Inqlings: A crash course in Philly towing

The A&E series Parking Wars is a hit because of the conflict between the ruthlessly efficient Philadelphia Parking Authority and hapless motorists.

Stronger forces will collide in another auto-based reality series being shot here.

Here's the hook of TLC's Wreck Chasers, premiering Oct. 28: It follows four towing companies on their rounds. As one tow guy told me, they fight everyone - the police, one another, and the hapless motorists. "Real gritty" is how a TLC rep described a rough cut of one episode he saw.

The series was green-lit, as it were, in the spring, well before the July shooting of a tow-truck operator at an accident scene, which led to a city crackdown. The one-hour series, running five or six weeks, will premiere with two half-hour episodes shown in succession.

Worthy goals

Producers of the TV series Friday Night Lights left behind more than memories after a night of filming at Frankford High's football field with series star Kyle Chandler. A truck pulled up to the school two weeks ago, and it was loaded with practice and game gear - including helmets, pads, uniforms, socks, Under Armour apparel. "We saw a lot of heart in these kids and the coach," who is Mike Capriotti, producer Nan Bernstein told me, noting that schools back East are the "polar opposite in attention, money, and fuss that high school football gets in Texas," where the series is set and shot. "The student football team and Coach Mike gave the show so much more than we ever expected, we felt it was important to show our gratitude to the school and the athletic department in a substantive way."

Bernie Parent, the Flyers' Hall of Fame goalie, has donated his original locker stall from the doomed Spectrum to the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League, which has launched an online raffle. As I quoted his business partner Dean Smith here two weeks ago, Parent didn't want to give it to a group that would auction it off to some high roller. Better to allow everyday people to bid on it. Each entry at www.greaternorristownpal.org costs $39, and entrants get an autographed 8-by-10 photo. Winner will be chosen Sept. 9.

Around the dial

CBS3's Eyewitness News and 6ABC's Action News are moving the start of their morning reports by a half-hour - to 4:30 - effective Labor Day. This will put them in line with Fox29, which moved its morning news to 4:30 in the spring. NBC10 would not say last week if it planned to punish its staff likewise.