Dan Gross: Stensland's 1st 'Dawn' changed

Larry Mendte's attorneys have asked WMCN TV to hold off airing what was to be the first episode of "A New Dawn," his wife Dawn Stensland's weekly program that debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In the episode, already taped, Mendte and Stensland discuss the impact on their marriage from his conviction on illegally accessing former CBS 3 coanchor Alycia Lane's emails.

And while we understand Lane's name is never mentioned, nor particular details of the situation, Mendte's attorneys still believe it best to delay the footage until a judge rules on the civil case Lane brought against Mendte for his actions.

That ruling is expected this month. So on Thursday's premiere of "A New Dawn," Stensland will talk about losing 45 pounds and keeping it off for more than two years and what has kept her busy since she left Fox 29 in 2010.

And speaking of Alycia . . .

Last week we reported Lane had pursued returning to Philly and her agent had discussions with both Fox 29 and NBC10 before she re-signed with KNBC in Los Angeles, where she anchors mornings.

We mentioned that neither station seemed too serious about her, but have since received contrary information. Sources tell us Fox 29 was very interested in hiring Lane but that KNBC made her a better offer. A Fox 29 spokeswoman did not return to our requests for comment.

"Extra" host Maria Menounos was especially taken by Dewey, a spectacled owl and Picchu a blue and gold macaw at the Philadelphia Zoo's Mobile Zoo Thursday when she emceed the zoo's third annual Global Conservation Gala at the Westin Hotel.

* Singer Chris Isaak lunched Friday at the Rittenhouse outpost of the Famous 4th Street Deli (38 S. 19th). The "Wicked Game" musician performed Saturday night at Harrah's Philadelphia casino in Chester.

Many Howard Stern fans, including Your Humble Narrator, awaited Captain Janks' strike during Hurricane Sandy. Janks, a/k/a Tom Cipriano of North Wales, is the Stern-obsessed prank caller who routinely talks his way onto live TV broadcasts posing as airport or emergency management officials, only to then name-drop Stern or "Baba Booey," a nickname for Stern producer Gary Dell'Abate. Janks says he decided to sit out the storm because it hit "Too close to home."

"I didn't want all of New Jersey hating me. The entire tristate area," Janks says.

TV news anchors and producers should be thankful.

Sixers guard Evan Turner spent a day last week interning at Men's Health, based in Emmaus, Pa. A video of Turner's time at the mag can be found on our blog PhillyGossip.com.