Daily News from New York, New York • 1008

Today in 1968 marked the end of "The Griffith Show" on CBS. The also starred Ron Howard and Frances Bavier, lasted eight seasons. sSsinM ffusft in dfedtoir imby QT-S GOING to be a very interesting battle. The game of network chicken between two new medical dramas, "Chicago Hope" on CBS and "ER" on NBC, hasn't even begun yet, and both sides already have blinked, finessed and prised. Next Thursday, these two in Chicago hospitals (the "Hope" series upscale, the other downscale), and both will be competing, very soon, for viewers at the very same time slot Which to choose? As I said, it's going to be a very interesting battle.

Based on the pilot episodes of both shows, I'd say the edge goes to "ER," in an upset win over the prolific and usually superb Kelley. The flavor is closer to that of "St. Elsewhere," more characters and relationships are firmly established, and the staff wears goggles, as well as masks, during intensive operations. But that's only round one. The second episode of "Chicago Hope" is as dramatic an improvement as I can re 1 DAVID I I 1 4 I 5, x-x i Oinm-in kin, Hector Elizondo.

E.G. Marshall. Roxanne Hart all run, by episode two, with Kelley's words, and my own pilot-show assessment of the series deserves to be vigorously upgraded. Patinkin, at the show's core, is portrayed as arrogant yet noble in the pilot, but the subsequent episode has his Jeffrey Geiger, a gifted surgeon, making a serious lapse of ethical judgment, and being called to task for it His reaction ultimately humanizes the character, and improves the show just as Arkin's Aaron Shutt, in the second episode, gets a firm handle on his role as well. Ov er at NBC, "ER" executive producer Crichton, unlike his counterpart on "Chicago Hope," isn't contributing many finished scripts after the pilot so "ER" may go down instead of up when its second installment appears.

However, if "ER" improves itself just as vigorously, we're in for one incredible medical-show showdown. Neither fighter scores a knockout in the first round, but don't take your eye off either corner. Of course, the way the networks have scheduled these shows, that'll be no easy task. I mm shows will square off with second episodes in their insanely conflicting 10 p.m. Thursday time slots.

Each network, however, is jumping the gun with premieres: Michael Crichton's "ER" debuts with a two-hour Monday special at 9, while those interested in David E. Kelley's "Chicago Hope" can catch its one-hour pilot Sunday night at 8. Crichton, of "Jurassic Park" and "Coma" fame, wrote the "ER" pilot Kelley, of "Picket Fences" fame, has written the first two "Chicago Hope" episodes. Both programs are set member between a pilot and first regular episode. Clearly, so much thought was given to the show and its characters, between the pilot season and the production of the subsequent episode, that Kelley (who wrote both) not only isolated the show's problems, but also solved them.

The direction is crisper, the characters sharper and more balanced, the dramatic BIG MEDICINE: Adam Arkin and Mandy Patinkin in "Chicago Hope" flow smoother. episode, into a show worth In short, "Chicago Hope" making an effort to see. will mutate, after Sunday's Mandy Patinkin, Adam Ar stifii is ini laagiiing 'matter Kid wmm mmmrni kEGIS Philbin, as usual, 'is on a roll. Not the ubiquitous roll Philbin and Gifford on their syndicated weekday show (9 a.m., Ch. 7).

This time, though, he's rolling not on TV, but on the telephone. After concluding yesterday's live show, Philbin called for a brief chat before heading down to Atlantic. City to meet the 50 pageant contestants. We discussed his approach to the pageant sounding too corny about it there is a certain amount of tradition involved in 'Miss America' and I realize that I'm share than me. Nothing on CBS.

Nothing on NBC. I'm looking at daytime, nighttime, prime time 'Wheel of Fortune' ties me. Oh, look, I lose it to 'All American with a 30 share. The only thing to beat me in New York. "We're a runaway beer truck! We're out of control! 'Marilu 6 share.

'Jane 12 share. "Gordon Elliott' 13 share. Stomping! Moving! Crushing! "What was your question again?" David Bianculli show," he says and when I interrupt his thought by laughing at the lavish comparison, the Regis roll began. "Why not?" he asked. "Look at my ratings as opposed to David's.

I'm right there with him. I'm looking at yesterday's overnights New York TV ratings. Are you ready, Bianculli? "Look, at this. A 26 share. 22 share How dare Bianculli laugh when I say I need an updated studio? Let's just see who's got a higher afraid I'm a little less reverent on our own show, and a little more reverent on 'Miss and the affinity Letter-man and Garry Shandling clearly have for him ('Tm flattered by the When the subject shifted to his current "Regis Kathie Lee" contract talks, he said it's down to "technical things on the show," and he expressed dissatisfaction with the studio set, which he feels sorely needs updating.

"I go over to the Letterman that has him appearing as himself on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show" a few weeks ago, or guesting on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" tonight or, with "Live! With Regis Kathie Lee" cohort Kathie Lee Gifford, hosting tomorrow night's "1994 Miss America Pageant" (Ch. 4 at 9). Instead, it's a conversational roll that typifies the antic, animated discussions between TONIGHT at long last, Friday night arrives icith a suitcase or at least with a grab bag full of worthwhile dead and the X-Files team separated. Mulder (David Duchovny) is doing a routine wiretap, Scully (Gillian Anderson) is doing a routine autopsy (in a way that neatly hides Anderson's real-life pregnancy), and not much is happening. However, halfway across the world, an abandoned radio telescope suddenly kicks to life, receiving signals from somewhere in outer space.

Tune in to Fox, that is to see what happens next 10:00 (SHO) "Rebel Highway: The Cool and the Crazy." This is the tele-movie for MTV fans, because it headlines Alicia Silverstone, runaway star of a trio of memorably libidinous Aerosmith Sillas as the one female detective in a predominantly male precinct. There's a strong cast in support, including Philip Casnoff (who played Frank Sinatra in the CBS "Sinatra" miniseries) and guest star Peter Onorati of "Civil Wars." Judged against "Prime Suspect" this series falls short, but judged against other new dramas in the fall 1994 TV season, it stands rather tall and Sillas, currently showcased in the two-character film "What Happened Was," is a good part of the reason why. 9:00 (5) "The X-Files." This is the spooky second-season premiere in question. It begins where last season's cliffhanger left off, with "Deep Throat" 'w'' CL TV offerings. There's one new series premiere, an especially spooky season premiere, and a brand-new telemovie that ought to delight fans of MTV.

8:00 p.m. (CBS) "Diagnosis Murder." This isn't the spooky season premiere to which referred earlier, although it is fairly creepy that CBS renewed this lackluster effort for a sophomore season. 9:00 (CBS) "Under Suspicion." This new police series, which owes more than a little to "Prime Suspect," stars Karen CO a (S 3 cr RENEWED: 'Diagnosis' Dick Van Dyke to to.