Daily News from New York, New York • 83

03 CO i r- i 1 1 1 1 'The star E.G. Marshall, ruled this day at the 1963 Emmys. I Ss(fciiiai)i Far. Sweepss Luxate lolke Ch. 4 weir Ch.

7 A tight finish in May ratings race By DONNA PETROZZELLO DAIUT NEWS FEATURE WRITER With the May sweeps closing tonight, it looks like WNBCCh. 4, buoyed by late-night and early-morning news victories, will edge out WABCCh. 7 as the Imost-watched station in town, average from 6 a.m. sign-on to a.m. sign-off.

If the Nielsen numbers hold up as of yesterday morning Ch. 4's weeknight 11 o'clock local news, helmed by Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons, has a lock on first place, with a 10.6 rating, while Ch. 7's news ranked third in the time slot (behind "Seinfeld" reruns on WPIXCh.ll). In the early-morning news race, Ch. 4 starts out ahead with its 6 a.m.

"Today in New York" and then continues in front with NBC's "Today" from 7 to 9 a.m. As for the other evening news race, the 10 p.m. slot with newscasts at Chs. 5, 9 and 1 1, returns as of yesterday morning had WNYWCh. 5 just in front of Ch.

11, by a 4 margin. WWORCh. 9 was about a ratings point behind. Ch. 1 1 and Ch.

5 are at odds over the 10 p.m. results, with Ch. 1 1 contending that the outcome would be different if Ch. 5 had not used a Nielsen loophole on a few occasions to help boost its monthly average. Ch.

5 vice president and general manager Michael Wach's response: "Our news and our specials stand on their own merit." Some other time-period sweeps results: 6 a.m.: Ch. 4's "Today in New York" is No. 1, with a 48.4 ratings lead on Ch. 7's newscast. 9 a.m.: Tie for No.

1 be tween "Live with Regis and Kath-ie Lee" (Ch. 7) and "Jerry Springer" reruns (Ch. 11). 10 a.m.: "Rosie O'Donnell" on Ch. 7 rules (though she's down 10 from last May), followed by the relationship game shows "Change of Heart" and "Love Connection" on Ch.

11 and "Maury Povich" on Ch. 4. 11 a.m.: Ch. ll's "Jerry Springer" (down 18 since last May) takes No. 1, followed by Ch.

7's "The View." Noon: WCBSCh. 2 news wins, edging Ch. 7's news by 4. 4 p.m.: "Oprah Winfrey" seizes the time slot for Ch. 7 over rival "Judge Judy" on Ch.

2, by 13. Both shows lost ratings compared to last May, with "Oprah" down 10 and "Judy" down 19. 5 p.m.: Ch. 7's news was No. 1, edging by Ch.

2's news in second and then Ch. 4's news. 6 p.m.: Ch. 7's local news won the lead-in half-hour to ABC's first-place "World News with Peter Jennings" at 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m.: Ch.

7's popular pairing of game shows "Jeopardy" at 7 and "Wheel of Fortune" at 7:30 p.m. once again swept the time slot. "Wheel" is off 9, hurt by "Hollywood Squares" on Ch. 2 at 7:30. WNBCs news team of Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons (above) leads the 11 pm slot for May; while the Fox combo of Rosanno Scotto and John Roland (below) leads the 10 pjn.

period jCh. 4 was 0.2 of a rating point in front it would be a rare isweeps loss for Ch. 7, and the jsecond Ch. 4 sweeps win in the past two years. The ratings for the quarterly month-long sweeps are used by (stations to set advertising rates.

Overall for the month, Ch. 4 is averaging a 5.3 rating (percentage of the metro area's 6.8 million TV households). That translates to about 361,065 homes on average. Ch. 7, hurt by a weak prime-time showing by ABC as well as continued erosion by one-time afternoon blockbuster "Oprah Winfrey," is right behind with a 5.1 rating.

Ch. 4's average this May represents an 18 drop from its first-place 5.6 ratings average last May. Likewise, Ch. 7's 5.1 average is a 9 decrease from a year ago. ry 'Springer7 suits nix fighting, cursin BY DONNA PETROZZEUjO OAIIY NEWS FEATURE WRITER Producers of the "Jerry Springer" show yesterday said they intend to reassert their control over the show and end its trademark pugilism and profanity.

In a statement, "Springer" distributor Studios USA said, "We will produce and distribute a program that we feel is responsible no violence, physical confrontation or profanity. "That program will either be an original or a qualifying, reedit- show soon returned to its raucous ways. According to sources. Studios USA is not blaming Springer for the show's return to its violent ways. It blames show staffers for violating the guidelines it laid down last spring.

Late last week, Studios USA made an 1 Ith-hour switch of the risque and fight-laden "Springer" programs slated to run this week, substituting instead milder reruns from several seasons ago (before guest fights became standard behavior). ed repeat," the statement noted. "We will inform stations that we are not providing any 'Jerry Springer' programs if these standards cannot be met." It remains to be seen, however, how long, if at all, a taming of the show will last. USA tried to tone down "Springer" last year again close to May sweeps time, when ratings translate to ad prices but the quieter, calmer shows lasted only about a month. Ratings dipped quickly and the Industry observers pegged the curious program shuffle to pressure from media critics who are denouncing violence of any kind on TV in the wake of last month's tragic shooting in a Colorado high school.

Also, Springer in two weeks will face a hearing before Chicago City Council members, who will rule on whether his guests who get physical can be arrested for assault. "Springer" tapes in Chicago and city cops often work as security guards for the show. "Jerry Springer" faces changes. ENJOY IT WHILE you've got it. After tonight's season-finale festival, things on TV get a lot, lot slower.

3 Miller" guest-stars, in an episode that includes a musical segment tied to "The Brotherhood of Man." 9:00 (NBC) "Law Order." Ninth-season finale. This two-hour season capper concerns the Russian mob in America and threats made to leading witnesses in a new case. 9:00 (11) "Charmed." First-season finale. Earlier this season, an episode of "The X-Files" borrowed from the "Groundhog Day" theme to do its own repeating time story. Tonight this series takes its turn.

9:00 (9) "Star Trek: Voyager." See preview elsewhe-e in TV section. 9:30 (ABC) "The Norm Show." First-season finale. But this show, too, will be back in the fall. its season with Joey and Dawson (Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek) reaching yet another pivotal point in their relationship. 8:00 (9) "Seven Days." First-season finale.

This is one of the more surprising renewals for next fall, consdering that neither the ratings nor the quality of this time-tripping action series would seem to warrant a reprieve. Yet here it is, ending its freshman year with an episode that like many other sci-fi shows this year, somehow winds up at Roswell. 8:30 (ABC) "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place." Second-season finale. Another surprise renewal and an episode that includes a proposal of marriage. 9:00 (ABC) "The Drew Carey Show." Fourth-season finale.

Hal Linden of "Barney 8:00 p.m. (ABC) "Dharma Greg." Second-season finale. The lovebirds of this series think back to their whirlwind courtship and try to imagine, and act out, what things might have been like had they dated and committed more slowly. 8:00 (11) "Dawson's Creek." Second-season finale. Last season, this youth soap opera took everyone by surprise.

Next season, its imitators are all over the place. Tonight, see how the original article ends it -i 5 1 r-yT-s- v-n Jema Erfman and Thomas Gibson to to.