'Citizen Baines' may be hard to follow

'Citizen Baines' Airs: 8 p.m. Saturdays, CBS (Channel 5) Stars: James Cromwell, Jane Adams, Jacinda Barrett, Embeth Davidtz Aaron's advice: Tape it. Elliott Baines (Cromwell) is in a campaign dogfight to hold onto his U.S. Senate seat. He's going to lose, we know that, because the show isn't titled "Senator Baines." He's not going to weave in and out of Senate halls with an aide on his elbow, briskly debating policy a la "The West Wing." This is a measured drama about a family that has held together for decades but is about to come apart through two momentous events: the recent death of the senator's wife and his impending defeat. This is a terrific role for Cromwell, who has to be both tough and tender - easy work for an actor who has played both the gregarious Stretch Cunningham on "All in the Family" and the kindly farmer of "Babe." His three grown daughters all have their own stories, which take up a great deal of time, but even after preview ing two episodes I couldn't tell why viewers would tune in to follow them. For Cromwell's sake, I want this to work. Problem is, it's not fully his show. COMING SUNDAY 'Alias' Airs: 8 p.m. Sundays, ABC (Channel 9) Stars: Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper, Merrin Dungey, Victor Garber, Carl Lumbly, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, Kevin Weisman Most closely resembles: "La Femme Nikita" Aaron's advice: Watch it! J.J. Abrams, who brought us the uber-sincere WB series from the heart, "Felicity," now brings us a show that will do something else to your heart - make it race. The action and suspense starts from the first scene of the premiere and it doesn't stop until more than an hour later. ABC will show the first episode commercial-free until 9:09 p.m. That's 69 thrill-a-minutes. Garner plays a graduate student by day, government spy by night. Only on TV, right? But somehow it works, thanks in part to a tangled intrigue that pulls this lowly matriculator into a conspiracy of the highest order. 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' Airs: 8 p.m. Sundays, NBC (Channel 41) Stars: Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan, Courtney B. Vance Most closely resembles: "Columbo" in a black raincoat Aaron's advice: Tape it If you like your "Law & Order" short and to the point, you're in for a surprise with "Criminal Intent." As NBC keeps reminding us, this is the first "L&O" that shows the POV of the criminal (in other words, sometimes you get to see the murder). But it differs from the other two hours of "L&O" in that it's not an ensemble show. D'Onofrio is the star detective here; everybody else is backup. D'Onofrio was all over the three episodes I previewed; a big, baby-faced sleuth who paces the room, asks a lot of seemingly irrelevant questions and is usually the first to know whodunit. Detective Goren is a smart guy, and for a show where the viewers often know the perpetrator before he does, the episodes are almost as gripping as a true whodunit. Like the other "L&O" shows, "Criminal Intent" has tense, colorful writing, stories ripped from the headlines and the distinctive on-screen packaging. But will that be enough to lure viewers? NBC has had few successes in this time slot, and viewers may find Goren an anachronism. 'UC: Undercover' Airs: 9 p.m. Sundays, NBC (Channel 41) Stars: Jon Seda, Vera Farmiga, Oded Fehr, William Forsythe, Bruklin Harris, Jarrad Paul Most closely resembles: "Falcone" Aaron's advice: Try it Though the world has not exactly been crying out for undercover-stakeout shows - remember "Players"? - NBC will try again this fall with "UC: Undercover," featuring "Homicide's" Seda as part of an elite team that infiltrates crime rings. Other than the ludicrous plot turn at the end of the pilot episode - one that may very well convince you not to tune in ever again - it's a taut hour in which one story twist follows the next. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com @ART CAPTION:James Cromwell @ART:Photo (color)

'Thieves' is a show to catch

'Thieves' Airs: 8 p.m., ABC (Channel 9) Stars: John Stamos, Melissa George Most closely resembles: "Moonlighting" Aaron's advice: Watch it! In this crackling action-comedy, two top safecrackers get caught on the same sting and are enlisted in the government's attempt to fight crime. Stamos and George fling insults back and forth but, shades of Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, we're led to believe this is their idea of a mating ritual. With this much energy, wit and panache, "Thieves" is, as they say in the crime biz, a real professional job. Too bad ABC has scheduled it for Fridays, where the network hasn't had a hit in years. 'Danny' Airs: 7:30 p.m., CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Daniel Stern, Joely Fisher, Jon Foster, Julia McIlvaine, Robert Prosky, Roz Ryan Aaron's advice: Try it. Recently divorced and comically unhip dad (Stern) tries to manage two teen-agers while wandering back into the primeval forest of dating. In its favor, "Danny" has no laugh track, and Stern is endearingly innocent of the perils of single fatherhood. But viewers have moved beyond conventional comedies like this one (and "The Ellen Show," which precedes it at 7 p.m.). They want fast pacing, big laughs and unpredictable outcomes. "Danny," sweet as it is, has none of these. 'Pasadena' Airs: 8 p.m., Fox (Channel 4) Stars: Dana Delany, Martin Donovan, Balthazar Getty, Alison Lohman, Mark Valley, Natasha Gregson Wagner Most closely resembles: "Dynasty" Aaron's advice: Try it. Remember the "Titans"? Last year's attempt to revive the prime-time soap opera didn't go very far on NBC. Now Fox is trying a different tack with "Pasadena," another dynastic soap but this time more along the lines of early "90210" - lots of strong feelings, a little whoopee and some high-school intrigue. The series is narrated by 15-year-old Lily McAllister (Lohman), whose clan owns and operates a big L.A. daily and live in tony Pasadena. A scandal has descended on her parents just as Lily is starting to uncover the family dirt. The first episode is much darker than the promos make it seem, but Mom (Delany) is just as kooky as she appears in the commercial. "Pasadena" isn't chock-full of the howlers that usually show up in evening soaps, but this show may be trying to satisfy a viewer demand that no longer exists. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com. @ART CAPTION:Melissa George and John Stamos star in "Thieves" on ABC. @ART:Photo (color)

'The Agency' has its wires crossed

"The Agency" Airs: 9 p.m., CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Gil Bellows, Rocky Carroll, David Clennon, Ronny Cox, Will Patton, Gloria Reuben, Paige Turco Most closely resembles: "CSI" Aaron's advice: Tape it. We've had shows that celebrated the NYPD, the FBI, the Judge Advocate General, even the less-than-cuddly California Highway Patrol. Suddenly we have three shows - "Alias," "24" and this one - inspired by our super-secret Central Intelligence Agency. In light of recent events, however, viewers may have problems buying "The Agency's" glamorous treatment of our top spook shop. There's cloak-and-dagger in this drama starring "Ally McBeal" alum Bellows and CBS stalwart Carroll. But much of the work takes place back at the lab, where forensics meets forgery as the dedicated staff members help the brave field agents track down the international terrorists. For sheer drama "The Agency" can't hold a candle to "24," but "CSI" fans may stay tuned for it. "Inside Schwartz" Airs: 7:30 p.m., NBC (Channel 41) Stars: Breckin Meyer, Bryan Callen, Jennifer Irwin, Richard Kline, Maggie Lawson, Miriam Shor, Dondre T. Whitfield Most closely resembles: The last pathetic sitcom NBC aired in this time slot Aaron's advice: Forget it. Already the chorus is ascending from the nation's TV critics: Get this clinker off Thursday nights! The critical consensus is that the more promising "Scrubs" (now on Tuesdays) should occupy this cozy post-"Friends" time period. Instead we get this little nothing of a sitcom about a nerdy guy who harbors illusions that he is a great sportscaster. He's not even a good comedian. And despite frequent cameo appearances by jocks and semi-famous announcers (Dick Butkus, Bill Walton, among others), the sports references in this show are inane. In other words, 7:30 is still a great half-hour to walk the dog and do the dishes. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com. @ART CAPTION:Gil Bellows stars in "The Agency." @ART:Photo (color)

A new undertaking

'Enterprise' Airs: 7 p.m., UPN (Channel 29) Stars: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, Connor Trinneer Two words I had expected to see in the

'West Wing' rushes special terrorist episode

Fans of "The West Wing" may have wondered how, or even if, events at the fictional White House would reflect the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast. The answer was not slow in coming. NBC announced late last week that Aaron Sorkin, creator and head writer of "The West Wing," had hastily authored a new episode, titled "Isaac and Ishmael," that will deal with "questions and issues currently facing the world" in the wake of the attacks. The episode will air Oct. 3. It's being called a "special episode"; the actual season premiere, in which President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) announces his plans to run for re-election, will now air Oct. 10. The Sept. 26 episode, which had been the scheduled premiere date, will now be a repeat. Sorkin's decision to write a "special episode" sent ripples through NBC's Wednesday night schedule. The network also moved the second season premiere of "Ed." It will be one week earlier than scheduled, on Oct. 10, leading into the season premiere of "The West Wing." This, in turn, means the last three episodes of NBC's reality series "Lost" will not air now. "Lost," which aired just once before the Sept. 11 attacks, resumes 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC (Channel 41). The third episode, which will show the contestants reaching New York City, their final destination, will air Oct. 3. The unaired episodes of "Lost" depict a different round-the-world trip with new contestants.

'Philly' star is better than show

'Philly' Airs: 9 p.m. Tuesdays, ABC (Channel 9) Stars: Kim Delaney, Most closely resembles: "The Practice" Aaron's advice: Try it. Frantic and occasionally over-the-top drama about a hard-charging defense lawyer (Delaney). This show is a lot like "The Practice," with the crazy pretrial hearings, the crazier judges who preside over the cases, unprofessional behavior left and right and even one of those extra-special moments when somebody tells Delaney: "You're my role model. I want to be just like you." Someone really says that - and they mean it. "Philly" is unfortunately too derivative to stand out and will likely be a disappointment for its star. Too bad; Delaney is star material who deserves better than the No. 3 role on "NYPD Blue" (where she may return after this show is canceled). 'The Guardian' Airs: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Simon Baker, Dabney Coleman, Alan Rosenberg, Charles Malik Whitfield, Erica Leershen, Raphael Sbarge Most closely resembles: "Judging Amy" Aaron's advice: Tape it. Interesting drama about a snotty young Pittsburgh lawyer named Nick (Baker) who's busted for drugs and is sentenced to volunteer as a child advocate. He freaks when he gets his first case; of course, there are the pressures back at the firm, where Dad (Dabney Coleman) rides him hard, not to mention the mandatory surprise drug tests. But Nick rises to the occasion ... like we'd expect anything less from CBS? Still, it's an engaging set-up for what will likely be a hit, since it was obviously designed to complement the social-service minded "Judging Amy." 'EMERIL' Airs: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC (Channel 41) Stars: Emeril Legasse, Robert Urich, James Lafferty, Tricia O'Kelley, Carrie Preston, Sherri Shepherd, Lisa Ann Walter Most closely resembles: "The Michael Richards Show" Aaron's advice: Forget it. Emeril Legasse's new sitcom is about as appealing as an etouffee made with Ragu. But from the moment NBC put the cable-TV chef on its fall schedule, the word "trouble" has stuck with this show like a foul odor emanating from behind the stove. After advertisers savaged the original pilot episode, the show was overhauled, to no avail. In tonight's episode, you can see Emeril straining mightily not to be a terrible actor - which, of course, he is. It just goes to show that on TV, as in the restaurant business, you can usually trust word of mouth. 'UNDECLARED' Airs: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox (Channel 4) Stars: Jay Baruchel, Charlie Hunnam, Monica Keena, Carla Gallo, Timm Sharp, Seth Rogen, Loudon Wainwright III, Christina Payano Most closely resembles: "Freaks & Geeks" Aaron's advice: Tape it. From the executive director of "Freaks & Geeks," the much-admired but low-rated former NBC show, "Undeclared" is about that first year or two at college. It's a fantasy in which even the geekiest kid scores with a hot babe his first night in the dorms. There's some clever dialogue here, and "Undeclared" is filmed like a movie, with no laugh track. With luck this show may make it to sophomore year. 'LOVE CRUISE' Airs: 8 p.m., Fox (Channel 4) Stars: Justin Gunn and 16 strangers Most closely resembles: "Road Rules," only without the road Aaron's advice: Try it (maybe) Not just another lurid Fox reality show (a la "Temptation Island"), "Love Cruise" is, for the first episode anyway, more like "Therapy Cruise." A luxury yacht plays host to 16 swingin' singles who pair off, then compete in contests and for an eventual $200,000 prize. They can also swap partners every three days, which you'd think would make for a real swingin' time. But about the only thing that swings on this boat are moods. One by one they confess privately to the cameras that they suffer from low self-esteem and poor personal image. In no time at all this fantasy vacation has become a pity party. "Love Cruise" is produced by the Bunim-Murray company that invented reality TV with its whiny, self-absorbed MTV series, "The Real World." Required viewing for lonely hearts who think they have it bad. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com. @ART CAPTION:Kim Delaney stars in "Philly." @ART:Photo (color)

All the news fit to air suits KMBZ just fine; Crisis coverage showed how good all-news format would be

While hijackers were carrying out their campaign of terror on the East Coast, the staff at KMBZ-AM (980) was scrambling into action. Within minutes KMBZ was providing full coverage of the terrorist attacks - and giving Kansas Citians an earful of what a genuine news-talk station sounds like. KMBZ promotes itself as "News Radio 980," but in reality it is a crazy quilt of newscasts, political talk, sports talk and Royals baseball. For a few shining days this month, however, KMBZ was a station on a single-minded mission. Program director Brian Wilson wiped out the old schedule, and KMBZ carried nothing but news and discussion about the attacks. In place of KMBZ's afternoon sports talk, news director Scott Parks interviewed lawmakers and experts about the attacks and the U.S. response. Baseball games were moved to sister station WDAF-AM (610) so evening hours could be devoted to listener call-ins. News bulletins from News bulletins from ABC Radio interrupted constantly. "He was real interesting to watch," said Bob Zuroweste, Wilson's boss. "He was like a conductor: 'You go here, you go here.' And the staff just stepped up to the plate." Wilson was well-prepared for the challenge. He was program director at Oklahoma City's news-talk station in 1995 when the federal building there was bombed. "I would never have guessed that experience would come into play again in my career," Wilson said. KMBZ remained on its special schedule until Friday, when the Royals games returned. "They said go back to our normal lives," Zuroweste said. "So that's what we're going to try to do." With all due respect, that doesn't sound like a very good idea. In the first place, KMBZ is getting killed in afternoons by rival WHB-AM (810), which specializes in sports talk. Bringing in Soren Petro is unlikely to change that. Petro was paired with Don Fortune in 1999 and 2000, and WHB's Kevin Kietzman beat them handily in the ratings. Then there are evenings. Baseball season will soon be over (for the Royals, at least). Traditionally, KMBZ's nighttime ratings plummet in the off-season. The growing presence of TV's Metro Sports doesn't help, either, especially since people tend to switch from radio to television in the evening hours. A news-oriented call-in program could boost KMBZ. The station also could carry ABC anchor Sam Donaldson's new radio show, which began Monday. (It's a midday program, so KMBZ would have to carry it on a tape delay.) Besides, KMBZ has nothing to lose by adopting a news-talk format. The timing would seem right, too, for these suddenly have become eventful times. Between the uncertain economy, the ongoing cleanup in New York and the new war on global terrorism, there will be plenty to report on and talk about in the months ahead. Recall, too, that "ABC News Nightline" - which is rumored to air sometime after Kansas City has gone to bed - got its start as "America Held Hostage," a nightly wrapup of news events related to the Iranian hostage situation. Zuroweste said there are no plans to alter KMBZ's format, although the station will honor its slogan and report "breaking news at once." "The days will mandate what we do and how we respond," he said. In other news ... The highest honor in radio was awarded to two Kansas City stations earlier this month at the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show in New Orleans. KPRS-FM (103.3) won the Marconi Radio Award for Urban Station of the Year while KCMO-FM (94.9) was named Oldies Station of the Year. The Marconis are given out annually in 22 categories based on voting by general managers and program directors of stations across the country. Past honorees have included WDAF and personality Mike Murphy. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com.

TV's promising fall launch; New shows will be arriving into November, and many are worth waiting for

The new fall shows begin arriving this week, and viewers will find they were well worth the wait. In some cases, the wait will extend into mid-November because of scheduling difficulties brought about by the baseball playoffs and the weeklong postponement of the fall season in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Viewers usually look forward to the fall premieres anyway, but this season perhaps more than most. For one thing, we could all use a respite from the events that TV so vividly brought into our homes this month. To be sure, the network newscasters will continue to bring us the grim details. That's their job. But Hollywood has a job to do, too, and it will bring a little pleasure into our lives to let them do it. This fall there will be more pleasure than most, thanks to a exceptionally promising crop of new programs. Viewers who most years find a handful of shows worth checking out will get at least two handfuls this time around. I loved my first looks at "24," "The Amazing Race," "Reba" and "The Tick." I also enjoyed "The Bernie Mac Show," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Alias," "Raising Dad," "Smallville," "Scrubs" and "One on One." (Look for my day-of-premiere reviews to continue on the cover of FYI.) While most fan favorites will return during premiere week, the new show rollout that commenced Sept. 3 with the UPN comedy "One on One" won't be over until Nov. 14 with the debut of "The Bernie Mac Show" on Fox. One of the season's most anticipated shows, Fox's terrific new action drama "24," may actually benefit from the long rollout. The show stars Kiefer Sutherland as a counter-terrorism agent who has 24 hours to stop a plot to kill a black presidential candidate. If "24" were to come out this week, the show's subject matter might touch a nerve in many viewers. But its premiere date is Nov. 6, by which time the public may be ready to cheer some fictional heroes trying to thwart a bunch of nogoodniks. Provided the drama isn't too true-to-life. Already CBS has had to delete a reference to Osama bin Laden in an upcoming episode of its counter-terrorist series, "The Agency." And NBC is delaying the season premiere of "Third Watch," its realistic-looking drama series about New York City cops, firefighters and paramedics, probably out of respect to the real-life rescuers killed or missing at the World Trade Center. The baseball playoffs also were moved back one week after Major League Baseball suspended operations in the days following the attacks. This means that Fox - the only network telecasting playoff games this fall - will have to put off nearly all its fall premieres until November. Not to worry: As veteran TV watchers know, our friends at Fox specialize in attention-grabbing filler, perfect for pulling in viewers on those rare non-baseball nights. Such as "Who Wants to Be a Princess?" which features 30 women competing for a date with a real-life prince. That airs at 7 tonight on Channel 4. (The show's title notwithstanding, that date doesn't come with a marriage proposal.) A week from tonight, get ready for "Glutton Bowl I: World's Greatest Eating Competition," a chowdown involving "professional eaters." Fox brings its own inimitable style to the reality genre, of course, but now every network has a reality show or two on its schedule. Even so, the networks still worry about their reality shows getting lost in the fall clutter. Thus NBC's "Lost" and CBS' "The Amazing Race" were given head starts - both had their premieres Sept. 5. Fox's "Love Cruise" was supposed to set sail early, on Sept. 11, but the real world intruded that day so its premiere was moved to Tuesday. And "Survivor: Africa," which is technically a returning show, won't begin on CBS until Oct. 11. Speaking of returning shows with delayed rollouts, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" returns Oct. 2 (and on a new network, UPN), "Gilmore Girls" Oct. 9 and "Ally McBeal" Oct. 29. On the extreme end, Fox's animated comedy "Futurama" won't return from its summer hiatus until Dec. 9. By then it'll be only three weeks until the new midseason shows arrive, followed by the late-midseason premieres in March and the summer slew of reality shows. More and more September is becoming just another month on the network calendars. "I think it will eventually become a 52-week season," says Mitch Metcalf, NBC's senior vice president of program planning and scheduling. "The one thing that is constant will be a desire for quality to win out. Hopefully audiences can be versatile enough to find the good shows and reward the networks that put them on." To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Reba Mcentire "REBA", Oct. 5 (WB) @ART CAPTION:KIEFER SUTHERLAND "24", Nov. 6 (Fox) @ART CAPTION:BERNIE MAC "THE BERNIE MAC SHOW ", Nov. 14 (Fox) @ART CAPTION:JEFF PROBST "SURVIVOR", Oct. 11 (CBS) @ART CAPTION:JENNIFER GARNER "ALIAS", Sept. 30 (ABC) @ART CREDIT:Fox @ART CAPTION:Anthony (left), Melissa and Adrian three of the pretty people looking for fun, romance and loot on Fox's "Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage," making its delayed debut at 8 p.m. Tuesday on Channel 4. @ART:Photo s (5, color and b/w)

'Ed' and other returning shows look to the future

Television often seems formulaic, an endless repetition of hackneyed story lines and stock characters. But most of the good shows aren't put together that way. Most highly rated programs know how to keep their audience's interest with innovative story lines and characters who are true originals. That's why fans can't wait for fall. Take "Ed," one of several established shows that will have new episodes in the coming weeks. This quirkily romantic series is about a lawyer who hangs his shingle in a bowling alley. Last year NBC launched "Ed" on Sunday nights to a wave of critical accolades and Nielsen ratings that were "eh" at best. But after the network moved the show to Wednesdays, just before "The West Wing," audiences warmed up and NBC had a hit. For the two men most responsible for "Ed's" success, most of last season was a blur. With 22 episodes to write, budget and supervise - from filming through the final edit - Rob Burnett and Jon Beckerman didn't have much time to toast their good fortune. "There was just a never-ending, gobbling mouth that needs to be fed material," Beckerman said in a phone interview this summer. The two men fed the maw as best they could, but by season's end they found they'd left many good ideas on the editing floor. They spent their summer vacation picking through the pieces and working the abandoned story lines into the scripts for the upcoming season. "We're taking more of the long view of this season than last year," Beckerman said. "When we started we didn't know what would work and what wouldn't. We were flying by the seat of our pants." So while there was plenty of action in the show's main relationship between Ed (Tom Cavanagh) and high-school teacher Carol (Julie Bowen), other characters did little more than appear in scenes, like Carol's tart-tongued friend Molly (Lesley Boone), his friend Mike (Josh Randall) and Mike's Type A wife Nancy (Jana Marie Hupp). Both women, Burnett said, "had story lines that were bumped that we want to get to next year." "Ed" returns Oct. 17, after the reality show "Lost" clears out of its time slot. @ART CAPTION:Boone @ART:Photo

What's new on a few old favorites

Beginning this week, many of your favorite shows return with new episodes and, in many cases, new cast members and new story lines. Others will attempt to sew up old story lines - those nasty "cliffhangers" designed to keep fans guessing all summer long. Some of the most anticipated ones are listed below. "The West Wing" (Wednesday): Remember when this show seemed so much more exciting than the real White House? Remember grieving for Mrs. Landingham? It will be interesting to see if the Bartlet administration gets thrown into a war soon, or if "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin decides a less ripped-from-the-headlines approach is what stressed-out viewers want. "ER" (Thursday): Sherry Stringfield is back, but Anthony Edwards and Eriq La Salle will soon be leaving for good (of course, that's what Stringfield said when she left). Expect plenty of interpersonal intrigues. If it's all medical action you want, watch TLC. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (Oct. 2): In a leap of faith that stunned fans of the cult favorite, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) leaped to what certainly looked like her death. The planet-saving sacrifice brought the curtain down resoundingly on the season - and, it seemed, the career of Buffy. The show took another leap over the summer, from the WB network to UPN, where series creator Joss Whedon promises that Buffy will return, "with great difficulty, of course, and with pain and confusion." "Dark Angel" (Sept. 28): This futuristic action show from "Titanic" producer James Cameron is moving to Friday nights, and word is we'll learn more about the creepy lab where Max (Jessica Alba) was raised. Apparently, some weird lizardlike creature also was bred there, possibly from the remains of 20th-century TV executives. "Charmed" (Oct. 4): Prue died violently in the season finale, but unlike Buffy, this is one slayer who's not coming back (Shannen Doherty stormed off the set). In her place comes long-lost sister Paige (Rose McGowan). "The X-Files" (Nov. 11): Scully had her baby, and judging by the fact it didn't have green skin and beady red eyes, the father must have been Mulder. That's interesting, since David Duchovny will not be with the show for season nine. And this will be Gillian Anderson's last season, so Scully won't be in the picture long either. That leaves Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Reyes (Annabeth Gish) to wrestle the zombies. Look for Lucy Lawless ("Xena") in the first two episodes. "NYPD Blue" (Nov. 7): Kim Delaney hopped the Metroliner for the City of Brotherly Love and "Philly." But the big news is that after eight seasons on Tuesday nights, ABC has moved the show to 9 p.m. Wednesdays (currently home to "20/20").

'Jordan' rules, 'Ellen' flops

'Crossing Jordan' Airs: 9 p.m. Mondays, NBC (Channel 41) Stars: Jill Hennessy, Miguel Ferrer, Ken Howard, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Ravi Kapoor Most closely resembles: "CSI" with a dash of "Providence" Aaron's advice: Try it. Hennessy, the former "Law & Order" enforcer, returns as a tough-talking female medical examiner who wears sexy, skin-tight outfits to work. At home, she re-creates crimes with her dad (Howard), a retired cop, in an eerie but compelling game of "killer and victim." These scenes are juxtaposed with touchy-feely moments from their lives and that of her boss (Ferrer), who seems to be teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. In the first episode he talks to (I kid you not) a sock puppet not unlike the kind once used to hock pet supplies on the Internet. It's a combo destined to evoke strong responses among viewers. "Crossing Jordan" will either find a devoted audience or else die a quick death. 'The Ellen Show' Airs: 8:30 tonight, CBS (Channel 5); regular time is 7 p.m. Fridays. Stars: Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Gaffigan, Cloris Leachman, Martin Mull, Emily Rutherfurd Most closely resembles: That other "Ellen" show Aaron's advice: Forget it. Conventional sitcom about a dot-com executive who decides to return to the small town where she grew up and live around a bunch of really quirky people. There are only two reasons to watch "The Ellen Show": to see how genuinely funny folks like Leachman, Mull and Gaffigan can be roped into doing something this bad; or because you enjoy listening to DeGeneres prattle on in her distinctive (and to me, annoying) free-associating way, a technique aptly summed up by the title of her book, My Point - And I Do Have One. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com. @ART CAPTION:Jill Hennessy stars in NBC's "Crossing Jordan." @ART:Photo (color)

Copter broadcasters irked by ban; Critics contend rules enforced inconsistently

News and traffic helicopters across the country remained grounded on Friday after the government had lifted the ban on other operations, including hot-air balloons - a disparity that angered broadcasters and pilots. "The rules are being inconsistently enforced, and it seems news reporting is being singled out," said Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association. "You can go ballooning or skydiving, but you can't cover the news. There is a constitutional issue here." Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Paul Turk said the ban that was ordered after last week's terrorist attacks was being reviewed, but added that he didn't know when the restrictions would be lifted. "I have no clue as to how long," he said. "It could be 20 minutes to 20 years." The ban also still applies to banner-towing airplanes and blimps. Johnny Rowlands, a Kansas City helicopter operator and traffic reporter, has had to rely on police scanners and tips that are phoned in by motorists. "Right now it's kind of like a bad-weather day," Rowlands said. "We're getting information, but it's all quite speculative." Cochran, whose organization on Thursday asked the FAA to lift the ban, said the choppers are a vital tool for news coverage - especially now. "This is time when people are very nervous," she said. "When something unusual is happening, they want to know the explanation. And in a congested area, to try to get news crews from one spot to another, it's very important for the helicopters to be able to fly." Phil Alvidrez, news director of KTVK-TV in Phoenix, said his station covers much of Arizona. "If something happened at the Grand Canyon now, we couldn't fly a helicopter there to cover it," he said. "That makes no sense." Chopper pilots said the ban also raises public safety concerns. "If we have a police chase, we're showing people what they can do to stay out of that danger zone," said Scott Wallace, a Dallas pilot and president of the National Broadcast Pilots Association. "But they have taken away our eyes in the sky that allow us to do that. So it's not just the TV stations and the pilots who are going to suffer. It's the public." Wallace said his association represents about 250 airplane and helicopter pilots in the country who work for news organizations. "This is the way some of the smaller operators make their living," he said. "If they don't fly, they don't get paid." Steve Dickens, director of operations for Helicopters Inc. in St. Louis, the nation's largest provider of news choppers, said his company hasn't been hurt substantially yet, but that will change if the ban isn't lifted soon. "If it goes too much longer, stations will want to talk about what they're paying us," said Dickens, whose company serves 44 stations nationwide. Dickens said the industry is more safety-conscious than other operations the FAA has already allowed back into the air. News helicopters are equipped with cameras that can offer compelling photos from thousands of feet in the air, which means that the choppers don't have to fly at low altitudes - a key concern of regulators. "We can stand off 3,000 feet and still do a lot of the functions because of the camera equipment," Dickens said. Rowlands doesn't think the flight restrictions will be effective in thwarting potential suicide terrorists. The only way to ensure safety, in Rowlands' view, is to perform background checks on all pilots. News gatherers in some cities, however, said the ban wasn't having much impact. Los Angeles may be home to some of the country's worst traffic congestion, but it also has some of the most sophisticated freeway monitoring systems. Broadcasters there say the absence of eyes-in-the-sky hasn't hurt their ability to report on traffic conditions. At AirWatch America, which supplies traffic reports to 34 radio stations in Los Angeles, most of its information comes from Web sites maintained by the state of California, which list current traffic hazards and average vehicle speeds on Los Angeles freeways. Less than 10 percent of AirWatch's information comes from the air, according to the bureau's director of operations, Don Bastida. "People think all the information comes from the aircraft," said Bastida. "We actually tell the aircraft where to go and what to look at." To reach Judy L. Thomas, call (816) 234-4334 or send e-mail to jthomas@kcstar.com. You can reach Aaron Barnhart at (816) 234-4790 or the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Rowlands @ART:Photo

Gimmicks grow tiresome

"The Education of Max Bickford" Airs: 7 p.m. Sunday, CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Marcia Gay Harden, Regina Taylor, Helen Shaver, Katee Sackhoff, Eric Ian Goldberg Alternate

Stars shine to honor heroes

You'd have to go back to "the greatest generation's" youth to find a star-spangled spectacular like Friday night's "America: A Tribute to Heroes." A USO show for the MTV generation, "A Tribute to Heroes" brought together some of the entertainment industry's brightest lights to raise millions of dollars for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. More than 60 movie, television and recording stars volunteered to perform, speak or answer the telephone. The two-hour program, a no-host affair, was simulcast in English and Spanish across 31 TV networks, 8,000 radio stations and the Internet. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC underwrote the costs of the program. Corporate sponsors underwrote other costs. Money pledged during the telethon will go to a special relief fund administered by United Way. "This is a prayer for our fallen brothers and sisters," Bruce Springsteen said at the start. He was backed on vocals by members of his E Street Band, singing "My City in Ruins," a hymnlike anthem he unveiled last Christmas in his native New Jersey. The song's subject is economic despair, but against the backdrop of the World Trade Center's twin towers, "My City in Ruins" took on new meaning. Tom Hanks appeared next. "Those of us here tonight are not heroes," he said. "We appear tonight as a simple show of unity to honor our real heroes." For security reasons, the program originated from undisclosed locations, with no audience or media present. If the word "live" hadn't appeared on-screen occasionally, viewers could be forgiven for thinking that much of the telecast had been recorded. Between musical numbers, an actor or actress would appear before a wall of candles and tell a story about some of the more incredible acts of heroism among the hundreds performed the day of the attacks. Candles were everywhere. A determined viewer might have been able to count 6,800 of them, or more - the estimated number of dead and missing. Hollywood also had a message to deliver about tolerance. Stevie Wonder chided those who "hate in the name of God or Allah." Later, Muslim schoolchildren on videotape told of being harassed in the days following the attacks. That was followed by an appearance by Muhammad Ali. Trembling from advanced Parkinson's disease, Ali spoke slowly but with unmistakable resolve. "I'm a Muslim," Ali said. "I've been a Muslim 20 years. I'm against killing, and all Muslims are against it." Amid the pleas for world understanding, it wasn't surprising that the telecast featured little of the flag-waving of recent days, although Tom Petty did strike a more defiant tone with his classic "I Won't Back Down." The program concluded with a patriotic flourish: Celine Dion, a Canadian, gave a stirring rendition of "God Bless America"; Clint Eastwood called on Americans to band together; and Willie Nelson led a "We Are the World"-style chorus of "America the Beautiful." So many celebrities offered their services that getting them all onstage was impossible. Dozens of stars instead took pledge calls. Performers weren't identified when they appeared on camera. No one said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mariah Carey," or "Hello, I'm George Clooney." The celebrities, as advertised, seemed to check their egos at the door. There were, however, promotional opportunities: A press release announced that the Dixie Chicks would introduce a song on the telethon, "I Believe in Love." Although Nielsen estimates won't be available until today, if earlier displays of unity are any guide, about 80 million Americans tuned into "A Tribute to Heroes." An estimated 82 million viewers watched President Bush address a joint session of Congress on Thursday, and just under 80 million watched part of the network news coverage of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Like Friday night's program, those telecasts were carried by multiple broadcast and cable channels. Organizers said an estimate of how much was contributed wasn't likely to come until early next week. Another televised benefit was announced this week: Cable's TNT will carry "Come Together," a live concert featuring songs written by the late John Lennon. More than a dozen artists, from Moby to the Isley Brothers, will perform at Radio City Music Hall on Oct. 2. Proceeds will benefit relief efforts in New York City. To reach Aaron Barnhart, The Star's TV critic, call (816) 234-4790 or send e-mail to the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. To make a donation By phone: 1-(800) 710-8002 ON THE WEB: Click on www.tributetoheroes.org HOW KC HAS HELPED Money that major Kansas City charities have raised for disaster relief efforts since the terrorist attacks (as of 5 p.m. Friday): American Red Cross: $2,594,210 Salvation Army of Kansas and Western Missouri: $120,000 Heart of America United Way: $160,000 Heart to Heart International: $50,000 and two semitrailer loads of goods. Harvesters: Several truckloads of goods. @ART CREDIT:KEVIN MAZUR/The Associated Press @ART CAPTION:With a fallen firefighter's helmet on his piano, singer Billy Joel performed his "New York State of Mind" Friday evening during the national live telecast of "America: A Tribute to Heroes." Not all the stars appeared on screen; dozens answered the pledge phones. @ART CREDIT:DELORES JOHNSON/The Kansas City Star @ART CAPTION:Taking pledge calls from the Kansas City area Friday night at the AT&T Call Center in Lee's Summit were Regina Brown (front) and Lee Benvenuto. About 600 AT&T employees helped during the telecast of "America: A Tribute to Fallen Heroes." @ART:Photos (2, color and b/w)

Some new shows arrive Sunday

The beginning of the fall TV season was moved to this Monday after network executives decided last Monday was too close to the events of Sept. 11. However, in the scramble to reschedule show premieres, ABC, CBS and NBC all wound up with new programs to air on Sunday, one day before the official season start. Richard Dreyfuss stars in a new CBS series, "The Education of Max Bickford," beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday on Channel 5. Dreyfuss plays an irritable, middle-aged college professor. The strong supporting cast includes Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock") and Regina Taylor ("I'll Fly Away"). "The Practice" will return for its sixth season 8 p.m. on ABC (Channel 9). It's a two-hour special centered on Ellenor's (Camryn Manheim) efforts to defend a prominent politician accused of murder. New series regular Ron Livingston also will appear; he plays an assistant D.A. NBC will counter that with "50 Years of Late Night," a clip reel of highlights from all the network's great late-night hosts, including Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Tom Snyder and (from his old "Late Night" days) David Letterman. Conan O'Brien is host of the two-hour special, which airs at 8 p.m. on Channel 41.

Letterman sets show-biz standard for dealing with crisis

David Letterman once told an interviewer that he feels most fully alive during that hour of the day when he is taping his late-night show. During his broadcast Monday night, Letterman revived himself - and boosted our spirits as well - in an emotional and difficult hour of television that immediately became the show-business standard for coping with a national crisis. As one of the first major entertainment figures to address the nation after the terrorist attacks (CBS pre-empted "Late Show" for news coverage last week), Letterman shouldered a heavy burden. He had made some remarks on his NBC show in 1986 after the Challenger disaster, but that was an accident, however tragic. What happened last week was mass murder, with much of the killing done a few miles south of where Letterman's show is taped. The attacks - and the retaliation for them that is imminent - is all anyone can talk about. Late night hosts are no exception. Going in, Letterman surely knew this. This extraordinary hour began in an extraordinary way, with Letterman sitting behind his desk, instead of wandering out on center stage as he usually does. The light round of applause that opened the show was in sharp contrast to the controlled pandemonium that greets Letterman most nights. Looking haggard and weary-eyed, his voice trembling slightly, he told his audience that "I need to ask your patience and indulgence because I have to say a few things." To continue doing his show, Letterman said, "I just need to hear myself talk for a couple of minutes." Though you knew he had agonized for hours over what to say, Letterman spoke haltingly. He seemed unsure at times of what to say next. "It's terribly sad," he kept saying. "Terribly, terribly sad." Letterman explained that he hadn't really wanted to go back on the air but decided to do so after New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's repeated exhortations to New Yorkers to resume their normal lives. "The reason I am back to work is because of Mayor Giuliani," Letterman said, after which he praised the mayor extensively. When he said, "Rudolph Giuliani is the personification of courage," the studio broke into applause. Several more times the otherwise subdued audience would cheer references to Giuliani as well as to the rescue workers who were either working around the rubble of the World Trade Center or buried beneath it. After speaking for about eight minutes - it seemed to go on much longer - Letterman took a commercial break. The band did not play, though it was performing when the break ended. That pattern continued throughout the show. CBS news anchor Dan Rather was the first guest, and from the start he looked as uncomfortable to be there as Letterman had been earlier on. After heaping more praise on Giuliani and the rescuers, the two men turned to talk of what would happen next. "We're now being put to the test," Rather said, "but if you could go down to ground zero, down to lower Manhattan" - his voice began to crack - "and see those firemen ... " He began to sniffle, and then, deeply moved, put his left hand in Letterman's right and asked him to cut to a commercial. Rather regained his composure during the break, only to lose it again while reciting a verse from "America the Beautiful." He apologized profusely - "I'm a pro, and I get paid not to let it show," he said. Letterman countered, "Good (grief), you're a human being." Indeed, the moment put one in mind of Walter Cronkite fighting back tears as he read the news of John F. Kennedy's assassination on live TV. That touching segment was followed by a welcome jolt of can-do energy courtesy of Bronx native Regis Philbin, who supplied the perfect counterpoint to Rather and a portent of more normal broadcasts to come. There are no network standards for dealing with tragedies, of course. But it would be hard to imagine how this silly business of television could go on unless its stars, like Letterman and Rather, were allowed to show their humanity as they did on Monday night. Unprofessional, perhaps; but undeniably real and undeniably healing. Kansas City viewers won't have to choose whether to watch Letterman's show at 10:35 or "ABC News Nightline." That's because local affiliate KMBC, Channel 9, has no plans to change its late-night schedule to accommodate an earlier airing of "Nightline." For 21 years KMBC has delayed "Nightline" 90 minutes so it can suck even more money out of advertisers' pockets by showing syndicated programs. Occasionally, though, management at Channel 9 has had a change of heart and moved "Nightline" up to 10:35 p.m. on days when important news was breaking. You would think that a nation on the brink of war would be sufficiently important. But you would be wrong. An advisory sent out by KMBC on Monday confirmed that "Nightline" - one of the most decorated news programs in the history of television - will continue to air at 12:05, following two sitcoms and "Entertainment Tonight." "Nightline" airs immediately after the late news in about 90 percent of the country. The exceptions are a few small-market stations. And one that thinks that way. You can reach Aaron Barnhart through the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com.

New on the tube; 'Wolf Lake'

Airs: 9 p.m. Wednesdays, CBS (Channel 5). Stars: Lou Diamond Phillips, Graham Greene, Tim Matheson, Scott Bairstow, Bruce McGill, Paul Wasilewski, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Most closely resembles: A bad "X-Files" knockoff. Aaron's advice: Forget it. Phillips plays a Seattle cop who wanders into a tiny mountain village and uncovers a breed of humans who can morph into scary wolves. Before last week's tragic events bumped the fall TV premieres back one week, I wrote this about "Wolf Lake": "This movie-of-the-week script would be a sorry foundation for a TV series even if it weren't so tone-deaf, failing to convey either the terror of a wolf attack or the quirkiness of small-town life." @ART CAPTION:Mia Kirschner and Lou Diamond Phillips in 'Wolf Lake' @ART:Photo @ART CREDIT:TONY ESPANZA/CBS Media

Heartfelt marathon coverage exhibited television at its finest

Among the many things that made this an exceptional week was how easily people discarded their jaded outlooks. Many on the island of Manhattan had come to regard their mayor with undisguised contempt, yet rallied behind him in the days following Tuesday's tragedy. Likewise, Americans who thought of New Yorkers, when they thought of them at all, as pushy, loud-mouthed vulgarians were treated to the heartwarming spectacle of Gotham giving succor to its fallen, strangers working shoulder-to-shoulder through the night, hauling debris, packing box lunches, holding vigil, comforting survivors. Ironically, these changes of heart came about thanks to television - the "unhappy medium," as Jack Paar once called it, which for years reinforced the image of the pushy vulgarian through New York-based fictions such as "Law & Order" and the coarse monologues of David Letterman. Viewers desperately wanted TV to show us the best in others, not the worst. And to its everlasting credit, TV rose to the occasion, as local and network news outlets in New York stayed on the air continuously for nearly four days - a marathon of coverage rivaling that of John F. Kennedy's assassination - and connected viewers intimately with the horrific events of Tuesday and their aftermath. This was television at its finest, and not even a grizzled TV critic could find much fault with it. Marshall McLuhan defined radio as a "hot" medium and television as "cool." But this week the roles were reversed, as National Public Radio reassured listeners with measured voices and soothing music, while television coverage began in chaos, turned to horror and barely contained its emotions as it struggled to comprehend the enormity of what had just happened. As did we all. At first, the networks relied on the shocking video of the second airliner hitting the World Trade Center, an attack that aired on live television and was replayed from seemingly dozens of angles. But then the cameras zoomed in and the journalists moved in to be close to the suffering. Suddenly, the celebrity stories and sex scandals that had defined TV news of late were forgotten, as journalists responded collectively and instinctively to the biggest story of their lives. It would be churlish to compare the job the networks did. All of them at times showed real courage and heart. In the first few hours after the attacks, viewers who changed channels regularly were the best informed, as each network seemed to have a different piece of the emerging story. Still, some people should be singled out for what they did on television this week: New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. With the country still reeling from the initial shock of the attacks, Giuliani told a live television audience, "The number of casualties will be more than any of us can bear." It was a terrible statement, yet oddly comforting. We knew the former prosecutor would use his head when managing this tragedy, but his emotional assessment told us he would be guided by his heart as well. MSNBC's Ashleigh Banfield. An underestimated interviewer, she crouched down to curbside to talk with exhausted firefighters and survivors. Visibly moved by what she saw and heard, Banfield asked the right questions and reported without embellishment or schmaltz. Time Warner Cable. Kansas City's main cable provider imported the signal of the all-news cable channel from New York, NY1. (The Oxygen channel also simulcast NY1 for a while.) Unlike the networks, NY1 relentlessly covered the local angle, including a heartrending parade of missing-person photographs that other networks later imitated. The cable company plans to take NY1 off its promotional channel after this weekend. Don't do it, Time Warner. If you really want to promote cable TV, keep NY1. ABC's Peter Jennings. His incisive interviewing and an all-star team of correspondents made for authoritative, if not always riveting, coverage. ABC again, for the exceptionally classy decision not to give its coverage of the events a catchy name like "Terror from the Sky." It simply went with "ABC News Special Report." Fox's Rick Leventhal, who rushed to the scene after the first World Trade Center tower collapsed and brought startling eyewitness reports. MTV and BET, for letting young viewers and African-Americans vent their feelings. These channels also offered an antidote to the swelling militarism on the news channels; here the talk was of constructive change and social justice. Finally, to the four network affiliates for localizing the story for Kansas City viewers without stealing too much airtime from the network - and to KMBC and KCPT for collaborating on a telethon that brought in an astounding sum of money. You can reach Aaron Barnhart through the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com

Area residents rally to relief with money

Kansas Citians are opening their checkbooks to speed relief to victims of the New York and Washington attacks. KMBC, Channel 9, raised more than $1.3 million for the American Red Cross during a two-day fund-raiser to aid victims of the attacks. The fund-raiser, which originally was to last only six hours, started Wednesday as KMBC aired news coverage from ABC. The drive was extended through Thursday, and UtiliCorp United Inc. donated $510,000 to aid the cause. KCPT, Channel 19, lent its 42-person phone bank to the effort. Southwestern Bell employees volunteered to man the phones, which were jammed all night Wednesday, according to C. Wayne Godsey, KMBC general manager. Henry Bloch of H&R Block and his wife, Marion, former Royals George Brett and Jeff Montgomery, and former Mayors Richard L. Berkley and Charles B. Wheeler all worked the phones. "The generosity of people in Kansas City overwhelmed me," said Godsey. "People are so frustrated and feeling helpless that they just want to do something. The volunteers were coming up and telling me the emotion they heard at the other end of the line." Other stations will be rolling out fund-raising drives this weekend. KCTV Channel 5 and Tension Envelope Corp. will sponsor a fund-raiser in Sunday's edition of The Kansas City Star to benefit the Red Cross. WDAF Channel 4 and the Susquehanna group of radio stations are collaborating on a relief campaign starting today to aid the United Way's disaster relief efforts. KSHB Channel 41 expects to announce a program today that will be partly informational in scope. Heart to Heart International has been taking donations and has raised a little less than $5,000 so far, said Marsha Sailors, communication coordinator. But as other groups take up collections, that total should rise, she added. The Star has printed more copies of its extra edition, which was originally published Tuesday afternoon. The new copies sell for $5 each and have raised about $15,000 so far, said Doug Weaver, the director of strategic business development. - The Star's James Hart contributed to this report. - To reach Aaron Barnhart, call (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com.

Late-night comedians will take a measured approach

While the major television networks cautiously plan a return to normal today with a blend of news programs, reruns and movies, the real test will come next week as TV's late-night comedians try to convince Americans that it's OK to laugh again. Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Craig Kilborn are scheduled to return to the air Monday. These will be their first appearances since their shows were pre-empted for coverage of the terrorist attack. Their unenviable task: acknowledge the national tragedy while not making light of it, and find humorous topics at a time when one topic is dominating the news - and it's taboo. How will they do it? "That's exactly what we're trying to figure out right now," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" executive producer Jeff Ross said Thursday. "To be honest, we haven't figured that out yet," said Tony Fox, spokesman for cable's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." The problem is especially acute for Stewart's New York-based show, because it is structured like a newscast, with parodies of the day's news events. "The Daily Show" will return, though perhaps not until later in the week, Fox said. Letterman's plans are uncertain, although a CBS spokesman noted that the late-night veteran had not shied away from difficult topics on his show, whether discussing his heart trouble or debating environmental policy with presidential candidate George W. Bush. As for Leno, he told a gathering of NBC staffers in Burbank, Calif., Wednesday that he had sought advice from the king of late night, Johnny Carson, who was host of "The Tonight Show" at the time of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Through a representative, Carson advised Leno to "take a few days to reflect and ease back into it," and avoid jokes about the president, according to an NBC employee who attended the event. Leno said he would try to keep a light tone, adding, "We'll do a lot more Viagra jokes for a while." On Thursday, CBS and ABC announced that they would push back their fall premieres one week, to Sept. 24. NBC made the same move on Wednesday. Fox plans to go ahead with its premieres next week, which are only on Tuesday and Friday. There is a chance CBS and NBC will have late-night entertainment tonight; if so, it will be reruns. - To reach Aaron Barnhart, call (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com.