The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 74

F12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2001 LOS ANGELES TIMES TODAY ON TV Prime-Time TV Rankings Bada-Bing! Biggest Audience Joins Sopranos' Club 11:00 a.m. KRCA Los Polivoces 27649 BET Bill Winston DISN The Book of Pooh (TVY) El Talk Soup (TVPG-DI 825465 ESPN2 NCAA Final Four Highlights FAM Two of a Kind (TVG) FNC NewsQuinn FSN National Sports Report FSN2 Yoga Zone FX MASH (TVPG) HGTV Room by Room UFE Denise Austin's Daily Workout MTV MTV Jams (TVPG) NICK Hey Arnold! 733939 SHOW "A Man Called Sarge" '90 (PG-13)1hr28 3347216 TIC NiNi's Treehouse (TVY) FSN2 Regional Sports Report FXNYPDBIue(TV14) HGTV Appraisal Fair HIST Weapons at War (TVG) IFC "The Quiet Room" '96 IPG) 1hr35 39542200 (9:15) LIFE Golden Girls (TVPG-D) MTV Music Videos (TVPG) NICK Little Bear 559804 SCI-H Wonder Woman (TVG) SHOW "High Road to China" '83 (PG1hr45 27904787 (9:151 SUND "Elvira Madigan" '67 (PG1hr35 437858 TBS Matlock TLC A Baby Story (TVPG) TNNWKRPin Cincinnati TNT ER (TVPG-L) USA Something So Right (TVPG) VH1 Top 20 Countdown (TVPG) 9:30 a.m. respectable start with the premiere of its "The X-Files" spinoff, "The Lone Gunmen," though viewing of the show dropped from the first to the second half-hour. CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" delivered its biggest audience yet, as ratings for that show and "Survivor" surged opposite reruns of NBC's Thursday comedies. The new crime series "Big Apple," however, lost almost half "CSl's" lead-in against an original "ER." Another first-year CBS drama, "Kate Brasher," fell about 12 off its premiere Saturday but still posted solid numbers, while NBC's XFL football league continues to lose ground and was by far the lowest-rated major network telecast last week.

-BRIAN LOWRY (C'T'he Sopranos" exhibited the kind of ratings firepower seldom seen on cable television with its third-season premiere Sunday, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. With an estimated 11.3 million viewers, the Home Box Office drama achieved its highest ranking yet and attracted a bigger audience than NBC's opening installment of the two-part Kennedy family saga "The Women of Camelot," despite the fact the pay channel is available in less than 30 of U.S. homes. A competing made-for-TV movie, "Amy and Isa-belle," with Elisabeth Shue, weathered that assault, as the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" banner continues to spin ratings gold for ABC. Fox also got off to a National Nielsen Vlewershlp 8:00 a.m.

CHANNELS Lot Angeles BB KVEA (Tele) 23 Orang County B3 KDOC (Ind.) 56 KCBS (CBS) 02 EB KJLA lnd 1 25 nKNBC(NBC04 ESKLCS(Edo 17 BKTIAWB)0S DKABC(ABC)07 Palm Springs SKMIflNBC)04 micnvifoxin h2Ksqiabc)7. IB KCOP (UPN) 13 25 Barbara SmtSS BSSS HDKTBN (Ind.) 40 Ventura County B3K0CE (PBS)50 SSKADYUPN16 Cable Services 39 ESPN2 84 NICK 38 AMC 35 FAM 47 SCI-H 87 BET 57 FNC 91 SHOW 41 BRVO 54 FSN 27 SUND 36 CNBC 31 FSN2 59 too COM 79 FX CSPN 29 HBO 33 CMAX 45 HIST 30 JH; CNN 42 HGTV 80 DSC 37 IFC 21 TNN 49 DISN 53 UFE 46 TNT 52 El 63 MSNBC 90 USA 44 ESPN 34 MTV 48 VH1 62 Use numbers after call letters to set VCfl Plus. Where there are two numbers, repeat the pracedure. (R in the grid, denotes a repeat program. TV RATINGS (TVY) All Children (TW7 Directed to Older Children (TVY7-FV) Directed to Older Children; Here are the rankings tor national prime-time network television last week (Feb.

26-March 4) as compiled by Nielsen Media Research. They are based on the average number of people who watched a program from start to finish. Nielsen estimates that there are 260 million potential U.S. viewers age 2 and older. Viewership is listed here in millions.

KCBS The Young and the Restless ITV14) 12129 a KNBC News KTLA Judge Mills Lane KABCL3J KEYT Port Charles (TVPG-L) 34216 KCAL Moral Court (TVPG) DI KTTV Queen Latifah 12113 03 KCOP Jenny Jones (TVPG) 24571 63 KWHYRoseanne 241 KVCR More Than Memories BO KCET Noddy (TVY) 92842 03 KMEX Pobre Diabla 22113 36) KMIR News 03 KTBN James Robison 1421 KESQ Montel Williams 88397 BD KDOC Headline News EB KJLAATuSalud BO KLCS Using Maps, Globes. Graphs. Tables. Charts and Diagrams KADY Unhappily Ever After (TV14-DL) 343465 Magnum, P.I. CMAX "American Movie: The Making of Northwestern" '99 (R)1hr47 CNBC Street Signs COM Don't Forget Your Toothbrush CSPN U.S.

House of Representatives BSC Lynette Jennings Design DISN Bear in the Big Blue House El 2001 Grammy Awards Fashion Review (TVG) 834113 ESPN2 In the Driver's Seat FAM It's ItsyBitsy Time (TVY) FX Beverly Hills, 90210 (TVPG) HGTV The Carol Duvall Show HIST True Action Adventures (TVG) IFC "Picnic at Hanging flock" 75 PG1hr55 5531 29 UFE Unsolved Mysteries (TVPG) MTV Music Videos (TVPG) NICK Dora the Explorer 575264 SCI-H Battlestar Galactica (TVG) SHOWvVrV "Moonlighting" '82 (PG1hr37 8914533 TBS "Matlock: Nowhere to Turn" '90 2hr 735303 TLC A Wedding Story (TVG) TNN The Wonder Years (TVG) TNT "Keep the Change" '92 2hr 260649 USA Wings (TVPG-D) VH1 Behind the Movie (TVPG) KCAL To Tell the Truth ID KTTV Divorce Court (TVPG) BD KCET Between the Lions (TVY) (R) 31804 EH KTBN Unfolding Majesty With Dean Mary Brown BD KDOC Benny Hinn BO KLCS Here's How (9:45) BET AM at BET 859129 CMAX "Beverly Hills Cop II" '87 (R)1hr43 2096587 CNN Burden of Proof 840668 DISN RoliePolieOlie (TVY) El Mysteries Scandals (TVPG-V) FAM CBN Special Edition 475378 FSN Grand Prix Showjumping Report FSN2 Giiad's Bodies in Motion HGTV Appraise It! LIFE Golden Girls (TVPG-D) NICK Blue's Clues 295194 TLC A Baby Story (TVPG) TNNWKRPin Cincinnati USA Hearts Afire (TVPG) KCAL Bewitched (TVG) 00 KCOP 631 KADY Sabrina, the Animated Series 58465 124 KVCR Charlie Rose 183804 SI KCET Dragon Tales (TVY) 34561 BD KTBN Kenneth Copeland BD KOCE Simply Painting Around the World S3 KDOC James Robison 321939 Efl KJLA Hollywood Treasures SO KLCS Adventures From the Book of Virtues 29533 KRCA Cine Northern Exposure (TVPG) BET Amazing Facts BRVO Bravo Profiles (TVPG) CMAX "Sky Riders" '76 IPG) 1hr33 713736 COM "The Woman in Red" '84 (PG-13)2hr 5382674 DISN Bear in the Big Blue House El FashionTelevision ESPN SportsCenter ESPN2 NBA Today FAM Angela Anaconda (TVY7) FSN2 National Sports Report FXMASH(TVPG HGTV TIPical Mary Ellen HIST Civil War Journal (TVGI UFE Designing Women (TVPG-DI MTV Direct Effect (TVPG) NICK The Wild Thornberrys (TVY) SCI-H seaQuest DSV SUND "Who Is Henry Jaglom?" '95 1hr 628200 TBS Mama's Family TIC Salty's Lighthouse (TVY) TNT Lois Clark (TVPG) USA USAM News i IK Jr i.J it I --V AY 10:00 a.m. 82. ButTy die Vampire Slayer WB 5.97 83. "World's Funniest Spedar FOX 5.62 84. Angel WB 5.21 85.

Star Trek: Voyager um 5.11 86 Charmed WB 416 87. TV Guide Truth FOX 407 88 Dawson 's Creek WB 400 89. Roswel WB 374 90. Die Parkers UPN 3.69 91. GllmoreGiris WB 2.67 92.

Moesha UPN 3.57 93. TheHughleys UPN 3.56 94. Sahrina. the Teenage Witch WB 3.55 95. XR Football NBC 354 96.

The Players Oub" UPN 3.45 97. Popstars WB 3.32 98. XR Post-Game NBC 330 99. 7 Days UPN 320 100. The Steve Harvey Show WB 316 101.

Srtlnends UPN 3.14 102. The Pis WB 2.91 103. The Jamie Fox Show WB 2.81 104. Popular WB 2.65 105. Popstars 9 p.m.) WB 2.47 106.

Jack a JIH WB 2.21 107. Popstars 8:30) WB 2.15 108. Gary 5 Me (9 p.m) UPN 2.13 109. XR Football UPN 1.91 110. tetehify Deathman UPN 1.79 111.

UPN 1.78 112. NkH WB 1.62 114. Gary a Mike UPN 1.46 Elisabeth Shue fTVG) General Audience (TVPG) Parental Guidance (TV1 4) Parents Strongly Cautioned (TVMA) Mature Audiences Only (D) Suggestive Dialogue Coarse Language (SI Sex (V) Violence Movie Ratings A CLASSIC RRST RATE FLAWED: HAS MOMENTS DESPERATION TIME Morning 1. Survivor II CBS 31.32 2. ER NBC 25.57 3.

CSI CBS 23.72 4. Millionaire (Sun.) ABC 19.53 5. "Amy and Isabelle" ABC 19.39 6. Law Order NBC 18.88 7. The West Wing NBC 18.09 8.

Every. Loves Raymond CBS 18.08 9. The Simpsons FOX 17.55 10. Millionaire (Thur.) ABC 17.50 11. Temptation Island FOX 17.47 12.

Malcolm In tlw Middle FOX 1703 13. WW a Grace N8C 15.94 JAG CBS 15.94 15 MMM(F.) ABC 15.93 16. 60 Minutes CBS 15.72 17. Friends (8:30 pm) NBC 15.65 18. Hie Mole (Wed.) ABC 15.41 19.

Becker CBS 15.06 20. Friends NBC 15.04 21. Milkman (Wed.) ABC 14.75 22. Law 4 Older SVU NBC 14.56 23. King ol Queens CBS 13.89 24.

AByMcBeal FOX 13.85 25. "Judy Garland" Part 2 ABC 13.58 26. JlSt Shoot Me NBC 13.54 27. Boston Public FOX 13.46 28 PimMenct NBC 13.36 29. The Mole ABC 1324 30.

The Lone Gunmen FOX 13.23 31. Ftaslet NBC 12.91 Yes. Dear CSS 12.91 33. Dateline: NBC (Mon.) NBC 12.78 34. Third Watch NBC 12.66 35.

TtieDtanct CBS 12.63 36. Big Apple CBS 12.24 37. "Bush Speech Analysis" ABC 12.15 38 "Eraser" CBS 11.83 39. Funniest Home Videos ABC 11.75 40. 2020 (Frl ABC 11.65 41.

NYPDBlue ABC 1162 42. Ed NBC 11.54 43. Touched by an Angel CBS 11.42 44. Judging Amy CBS 11.26 45. The Drew Carey Show ABC 11.05 46.

"Bush Speech Analysis" CBS 10.88 47. The Women of Camelot" NBC 10.80 48! Spin City ABC 1053 49. PnraetmeThusday ABC 10.50 50. Three Sisters NBC 10.49 51. Family Law CBS 10.41 8:30 a.m.

7:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Net- Vtow- Program work an 52. Dateline: NBC (Fri.) NBC 10.40 53. Kingotttie Hin FOX 10.39 54.

That 70s Show (Wed FOX 10.33 55. Grounded tor life FOX 10.21 56. Kate Brasher CBS 10.13 57. That '70s Show FOX 10.08 58. Diagnosis Murdei CBS 9.80 59.

America's Most Wanted FOX 9.74 60. Titus FOX 9.53 61. Cops (8:30 p.m.) FOX 9.16 62. Dateline: NBC (Sun.) NBC 8.93 63. "temocratjc Response" CBS 855 64.

"Best Commercials 5" ABC 8.46 65. 'The Birdcage" ABC 8.20 66. Cops FOX 8.11 67. "Biblical Mysteries" NBC 8.06 68. That's Life CBS 8.02 69.

Dateline: NBC (Tue.) NBC 7.99 70. 7th Heaven WB 7.95 71. Futurama FOX 792 72. "Miss USA Pageant" CBS 7.82 73. Whose Line Is It? (830) ABC 7.53 74.

-Sanctuary- CBS 7.38 75. WWFSnuckdOwnl UPN 734 76. Betle CBS 7.11 77. ''Some of My Best Friends" CBS 7.09 78. "Soldier FOX 7.05 79.

Whose Lire Is It Anyway? ABC 6.71 80. Two Guys and a Girl ABC 6.22 81. Norm ABC 6.01 Network Averages Here is the number of viewers that each network averaged per hour of prime time, for last week and for the season. KCBS The Price Is Right (TVG) (3 KEYT Martha Stewart 16991 El KNBC Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus 14533 KTLA Sally Jessy Raphael (TVPG) 76397 KABC 421 KESQ The View 61465 KCAL Judge Mathis (TVPG) Di KTTV Power of Attorney 00 KCOP Montel Williams 11 007 1241 KVCR Creative Living BO KCET Sesame Street 84571 B3 KMEX Maria Susana 19649 (38j KMIR Dr. Laura 275945 ED KTBN Behind the Scenes KVEA "Los Peluqueros" '96 1hr30 165656 KDOC Southland Today SI KJLA Bandazo Musical 68533 S3 KLCS Working Together: Interactions: Real Math, Real Careers (10:15) KRCA Cine Murder, She Wrote BRVO "Box of Moonlight" '96 (R)2hr45 15122026 CNN CNN Today COM The Dairy Show With Jon Stewart (TVPG) 5289533 DSC Home Matters (TVG) DISN The Book of Pooh (TVY) El The True Hollywood Story (TVPG) "Dr.

Laura" 821649 ESPN2 Motorcycle Racing-EA Sports Supercross Series. 8354674 FAM The 700 Club FSN2 Yoga Zone FX Beverly Hills. 90210 (TVPG) HGTV At the Auction HIST 20th Century (TVPG) LIFE Who Knows You Best? (TVPG) NICK Bob the Builder 177246 SCI-H Dark Shadows 6196638 TBS Hunter TCM "Quality Street" '37 1hr24 36110842 (10:15) TLC A Dating Story (TVG) TNN Newhart(TVG) TNT ER (TV14) USA Doctor, Doctor VH1 Top 10 Countdown (TVPG) KCAL I Dream of Jeannie BD KCOP 3 KADY Pepper Ann KCET Arthur 84002 SO KPXN James Robison B3 KTBN Laveme and Edith Tripp SO KOCE Teletubbies 780668 BD KLCS Cursive Handwriting: Phonics in Context (8:45) AMC "All the President's Men" '76 (PG)2hr30 930533 BET Peter Popoff DISN Otter (TVY) Fashion Emergency (TVG) ESPN2 RPM 2Night FAM Kids From Room 402 (TVY7) FSN Regional Sports Report FX MASH (TVPG) HBO "Entrapment" '99 (PG- 13) 1hr52 681378 HGTV Smart Solutions UFE Designing Women (TVPG-D) NICK Rugrats 568552 TBS Cosby (TVPG) TCM 'The Enchanted Cottage" '45 1hr32 44615755 TLC NiNi's Treehouse (TVY) TMC "The Country Girl" '54 1hr44 891465 USA Carol Burnett and Friends BJ KEYT News KTLA The Nanny (TVPG) KABCNews BD KSCI Taiwan News KWHY The Cosby Show 1241 KVCR Quilt in a Day BO KCET Teletubbies (TVY) 93571 36 ((MIR Real TV 03 KTBN Benny Hinn KVEA Noticiero SI KJLA Mexico Confidencial BO KLCS Teen Issues: Teen Issues (11:451 BET 106 Park: BET'S Top 10 Live COM Win Ben Stein's Money (TVPG) DISN Otter (TVY) ESPN Basketball-Big East Tournament: Seton Hall vs. St. John's.

359026 ESPN2 Soccer- UEFA Champions League: Milan AC vs. Galatasaray SK 22897115 FAM It's ItsyBitsy Time (TVY) FSN Street Pace Film Festival HGTV Simply Quilts HIST Great Blunders in History NICK Little Bill 125723 TLC A Wedding Story (TVG) TNN The Wonder Years (TVG) USA Jesse (TVPG) Afternoon Mk taint ABC 12.62 million 13.01 CBS 12.58 12.67 NBC 11.96 12.14 FOX 10.48 10.04 WB 3.89 3.94 UPN 3.57 3.91 El KCBS The Early Show 13858 a KNBC 361 KMIR Today 500991 KTLA Morning News 57262 KABC 1 3 KEYT 142 KESQ Good Morning America 55858 ED KTTV Good Day A. 13842 KCOP $3 KAOYBuzz Lightyear of Star Command 80736 KWHYBizbirije 43200 1241 KVCR Time to Grow KCETZoboomafoo 76552 ED KPXN Employment Television EQ KMEX iDespierta America! G3 KTBN Rod Parsley EH KOCE Real Orange 929620 KVEA Esta Mariana KDOC New Zoo Revue 585200 EB KJLA Shepherd's Chapel BD KLCS Learning English KRCA Nubeluz (TVY) 31842 AMC vV "One Night in the Tropics" '40 1hr30 915587 John Steinbeck: An American Writer (TVGI BET Feed the Children CNBC Market Watch 29668 CSPN U.S. House of Representatives DISN RoliePolieOlie (TVY) El News Daily 919858 ESPN SportsCenter ESPN2 NCAA Final Four Highlights FAM Mary-Kate Ashley (TVY) FSN Regional Sports Report FSN2 Giiad's Bodies in Motion FX MASH (TVPG) HBO fV "A Month by the Lake" "95 (PG)1hr32 817991 HGTV Decorating With Style HIST The Real West (TVG) IFC IFC Short Film Collection II (7:15) UFE Denise Austin's Fit Lite MSNBC MSNBC Live 4666246 NICK Doug 714804 SCI-H Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TVGI TBS Little House on the Prairie TLCSkinnamarinkTV(TVY) TNT CHiPs (TVPG) VH1 Morning Mix (TV14) Lowry: Looking at 'Entertainment Tonight' 9:00 a.m. Noon 10:30 a.m.

KCBS Martha Stewart 40587 II KTLA Sally Jessy Raphael (TVPG) 80129 KABCI3J KEYTH21 KESQ Live With Regis and Kelly 43787 KCAL Family Feud 03 KTTV Divorce Court (TVPG) EB KCOP Maury (TVG) 77649 CD KSCI Kiss, Kiss, Kiss (Korean) KWHV "EICieloylaTierra" '62 2hr 94921 241 KVCR Sesame Street 821 29 ED KCET Barney (TVY) (R) 28842 03 KTBN Or. Cherry 3D KOCE Instructional TV ffl KVEA Monica 84587 BD KDOC Life in the Word KLCS Algebra in My World 3077484 LA Law BET BET.com Countdown BRVO St. Elsewhere CNBC Power Lunch 93755 CNN Newsday DSC A Question of Race 2651 13 DISN Otter (TVY) El Celebrity Homes ESPN Basketball-Big East Tournament: Villanova vs. West Virginia. 946194 ESPN2 SportsCenter FAM It's ItsyBitsy Time (TVY) FNC NewsAsman FSN The Last Word 20200 KCBS Woman 2 Woman 69910 KNBC Access Hollywood 61378 KTLA Little House on the Prairie KABC 133 KEYT All My Children (TV14) 20587 KCAL News KTTV Judge Hatchett (TVPG) 15736 EB KCOP Maury (TV14) 70129 S3 KSCI Mandarin Drama KWHY La Corte Familiar 249 KVCR Stokes Birds at Home BO KCET Caillou (TVY) 15378 EQ KMEX La Revancha 98571 36) KMIR The People's Court 03 KTBN The 700 Club KESQ News EB KVEA Cotorreando 18939 BO KDOC Ironside (TVPG-V) EB KJLAPelfcula BO KLCS In Focus KRCANoticias 3j KADY Bloomberg Television Please see TV LOG F13 Hi KTTV Power of Attorney (TVPG) KVCR Sew Creative ED KTBN Casey Treat BD KDOC June Cain Miller BO KLCS in Me: Entrepreneur in You: 3-2-1 Classroom Contact (10:45) BETVideolink COM Whose Line Is It Anyway? DISN Out of the Box (TVY) FNC NewsVester HBO "American Anthem" '86 (PG-13)1hr42 8258991 HGTV Collectible Treasures LIFE Operation Style (TVPG) NICK Franklin 651216 SCI-H Dark Shadows 2098842 SUND "East Palace, West Palace" '97 1hr34 846378 TLC A Dating Story (TVG) TMC "The Rugrats Movie" '98 (G)1hr20 428668 TNN NewhartfrVG) USA Ned and Stacey (TVPG-D) 7:30 a.m.

0 KCAL Critter Gitters (TVGI iH KC0PS3 KADY Recess fm KSCIIran-Sima(Farsi) 25281 241 KVCR Time to Grow BD KCET Clifford the Big Red Dog 68587 E) KTBN Marilyn Hickey ED KOCE Martha's Sewing Room ED KDOC Japanese News BD KLCS Clifford the Big Red Dog RADIO Radio Station Guide All stations AM unless otherwise noted MUSIC: ADULT CONTEMPORARY porting on controversy surrounding CBS' "Survivor," from coverage of former contestant Stacey Stillman's lawsuit alleging the original show was rigged to last week's brouhaha about castaway Michael Skupin's injury and why footage of the accident wasn't broadcast Given that "ET" has been around two decades with the Paramount logo affixed to it the whole time, one might argue the public is aware of that lineage; still, how many casual viewers understand the far-flung holdings under Viacom's domain, a connection seldom if ever revealed? Bob Steele, senior faculty and ethics group leader at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, said even if most viewers are indifferent to such conflicts which appears to be the case they should at least be disclosed. "The public deserves to know this information," he said. "Even if some viewers don't want it, it's valuable information, upon which people can make decisions about journalistic quality and credibility." In addition, Steele noted most viewers don't draw sharp distinctions between such magazine shows, local news and prime-time newsmagazines, meaning programs employing such a format should maintain a degree of journalistic professionalism and detachment, as opposed to promoting the equivalent of "our Mary Hart and Bob Goen's exclusive 'ET' sponge bath" with Russell Crowe and Julia Roberts. To those who say the public considers entertainment news fluff, Steele contends if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it ought to try waddling like one.

"People see programs about information and entertainment as what they would call he said. Clearly, the appetite for entertainment news remains healthy, and news outlets function as promotional tools for parent networks so regularly these days that griping about broadcasting's lapses in journalistic etiquette often feels pointless. Why bother to complain, after all, when the numbers speak for themselves, and no one wants to risk making a 600-pound gorilla angry. Brian Lowry's column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached by e-mail at brian.lowrylatimes Continued from Fl Perhaps for that reason, "Entertainment Tonight" has become I extraordinarily self-referential in its old age.

It's not so much about the stars anymore as how those stars interact with "ET's" talent who, of course, carry on like stars themselves, mugging with celebrities in the "ET Photo Booth" or sharing a laugh backstage in the "ET One on One Room." In this context, the show makes liberal use of the word "exclusive," as in "stay tuned for 'ET's' exclusive chat with Destiny's Child," which, at an event such as the Grammys, usually means "ET" talked to the group about 5 minutes before everyone else. The irony is that while "ET" goes about conveying this coziness with celebrities on screen, the franchise seems to relish throwing its weight around behind the cameras, striking fear in the hearts of publicists in what many describe from the safety of anonymity, of course as an arbitrary, almost childish sense of entitlement. Specifically, "ET" won't cover events unless promised "first position" in terms of where their cameras are situated along red-carpet arrival lines which makes sense, as a practical matter, only to the extent it ensures the show gets access to those few stars who might not pause for every camera crew along the way. For the most part, though, the emphasis on "first position" is simply viewed as a way "ET" lords over "Access Hollywood" and other perceived rivals. As Pat Kingsley the head of PMK, a publicity firm with enough A-list clients to wield considerable clout itselfobserved: "If you go to any red carpet you'll see them first in line.

In that regard, they're a 600-pound gorilla. The No. 1 show can command that." (In Hollywood, even 800-pound gorillas lie about their age and weight.) Kingsley added that this partem is hardly confined to the entertainment programs but extends to morning or late-night shows, which, to varying degrees, insist on having guests first. "Whoever's No. 1 can call the shots, and they do," she said.

That said, publicists and entertainment reporters say "ET" is prone to unique moments of petulance, including recent backstage flare-ups at the Golden Globe and Soul Train Awards. "ET" will even leave an event, sources say, if staffers perceive the show is not given its due or "Access Hollywood" is treated too well. Linda Bell Blue, "ET's" executive producer, who took over the program in the mid-1990s after a stint at "Hard Copy," declined to be interviewed. A spokeswoman said the decision was made at a corporate level by the distributor, Paramount, because "ET" is in the midst of a banner year ratings-wise and "our numbers speak for themselves." Unfortunately, even the ratings betray a certain schizophrenia. "ET" is easily the top-rated entertainment newsmagazine on a national basis, doubling the audience for "Extra" and "Inside Edition" with an even wider edge over "Access Hollywood" since the TV season began.

Still, in Los Angeles, the world's entertainment capital, "ET" gets its clock cleaned. During the recent February rating sweeps, the show placed fifth among the seven local VHF stations in its time slot weeknights on KCBS at 7, behind "Extra" among others. "Access Hollywood" averaged almost 340,000 viewers a night locally, versus roughly 190,000 for "ET" a partem that also held true in New York. Granted, the CBS stations carrying "ET" in those cities are perennial also-rans in the ratings, but one would think the show has been around long enough to compensate for that handicap. "You get the rest of the country with 'ET' and you get the big markets with us," said "Access Hollywood" executive producer Rob SU-verstein.

"There's no monopoly anymore. We deliver the big markets." The final problem, and potentially the most troubling, involves possible conflicts, which have increased since Viacom acquired CBS, putting Paramount and CBS under the same vast corporate umbrella. "ET" has dismissed that any favoritism is shown toward sister entities or its parent company, just as "Access" pooh-poohs the fact it is produced by NBC. "We report the good news about NBC and the bad news about NBC and nobody has ever said to us, 'Don't report this, don't report Silver-stein said. Yet even in the industry, few people seem to entirely believe that.

There has been muttering, for example, that "Access" has been more aggressive than "ET" in re MUSIC COUNTRY 95.1 RELIGIOUS KBRT 740 WW 1280 KLTI 1390 KTVM 1460 KWVE-M .107.9 FAMILY WHS 710 FOREIGN LANGUAGE: SPANISH 103.1 nOMM .103.1 KUI 900 MUMM ..94.3 KBUE-flH 105.5 KHI 930 KlVMIrl ..1071 SMSE 1510 KRCD-fM .1039 MITO-ni .98.3 KSCAfll. .101.9 5 KM) 1020 KWB-m .96.7 mm. ...1330 wrs 1090 FOREIGN LANGUAGE: OTHER KJK-fM .94.3 KUWM ...927 7 KOST-M 103.5 MUSK: CLASSICAL KCPB-fl ..91.1 KUSOFM .91.5 MUSIC: IAZZ BIG BAND POP STANDARDS K1A2 1260 HAC 570 KION-FM. .88.1 XHZ 540 MUSK: ROCK 102.7 RNHS-HH ..89.7 KMQ-M -1067 7 MJCMtJJ .88.9 88 9 MUSIC: ROCK OLDIES KC8S-M ..93.1 KMG-fM .92.3 101.1 NEWS TRAFFIC WW 980 KNX 1070 PUBLIC RADIO KCSK-fM ..885 HTM .90.7 MUSIC: URBAN CONTEMPORARY 1240 1480 KATN 1300 KBIA 1580 WZV URN 670 HMDS ....1430 KVMft KVMSW .108.3 HMX 1190 TALK-INTERVIEW Tips for Today Noon-l p.m. Let's Do Lunch: Violinist Julian Rachlin is a guest, KCSN-FM (88.5).

p.m. Talk of the City: "State of LA." p.m.): "Breast Feeding" p.m.); highlights repeated, 9-10 p.m., KPCC-FM (89.3). 9- 9:30 p.m., un. Dragnet: Sgt. Friday (Jack Webb) searches for a man whose "con" takes a life (originally broadcast Feb.

7, 1952), KNX (1070). 10 p.m.-mldnlght Chicago Symphony: Franz Welser-Most conducts Ades Brahms (Violin Concerto in violinist Gil Shaham); Schumann (2nd Symphony), KMZT-FM (105.1). Drama-Comedy-Family p.m., a.m. The Whistler A man's marital affair turns deadly (originally broadcast July 2, 1950), KNX (1070). Classical 8-9 a.

m. Commuter Classic: Tchaikovsky 1812," Oslo Philharmonic), KMZT-FM (105.1). 10- 11 sun. Morning Symphony: Ravel Goose," Montreal Symphony Orchestra), KCSN-FM (88.5). 1 1:10 a.m.-noon Masterpiece of the Day: Bruch for Violin and Orchestra," violinist Salvatore Accardo, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra), KMZT-FM (105.1).

8-10 p.m. Evening Concert With John Maucerl: Tchaikovsky (Piano Concerto No. 2, pianist Mikhail Pletnev), KMZT-FM (105.1). Country-Folk-Jazz-Pop 1-2 p.m. Mid-Day Jazz; "Gerald Wiggins," KLON-FM (88.1).

Rock-Urban 8-10 p.m. Rhapsody Id Black, doo-wop, KPFK-FM (90.7). p.m.-Rockline, KCBS-FM (93.1). 10 Chocolate City, urban rhythm It soul, KCRW-FM (89.9). Midnight-1230 a.n.

Musk From Your Own Back Yard, KROQ-FM (106.7). News-Commentary 1-2 pjB. To the Point: "Cold War Still Hot?" KCRW-FM (89.9). p.m. The Politics of Culture: .640 .870 KMC 790 WIS 830 HHA.

too 3 nm-m .105.9 TALK: SPORTS .1150 ...1540 KM 1110 MIA. kwpc XTBA "The Life and Work of Rudolf Schindler," KCRW-FM (89.9). Sports Nooa-3 p.m. Baseball: exhibition. Angels vs.

Chicago Cubs, KLAC (570). 5-8 p.m. Baseball exhibition, Florida Marlins vs. Dodgers, KXTA (1 150). p.m.

Pro Basketball: Toronto Raptors at Lakers, KLAC (570), KWKW (1330). pun. Pro Hockey. Montreal Canadiens at Mighty Ducks, XTRA (690). Talk-Interview 9-11 t-m.

Larry Mantle's Alrttlk, highlights repeated 7-9 p.m.. KPCC-FM (89.3). Rush Umbaugh, KFI (640). 9 Drew Mariani, KPLS (830). 9 Dennis Prager, KRLA (870).

10 a.m.1 pjn. Al Rantel, KABC (790). 11 a.m.-noon Sam Rubin, KLSX-FM (97.1). 1 1 a.m.-l p.m. Talk of the Nation, KPCC-FM (89.3).

Noon-l p.m. Let's Do Lunch, local culture, KCSN-FM (88.5). Noon-3 p.m. Laura Schleaainger, KFI (640). Nooa-3 jb.

Michael Medved. KRLA (870). Nooa-3 p.m. Frosty, Heidi and Frank, KLSX-FM (97.1). Noon-3 p.m.

Al Kreata, KPLS (830). 1-3 p.m. Allred It Taylor, KABC (790). 3-4 pjn. Clark Howard, KFI (640).

wwwJatimes.complacead 1-800-234-4444, ext. 77291 mm AMlCtfS arm? latlmes.com i.