Dan Gross: Suspended reporter back at NBC10

NBC10 REPORTER Justin Pizzi was back to work Monday, after what sources say was a week's suspension over prematurely posting on Twitter that Joe Paterno had died.

On Jan. 21, Paterno's death was reported by a Penn State blog and was immediately picked up via Twitter feeds and websites of many media outlets. The Paterno family issued a prompt denial.

The legendary football coach died of lung cancer the next day.

An NBC10 spokeswoman said the station does not comment on internal personnel matters.

Pizzi did not return a request for comment.

You may have seen anchor/reporter Aditi Roy popping up recently on the "Today" show. Roy, who spent several months last year working for "NBC News," has been tapped again to help out on national stories but is still working primarily out of NBC10.

It's hard to follow in the footsteps of Your Humble Narrator, especially when it comes to dance steps, but nine brave souls will be doing just that when they participate in the 4th Annual Dancing with the Philadelphia Stars event April 22 at the Crystal Tea Room atop the Wanamaker Building.

The benefit for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America's Philadelphia/Delaware Valley chapter will feature Councilwoman Marian Tasco; Inquirer Managing Editor and former Daily News Editor Michael Days; Julie Dorenbos, co-owner of Rittenhouse Square tanning salon Skin Palette and wife of Philadelphia Eagle Jon Dorenbos; Marisa Magnatta, associate producer of 93.3 WMMR's Preston & Steve show; Water Works Restaurant co-owner Anastasia Karloutsos; Nina Tinari, partner at T2 Consultants LLC and former special assistant to Gov. Rendell; CW Philly/CBS3 community ambassador Kharisma McIlwaine; Telemundo Philadelphia's Eric Cortes; and stylist Kevin Gatto, owner of Verde Salon in Collingswood.

Each dancer will be partnered with a professional from Shana Vitoff's Society Hill Dance Academy (2nd & Pine) and will perform a two-minute routine before a panel of judges. Our advice, drink a lot first. It helps with nerves.

Tickets are $100, and will include a cocktail hour and silent auction. For tickets or info, visitdancingwiththephiladelphiastars.com. 

Mount Airy native Sarah Bart will be seen on Friday's "Jeopardy" (7 p.m. 6ABC), part of the 2012 College Jeopardy Championship.

The Central High graduate is a senior majoring in history and minoring in political science at Goucher College.

Though it's already been taped, we wish Sarah good luck anyway.

Ed Rendell is to receive a lifetime-achievement award Friday at the Westin Hotel at Comcast SportsNet's 2nd annual Shining Star Awards benefiting the March of Dimes. Also to be honored at the event, sponsored by the Wanamaker Entertainment Group, will be five children who were treated in neonatal intensive-care units, which the March of Dimes supports. Helping to pay homage to the children will be Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick, Flyers center Blair Betts, ex-Eagles linebacker-turned-94 WIP host Ike Reese, and 76ers ambassador Sonny Hill. The five honorees are Jake Koerner, 13; Kate Santangelo, 10; Jacob Mukalian, 9, and 4-year-old twins Jonas and Lily Vasquez.

Among the scheduled guests are former Eagles Tra Thomas and Fred Barnett; former Flyer Brian Propp and Steve Coates, now a Comcast SportsNet Flyers broadcaster; Union players Michael and Gabe Farfan; former Daily News sportswriter Ray Didinger, now with CSNPhilly.com; and NBC10's Tracy Davidson. For tickets or info, visit shiningstarawards. com.

William Shatner's one-man show, "Shatner's World: We Just Live In It," stops at the Merriam Theatre March 13. Tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through kimmelcenter.org. or by phone at 215-903-1999 or in person at the Kimmel Center box office. They are $57-$77 with a $300 package including premium seating and a meet-and-greet with Shatner.