The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 69

2003:07:22:15:04:04 E14 CALENDAR LOSANGELESTIMES TELEVISION RADIO spring, with even a discussed spinoff starring Matt LeBlanc, who plays Joey, hardly a lock to fill those oversized shoes. is wounded, based on last ratings decline, and faces its toughest competition in years, with the NBC sitcoms that precede it having been downgraded to and a (also known as Real Soon) being sampled by millions of new viewers this summer. West rapidly lost ratings altitude and then series creator Aaron Sorkin took flight, opening the door for new creative avenues but still leaving questions. After all, how many writers know how to structure dialogue for people who can walk and talk? NBC also faces a tough negotiation to renew its three-legged beast with Universal Television, whose French parent company, if negotiations drag on much longer, might be the first to try to sell amovie studio on EBay. All that said, NBC is hardly the only network with headaches from difficulty launching dramas to ailing Sunday movie franchise which makes you wonder why everyone seems to be picking on it, and NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker in particular.

Industry wags are muttering about a bill coming due for past development failures, a speeding train that be sidestepped. In recent meetings with visiting TV critics (who get their shot at NBC Thursday), Fox executives jabbed at vulnerability, and CBS Television Chairman Leslie Moonves noted that his network going to eight reality shows at the wall, and maybe something will a reference to willy-nilly approach this summer. No. 1, the price you Zucker said this week. gunning for the guy on As fodder for journalists, he added: a Still, the focus on NBC goes deeper than that, beginning with role as an outsider to the back-scratching Hollywood mentality.A much-heralded wunderkind who began producing the show at 26, Zucker spent a decade in that rough-and-tumble world (beating cancer in the process) before landing at the entertainment division in December 2000.

At the time, he said he hoped to bring fresh set of to the programming game. In some respects he has, from comedies with 40-minute-plus episodes to experimenting with Night in prime time. Yet his appointment was in large part a reaction to belated entry into so-called reality television, at a time when the elusiveness of scripted hits has been the more pressing issue. In a March 2001 interview, NBC Chairman Bob Wright stated the network must preserve its while bringing the immediacy exemplified to prime time. is his he said of Zucker.

has those different worlds in his gun Since not long after his arrival, however, Zucker, now 38, has as often as not found himself in the cross hairs. Competitors resent him, not only because of his old rules mantra but the fact that his journalism background has made him so facile in spinning key media outlets. And yes, NBC is the network to beat on multiple levels, giving rivals an extra incentive to chop it down to size. Although CBS finished the 2002-03 season as the most-watched network overall, NBC has consistently been first within the key demographics that dictate advertising rates. After inhaling dust was by Cosby CBS has now made that night a race thanks to and Fox, meanwhile, with and came within a few hairs of NBC among younger viewers and is salivating at the prospect of dethroning it.

You also rule out a bit of boredom. The press is conditioned to look for drama and shifts in the status quo, and the network horse race makes for a more compelling plot than whether Kelly Ripacan balance the rigors of hosting With Regis and with a new ABC sitcom. Sure, the finger- pointing shenanigans can be a bit but what happens in the clubhouse is often more entertaining than on the field. What is clear is that while talk about changing the rules always sounds good, Zucker and new lieutenant Kevin Reilly who is coming home to NBC after making noise at FX with need to find some old-fashioned prime-time hits. On the plus side, the network has the advantage of dominating both the mornings and late night, and its core shows remain durable, with a good chance will still be running when Chelsea Clinton is ready to announce her presidential bid.

Finding those hits, however, easy, and the Zucker talked about might not get him there. certainly describe much in prime time these days, where viewers appear most comfortable with reheated versions of familiar, which is why a fourth and a third are both being contemplated. By this logic, the networks exhaust their supply of dead bodies so long as those shows keep attracting live ones. Zucker and Wright the kind to have their feathers ruffled easily, and they know required. Still, if NBC is determined to stay atop food chain, ithad better act soon, because to hungry sharks, the sight of a flailing peacock is just like ringing the dinner bell.

Brian column appears Wednesdays. He can be reached at brian.lowry@latimes.com. NBC: main course in a feeding frenzy Lowry, from Page E1 Warner Bros. TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: With nearing the end of its run, NBC needs material to fill its lineup. Chris Haston UNDER THE GUN: NBC honcho Jeff Zucker.

By Josh Friedman Times Staff Writer This is not your FBI. The seemingly invincible bureau immortalized during J. Edgar racket-busting glory days and in the 1960s and TV show starring Ephrem Zimbalist Jr. has long faded into memory. In the wake of the Hoover-era intimidation scandals, the tragedy in Waco, the Sept.11 terrorist attacks, a battle-scarred and controversial bureau has emerged to fight a new kind of enemy.

Benefiting from unparalleled access to the inner workings, filmmakers Barbara Leibovitz and Jamie Hellman profile FBI Director Robert Mueller and his troops in a National Geographic documentary tonightat 8 on KCET. The program, narrated by ac- tor Dennis Haysbert, offers a fascinating look at G-persons in action, although it has the glossy feel of an authorized work and its one-hour format has limitations. expect a debate about the wider surveillance operations in the world, for example, or an examination of its efforts to improve coordination with other intelligence agencies. Mueller, who was sworn in a week before Sept.11, must redefine the bureau to meet the challenge of unseen threats to make it, as he says, The special agents trailed in may not be the glamorized heroes of the real or imagined past, but they are dedicated workers adjusting to the new reality with a kind of quiet heroism. We meet a hazardous materials team searching an apartment in the Bronx, N.Y., during the anthrax contamination scare, and aharried agent deploying snipers, undercover cops and uniformed officers to guard the crowd at an Army-Navy football game.

In Turkey, where U.S. law enforcement officials fear terrorists could obtain nuclear materials or other weapons, FBI legal atta- Michael Dorris takes part in atea ritual with police to cultivate a relationship that he hopes will lead to more information sharing. not James Bond parachuting out of an airplane, driving boats real fast around the Istanbul Dorris says. have to go and slog it out in the streets, finding one little kernel of information and matching it up with TUNED IN brave new world A National Geographic documentary benefits from unparalleled access to the inner workings. MARK THIESSEN LEADERSHIP: FBI Director Robert Mueller is profiled in the documentary.

TIPS FOR TODAY p.m.—Talk of the City With Kitty Felde: L.A. City Atty. Rocky p.m.); Monica Market Emergency p.m.); Days: Photographs From the exhibition at the Getty Museum p.m.), KPCC-FM (89.3). p.m.—The Treatment: Writer- director Mike Figgis Las KCRW-FM (89.9). p.m., a.m.—Tales of the Texas Rangers: An elusive felon gives the Rangers a challenging pursuit (originally broadcast June 8, 1952), KNX (1070).

DRAMA, COMEDY, FAMILY p.m., a.m.—Crime Classics: Ablacksmith uses his skill to kill (originally broadcast Aug. 3, 1953), KNX (1070). 10 p.m.-3 a.m.—Sheryl Brooks, KDIS (1110). CLASSICAL p.m.—Masterpiece of the Day; Bach (Orchestra Suite No. 2, Academy of St.

Martin-in-the-Field), KMZT-FM (105.1). NEWS, COMMENTARY 1-2 p.m.—To the Point: Intelligence KCRW-FM (89.9). 1-2 p.m.—Business Hour, KNX (1070). 6-7 p.m.—News, KPFK-FM (90.7). Radio 66 Stupid Behavior: Caught on Tape FOX5.43 67 The Drew Carey ShowABC5.40 68 WWE 69 CopsFOX5.36 70 King of the HillFOX5.23 --------------------------------------------71 Judging AmyCBS5.18 72 30 Seconds to FameFOX5.13 73 48 Hours Investigates (Sat.) CBS5.11 74 Behavior (Mon.) FOX5.07 75 The PracticeABC4.82 --------------------------------------------76 HackCBS4.78 77 DragnetABC4.58 78 FuturamaFOX4.32 79 Disco 80 Anything For LoveFOX4.28 --------------------------------------------81 82 PulseFOX4.20 83 84 Life WithBonnie (8 p.m.)ABC3.98 85 AliasABC3.96 --------------------------------------------86 One on OneUPN3.91 87 Bernie Mac (8:30 p.m.)FOX3.90 88 Bernie MacFOX3.66 89 Life With Bonnie (9:30 p.m.) ABC3.47 90 GirlfriendsUPN3.45 --------------------------------------------91 The ParkersUPN3.41 92 Life With Bonnie (8:30 p.m.) ABC3.23 93 RebaWB3.21 94 SmallvilleWB3.19 95 The Dating ExperimentABC3.18 --------------------------------------------Half and HalfUPN3.18 97 Life With Bonnie (9 p.m.)ABC3.03 98 99 Gilmore GirlsWB2.86 100 Boston PublicFOX2.67 --------------------------------------------101 Reba (8 p.m.)WB2.64 102 7th HeavenWB2.63 103 Just Shoot Me (8:30 p.m.) NBC2.62 104 EnterpriseUPN2.59 Grounded for LifeWB2.59 --------------------------------------------106 The Twilight ZoneUPN2.54 107 7th Heaven (9 p.m.)WB2.51 108 Just Shoot Me (8 p.m.)NBC2.39 109 What I Like About YouWB2.37 110 Charmed WB2.08 --------------------------------------------111 AbbyUPN2.03 112 Buffy the Vampire SlayerUPN1.90 113 One on One 114 Boarding House 115 Boarding House --------------------------------------------116 117 Gilmore Girls: BeginningsWB1.67 118 Cop Network averages Here is the number of viewers (in millions) that each network averaged per hour of prime time, for last week and for the season.

Network Last week Season to date NBC7.9210.93 CBS7.8111.68 FOX6.749.20 ABC5.179.17 UPN2.993.42 WB2.633.79 airing of All- Star game was the top-rated show of last week, but NBC was the network doing the major celebrating with several of its shows scoring with viewers, according to national Nielsen ratings released Tuesday. NBC came out on top in the coveted 18-to-49 demographic for the eighth consecutive week and also won the ratings crown for total viewers. One key to the victory was the highly rated special featuring an interview with Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. More than 9 million viewers tuned into which drew criticism from television writers who said it had little news value other than serving as apromotion for the upcoming film, As has been the case regularly through the summer, the franchise provided the bulk of strength, with the original series, plus spinoffs Order: Criminal and Order: all finishing in the top 10. Less encouraging for the network was the mediocre premiere for its much-promoted series a new unscripted series about a New York restaurant.

It finished in 33rd place. opening of Boys help the repeat showing of the original film. It finished in 81st place. On the cable networks, the Disney Channel scored with the premiere of a movie and the return of a hit series. Its original film, Million Dollar and the second season launch of led the basic cable network to its best-ever weekly ratings in its key demographic since 1995.

Braxton Prime-Time TV Rankings NBC hits home runs in Nielsens SERIES up: Following a perfect score in his last competition, Danny prepares to compete against a roommate and against one of the best surfers, Rob Machado, in the season finale of House: North (8 p.m. WB). Night terrors: In the first of two back-to- back episodes Drew meets a charming woman from New Orleans (Tammy Lauren) on Drew Carey (9 p.m. ABC); in the second episode (9:30 p.m. ABC) he discovers the Southern belle has a disturbing sleep disorder.

Final four: The stories of King Henry VIII and wives Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr are told in the conclusion of Six Wives of Henry (9 p.m. KCET). Zero tolerance: After he declares a strict new policy on dealing with crime, Lt. Dangle finds that the only criminal in town on the premiere of (10:30 p.m. Comedy Central).

SPECIALS Whatever became of Allyce Beasley Alex Michel (the original Jeremy Miller Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Wil Wheaton by are among the celebrities whose careers are revisited on Stars: Then Now Entertainment Television (10 p.m. ABC). MOVIES Wagon train: James Stewart plays a tough- as-nails ex-outlaw leading settlers to Oregon in the 1952 western of the (5 p.m. TCM). Prison train: Frank Sinatra stars as a POW who leads the seizure of a Nazi train and makes a break for freedom in (5:35 p.m.

AMC). Revolution: Woody Allen and Louise Lasser star in the 1971 comedy (6 p.m. TMC). Pearl Harbor: The attack on Pearl Harbor is re-created from U.S. and Japanese viewpoints in the 1970 epic Tora! (8 p.m.

AMC). Gun for hire: Clint Eastwood stars in director Sergio 1964 western Fistful of (8:30 p.m. TCM). SPORTS Baseball: The Colorado Rockies visit the Dodgers (7 p.m. FSN2).

Highlights The Early Show Jeff Bridges; Hall Oates. 7a.m. KCBS Today Chris Cooper. 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News William H.

Macy; Rocco DiSpirito. 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America Anna Paquin; actor Djimon Hounsou. 7 a.m. KABC Live With Regis and Kelly Tobey Maguire; Anna Paquin; Maximillian Alexander.

9 a.m. KABC The View Candace Bushnell; John Leguizamo. 10 a.m. KABC Life Times Mexican ID cards; jamming of L.A.-based Iranian satellite station. 7 and 11 p.m.

KCET Late Show With David Letterman Joaquin Phoenix. 11:35 p.m. KCBS The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Dennis Miller; actress Natalie Imbruglia; Rosanne Cash. 11:35 p.m. KNBC Listings include talk shows that provide aguest list.

Talk Shows Here are the rankings for national prime-time network television last week (July 14-20) 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 there are 272.04 million potential viewers in the U.S. age 2 and older. Viewership is listed in millions.

Program Network View- ersProgram Network Viewers 1 League All-Star FOX13.81 2 Law OrderNBC12.45 3 CSICBS12.02 4 Everybody Loves Raymond CBS11.06 5 CSI: MiamiCBS10.81 --------------------------------------------6 Law Order: Criminal Intent NBC10.59 7 Dateline: NBC 8 Without a TraceCBS10.53 9 King of QueensCBS10.50 10 Law Order: SVUNBC10.44 --------------------------------------------11 60 MinutesCBS9.53 12 Law Order (9 p.m.)NBC9.49 13 Dateline: NBC 14 60 Minutes IICBS9.17 15 CSI --------------------------------------------16 17 Will GraceNBC8.64 18 Big Brother 4 19 Fear FactorNBC8.52 20 Who Wants to Marry My Dad? NBC8.50 --------------------------------------------21 FriendsNBC8.49 22 For Love or Money 2NBC8.20 23 Funniest Home Videos ABC8.02 24 Will Grace (9:30 p.m.)NBC8.00 25 Still StandingCBS7.96 --------------------------------------------26 Dateline: NBC 27 28 Dateline: NBC 29 Amazing Race: 4CBS7.78 Big Brother 4CBS7.78 --------------------------------------------31 Cupid 32 George LopezABC7.60 33 RestaurantNBC7.49 Yes, DearCBS7.49 35 According to JimABC7.44 --------------------------------------------36 Dog Eat DogNBC7.11 The SimpsonsFOX7.11 38 8 Simple RulesABC7.07 39 Last Comic StandingNBC7.02 40 My Wife and KidsABC6.86 --------------------------------------------41 Less Than PerfectABC6.83 42 Most WantedFOX6.82 43 NYPD BlueABC6.67 44 Big Brother 4 Malcolm in the Middle (9:30 p.m.) FOX6.64 --------------------------------------------46 Primetime ThursdayABC6.59 47 Paradise Hotel 48 That ShowFOX6.29 49 Paradise Hotel 50 --------------------------------------------51 Malcolm in the MiddleFOX6.09 52 American Juniors 53 48 Hours Investigates (Fri.) CBS5.76 54 Cupid The DistrictCBS5.70 --------------------------------------------56 The Drew Carey Show (9:30 p.m.) ABC5.66 57 Cops (8:30 p.m.)`FOX5.64 58 BanzaiFOX5.62 60 JAGCBS5.60 --------------------------------------------Whose Line Is It Anyway? (9:30 p.m.) ABC5.60 62 Special ABC5.58 63 Whose Line Is It 64 Life With BonnieABC5.46 65 FameNBC5.44.