Life is looking good for former Cincinnatian Amy Yasbeck. The Blue Ash native and 1980 Ursuline Academy grad will star in Related by Family, a Fox sitcom that is scheduled to premiere in January.

Yasbeck (Wings, The Mask) will star as Michelle, wife of Rick (Matthew Glave - Corky Romano, The Wedding Singer) and preside over a blended family of five kids ranging from 8 to 18.

The show, which sounds a little Brady Bunch-ish, will shoot in August and hit Fox (Channels 19, 45) in the 8:30 p.m. Wednesday time slot. But remember: Networks are notorious for changing show names right up to the premier date, so don't be surprised it if materializes under a different name.

New at 5

Channel 5's national and internal search for a co-anchor to replace Anne Marie Tiernon - her last day was Wednesday- is almost over, says Richard Dyer, WLWT general manager. "We're at a point in the search where we should be at decision time within the next couple of weeks."

With Tiernon off to a new job in Indianapolis, two Channel 5 veterans will fill the gap. Morning anchor Michelle Hopkins will co-anchor the 5 p.m. news with Dave Wagner; Lisa Cooney will co-anchor at 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m.

In other developments, news reporter Sheree Paolello, just back from maternity leave, is now weekend evening co-anchor.

And the winner is . . .

Four local personalities and two stations were among the recent nominees for the annual Radio & Records Industry Achievement Awards.

Among them:

• Duke Hamilton, WUBE-FM (105.1), Country Music Director of the Year.

• Jim LaBarbara, WGRR-FM (103.5), Oldies Air Personality of the Year.

• WEBN-FM (102.7), Rock Station of the Year.

• Scott Reinhart, WEBN-FM, Rock Program Director of the Year.

• The Dude, WEBN-FM, Rock Music Director of the Year.

• WRRM-FM (98.5), Adult Contemporary Station of the Year.

Former WKRQ-FM promotion director Von Freeman was nominated for Promotion Director of the Year.

Awards will be handed out in late June at R&R's annual convention.

Another winner

WMUB-FM (88.5) on Tuesday won a statewide OEBie award from Ohio Educational Broadcasters for its Bicentennial Minutes, 365 little spots on Ohio history, people and achievements. The segments ran three or four times a day throughout 2003.

Their creation was a staff-wide effort, but the principals were station general manager Cleve Callison, program director John Hingsbergen, news director Darrel Gray and producer/host Cheri Lawson.

Making demands

Don't they turn into divas quickly? American Idol contestant Kimberley Locke, one of the final three in the 2002-03 season, was a guest on Channel 19's morning news with Sheila Gray and Rob Williams last week, but only after she made it clear she would need: Fresh bagels; chilled bottled water; a special kind of herbal tea (there's only one kind she'll drink); and a hair and makeup team from Mitchell's Kenwood. All this with the sun barely up.

The station complied, but you can be sure there were lots of good, cynical newsroom jokes afterward.

In the studio

In other music news, WUBE-FM has country star Billy Dean singing in the studio 7-8:30 a.m. Wednesday with jocks Bill Whyte and Amanda Orlando. It's part of the station's "Studio B" series that regularly invites stars in for an early morning concert.

But 'UBE is making Dean do more than just sing. He'll also announce his performances at Jammin' in the Country (Sept. 4, Clermont County Fairgrounds), announce ticket information and let the world know the rest of the lineup, which is usually an impressive group of country stars.

Listeners who want to be in the studio with him can submit an entry form at www.b105.com.

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com