The TV Zone

CBS announced its summer schedule today, filled with the usual mishmash of reality (more "Big Brother," something called "Greatest American Dog"), game shows as well as a couple of dramas.

The one program we're jazzed about is "Million Dollar Password," an update of the venerable game show. It'll premiere Sunday, June 1, and will be hosted by none other than the ubiquitous Regis Philbin, a 21st century heir to Allen Ludden, if ever there was one.

Like the old show, contestants will team up with big-name stars, including Rosie O'Donnell, Rachael Ray, Neil Patrick Harris, "High School Musical's" Monique Coleman and Betty White (Ludden's widow and a regular on the original show -- ups to you, CBS). The winner can take home $1 million clams.

The dramas include the much-delayed "Swingtown," about swingers in the '70s (we'll take that 1972 "All in the Family" episode with Rue McClanahan and Vincent Gardenia as swingers, thank you) and "Flashpoint," a Canadian-made cop drama.

Here's how the world works: You do something really notorious - say, become a prostitute and unwittingly become the instrument by which you unseat the sleazebag governor of New York - and then you look to cash in. In the olden days, you'd first line up the "respectable" interview with Babs Walters. You'd cry a little. Confess a little. Babs would ask you about stains on dresses, and you'd have to deal with that too.

Then...straight to the bank! Absolved by Babs, your agent could then score you a book deal, a magazine deal (one of those pay-for-play profiles in some very thick glossy), and best of all: The TV deal. That might be a full-blown series (reality of course) in an ideal world.

But like I said. Those are the old days. In these days, you head straight to TV, and cash the check fast. So, who's bidding for Kristen/Ashley? NBC News or ABC News? They - of course - couldn't pay outright for the interview, but they could "hire" Kristen/Ashley as a "consultant," who could offer on-air "opinions" about the Luv Guv. (I rule out CBS only because I don't think they'll come up with the necessary change.)

Or...will be it be "Extra" or "Access Hollywood?" My money, ahem, is on "AC" because as part of the NBC Universal empire, NBC can offer "Access," "Nightly News," maybe a cameo on "The Office" and a reality show (it would be offered, but probably never air.)

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I always do. Here's the news. A website - I'm assuming a reputable one because the very reputable TVNewser says it's got creds - claims "Extra" is already offering $100,000 for the interview.

Let the bidding begin!

(Hey, wasn't Babs spotted camping outside Kristen's apartment bldg last night?)

With an end to the writers' strike possibly -- take a deep breath -- at hand, are you wondering whether your favorite show will be back?

Well, check out this handy-dandy chart compiled by our hard-working fellow corporate drones at the L.A. Times. It'll tell you every thing you need to know about which show will survive or which won't. Hint: "Cavemen" is probably dead.

Darn.

Craig Ferguson, host of CBS' "Late Late Show," is coming to Long Island.

The new American citizen will perform his stand-up act at North Fork Theatre at Westbury on June 27 at 8 p.m., the venue announced today. Tickets, priced at $49.50 and $39.50, go on sale Sunday.

In other Craig news: He revealed Tuesday that he’s been booked as the entertainer at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, scheduled for April 26. He described the correspondents’ dinner as “like the Oscars for
politicians.”

So where/what/who/when/why to watch on this Super Tuesday? I'll get a quick network viewers' guide to you shortly, but in the meantime, here's the local TV picture, courtesy News 12.

The bulk of the coverage starts at 5, with live reports from all the campaign headquarters, and there'll be a a 5:30 interview with Nassau County Republican Committee chair Joe Mondello (and McCain supporter.) Then at 7: Lea Tyrrell talks Super Tuesday with political analyst Jerry Kremer - former chair of the state house ways and means. Calls will be taken....

Wall-to-wall live coverage starts at 9, with analysis from Scott Feldman and Tyrrell. Analysts: Kremer and Bruce Blakeman (Board of Commissioners, Port Authority). And per News 12, Colleen McVey and Lauren Sivan "will be taking the pulse of the Democratic and Republican focus groups that we've assembled here in 1 Media."

Also, expect live coverage of candidate speeches as they come, of course.

Anyone who spends any time watching cable TV news knows that the latest scandal du jour is about this former cop in a Chicago suburb named Drew Peterson whose wife went missing a few months ago. Said cable news has already tried and convicted the guy of murder, but lemme tell ya - he didn't help his case a little while ago.

Peterson was star of a much-hyped exclusive interview with Shepard Smith; interview was going along swimmingly, when Peterson decided he didn't like the drift of the questions, and ripped out his IFB. And that was that. This sort of stuff doesn't happen too often (especially with heavily-plugged interviews) so here it is for your viewing amusement. (A piece of advice: Drag the button up to about 4 minutes to skip all the other stuff, if you're not interested in this over-wrought case).