see how the piece airs as anyone.”

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Meteorologist John Bolaris Out At Philly’s WTXF

Merrill Knox — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:05:53 +0000

Less than three weeks after he was suspended by WTXF, meteorologist John Bolaris is out at the Philadelphia Fox O&O.

“We mutually agreed that it was time to part ways,” a Fox spokesperson confirmed to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Bolaris, who is famous for his experience being roofied and robbed in Miami two years ago, was suspended by WTXF in late December after comments from an interview he did with Playboy surfaced online. The Daily News reports the incident was the “latest occasion” of tension between Bolaris and WXTF general manager Patrick Paolini.

As recently as January 4, Bolaris was still hoping to return to WTXF.

“Listen really want to be back at FOX, bunch of great peeps there, front and behind camera, hopefully it all works out, love your support!” he wrote on Twitter.

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John Bolaris Suspended Indefinitely From WTXF After ‘Playboy’ Interview

Merrill Knox — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:59:25 +0000

Philly News reports WTXF chief meteorologist John Bolaris has been “suspended indefinitely” from the Fox O&O after Playboy published an article about his experience being drugged and scammed in Miami in 2010.

Bolaris was approached — and subsequently roofied — by two women, who charged a $43,000 painting to his credit card while he was drugged (read the whole story here). He recounts the incident for Playboy, saying he went with the women because “I’m a guy. There was the thought I might get laid.”

The meteorologist also talks about his reputation as a ladies man and shares nude photos of women on his cell phone with the magazine. continued…

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Guilty Pleas Entered in Miami ‘B-girls’ Case

Merrill Knox — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:39:41 +0000

The case against the ring of women who allegedly roofied WXTF meteorologist John Bolaris — known as the “B-Girls” – is progressing.

Two defendants in the ring, Anastassia Mikrukova of Estonia and Agnese Rudaka of Latvia, pleaded guilty yesterday to immigration fraud charges. The “B-Girls” allegedly targeted male tourists in the South Beach area.

Bolaris woke up after meeting two Eastern European women in South Beach with a hazy memory and a $43,000 charge on his American Express card. The women accused of drugging him, Anna Kilimatova and Marina Turcina, have not yet entered pleas in the case.

Bolaris’s laywer, A. Charles Peruto Jr., said the WXTF meteorologist “feels vindicated by these pleas of guilty. It’s been a long ordeal.”

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Roofied and Robbed, Meteorologist John Bolaris Gets His Own Cartoon

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:05:19 +0000

Philadelphia Daily News cartoonist Brad Guigar has amusingly illustrated John Bolaris‘s recent travails, documenting the WTXF meteorologist’s account of being roofied and robbed while on vacation in Miami…

continued…

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WTXF Meteorologist John Bolaris Recounts Incredible Story of Being Roofied and Robbed in Miami

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:09:16 +0000

In what he calls a “year of hell,” WTXF chief meteorologist John Bolaris has been battling to protect his good name, as well as his credit score, after being drugged and robbed while on vacation in South Beach last spring.

In a new Philadelphia Daily News piece, Bolaris recounts his strange, made-for-TV odyssey, which began with drinks at a poolside bar and ended with an FBI investigation.

It all started last March while Bolaris was on vacation in Miami. He was approached by two beautiful young women with eastern European accents who began flirting with him and asking about his job as a weathercaster.

As the three conversed at a poolside bar, the girls coaxed Bolaris into doing a shot with them. As he would later find out, the shot contained a roofie. continued…

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