Daily News from New York, New York • 105

mfr.T in wrnmmn 1 tmm i in player. Jason Schwartzman, as the confused defiarind0jtMi? tic prep-school teen, fs the star. SERIES 8:00 p.m. (CBS) "Survivor: Africa." After the events in tonight's show, the remaining contestants will have made it past their first month in the African wilderness. Weil, all but one of them, that is, and tonight's elimination could tilt the balance of power yet again.

8:00 (NBC) "Friends." The secret's out, but the suspense remains in the reruns sort of. This is a repeat of one of the episodes in which the identity of the father of Rachel's baby was still unknown. 8:00 (WB) "Popsters 2." Here's a first-run episode, with the new pop group Scene 23 making its first music video. Hey, it worked for Eden's Crush, so why not? This series about wanna-be pop groups created from scratch flips the adage: If at first you succeed, try, try again. 8:00 (Fox) "The Family Guy." This series, resurrected because of fear of actors and writers strikes, has plenty of first-run episodes left to show.

This one, for example. 8:30 (NBC) "Inside Schwartz." And since NBC rightly benched this tacky comedy for November sweeps, it also has plenty of fresh episodes. Not that, in this case, it's a bonus. Of all the bad shows NBC has foisted upon the public on Thursdays, this one is foist among equals. David Bianculli for 'ScIdotgIz5' Cause versus effect Flawed gala on adoption The third annual "A Home for the Holidays" CBS special, like its predecessors, has its heart in the right place.

Also like its predecessors, it's an odd and contradictory hybrid: a variety show Without much variety, a mini-telethon without any appeals for donations, and an mfomer- Last chance, tonight MBC's prime-time comedy "Inside Schwartz" may end up on the network's scrap heap soon if the show does not perform well tonight. Network programmers are waiting until after Nielsen returns are in for tonight's episode before making a final decision about the series' "Friends." So much so the ioUp A- i' it wBH MMm I i rml 1 Thursdays, Americans collectively walk their dogs. "I don't think there's an 8:30 curse," Brill said. "It's NBC's fault that it seems to pair up inferior comedies with "Friends" with this belief that there is some audience flow." An NBC spokeswoman said yesterday no decisions had been made about "Inside Schwartz" or "Emeril," whose demise also has been widely predicted. The comedy built around the real-life celebrity chef has floundered in the Nielsen ratings, although its relatively low cost has allowed NBC to keep the show on the air.

That said, the network has scheduled "Imagine That," a new midseason comedy starring Hank Azaria, in "Emer-il's" Tuesday at 8 p.m. time slot, starting Jan. 8. Production on "Inside Schwartz" and "Emeril" was halted a few weeks ago. NBC executives will have to make a decision soon on whether to bring either series back, or risk losing the stars.

Richard Huff in the industry is that at 8:30 on future. Also on the ropes is Emeril Lagasse's Tuesday comedy, "Emeril." Judging by past ratings for "Inside Schwartz," the future is not looking too bright. While it is technically the highest-rated new comedy of the season, most observers discount the standing because the show airs in the prime slot of Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. after "Friends." In fact, "Inside Schwartz" loses about 8 million of the viewers who tune into "Friends." The show is built around Breckin Meyer, playing a sports-caster whose inner thoughts unfold onscreen as sporting events. Despite winning 17 million viewers, the show was much maligned.

"It just seemed like too much of a gimmick. It smacked of the gimmick 'Ally McBeal' had early on," said Sharianne Brill, an analyst with ad-buyer Carat. "I didn't think it was a good companion to NBC has struggled for years to find the right show to air after WORTHY GOAL Mariah Carey, among stars promoting adoption without any product for sale. What "A Home for the Holidays With Mariah Carey" (tomorrow night at 8) really is selling is the idea of adoption. It appeals to viewers not to open their wallets, but to consider opening their hearts and homes to children living in foster care.

After so many relief specials pegged directly to the victims of the Sept. 1 1 terrorist tragedies, it's almost a novelty to watch a prime-time special trying to aid a different constituency. Purely as a television -show; though, this "A Home for the Holidays" has surpris- ifigly few moments of real epower. ii in the biographical segments, that's not the case. When adopted children tell retheir stories, or when adults who were adopted ras youngsters tell theirs, the program iis touching.

Yet 'when the perform ers take the stage to i sing, the emotions seem almost as formal as the cloth s' ug- all feel fragile in these uncertain times," Carey says to open the show; the irony, that her own recent fragility has been well publicized, goes unremarked. In a form-fitting red evening gown, she sings "Never Too Far" and "Hero" to start the special, then turns things over to a pro-adoption videotape. And so it goes, with Destiny's Child singing "Emotions" and, later, a horribly arranged medley of Christmas carols. TODAY'S DAVID BIANCULLI JylH, i t)X WIN CTa I i Enrique Iglesias sings "Hero." Mandy Moore, a brunette now, sings "Cry." Carey returns to perform "Reflections," a song she wrote about a foster child, with plaintive lyrics from the child's point of view. "Don't you even care the slightest bit for me? she sings.

Well, yes, and for the issue as well, but it's all a little forced in this presentation. Dustin Hoffman, Patricia Heaton and Wendy's founder Dave Thomas (a sponsor as well as someone who was adopted) introduce the filmed stories. Carey closes the show with "I'll Be There." Like the other A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH MARIAH CAREY. Tomorrow night at 8, CBS. numbers, it's chosen for its resonance to the occasion, but not much really resonates.

The wonderful exception is "The Prayer," a duet between Charlotte Church and young opera talent Josh Groban, whom David E. Kelley showcased as a baby-faced singing phenomenon this season on "Ally McBeal." His performance, especially, is inspirational. Unfortunately, few of the other singers on "A Home for the Holidays With Mariah Carey" can say the same. E-mail: davidbiancullihome.com 3 to THE PAUSE THAT DISTRESSES: Adam Schwartz (Breckin Meyer, second from shares an awkward moment with his best pals..