Sockeroo 'American Idol' premiere for FoxIf there was any concern at Fox that viewers have tired of “American Idol,” it vanished on Tuesday. The show’s second season premiere averaged a 12.4 adult 18-49 rating in its 90-minute run, beating the combined rating of ABC, CBS and NBC in that time period. “American Idol’s” rating improved 37 percent from its first half-hour to its last, peaking at 9:00 p.m. with a 14.2 rating. The half-hour special “American Idol Revisited” lost 21 percent of its lead-in rating but ranked No. 1 at 9:30 p.m. with an 11.2 rating that also beat the combined performance of the Big Three. Fox averaged a 12.1 adult 18-49 rating, based on preliminary Nielsen data. ABC had a 3.5 rating with its “8 Simple Rules-“ led lineup. NBC had a 3.4 and ranked No. 1 at 10 p.m. with “Meet My Folks,” the night’s highest-rated show not on Fox. CBS had a 3.1 with its Tuesday dramas. Fox also ranked No. 1 in households with a 14 rating and 21 share. CBS had a 9.1/14, ABC had a 6.2/9 and NBC had a 5.5/8.

New Fox News host is a different kind of spinner
Bill O'Reilly a bit controversial for you? Then you may prefer Fox News Channel's newest star: Pat Sajak. The cable network has lured the longtime "Wheel of Fortune" host back into the talk arena. "Pat Sajak Weekend" will air once a week, Sundays at 9 p.m., and cover celebrity news and other "topical issues." Sajak will keep his day job as host of "Wheel of Fortune," which continues to be the No. 1 rated program in syndication. Sajak hosted a short-lived late night talk show for CBS during the 1989-90 season. "Weekend" will push "At Large with Geraldo Rivera" to 10 p.m., replacing “Fox Wire with Rita Cosby.” Cosby will anchor “Big Story Weekend Edition” Saturdays at 9 p.m. Depending on his “Wheel” schedule, Sajak’s show will be taped in Washington, Los Angeles or New York, and some episodes may air live. In other cable talk show news, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported yesterday that MSNBC has finalized a contract with former wrestler/Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. The network said no deal had been signed.

Founder of gay magazine Out dead at 36
Sarah Pettit, co-founder of the country's largest gay magazine, Out, died Wednesday from complications related to lymphoma. Pettit was 36. Pettit distinguished herself as a leading lesbian journalist when she started Out in 1992, four years after graduating from Yale. Out currently has a circulation of 110,000. Pettit left Out in 1998 after it was acquired by LPI Media, which publishes The Advocate, another gay title. Pettit then served as arts and entertainment editor at Newsweek until this past March, when her illness forced her to take a leave of absence. Pettit's colleagues described her as a pioneer and a sharp-thinking contrarian.

'Surreal World' star: Don't call me a has-been
Those former child stars aren’t too quick on the uptake, huh? Corey Feldman is just figuring out now that he and his fellow "Surreal World" castmates -- M. C. Hammer, Emmanuel Lewis, Brande Roderick, Gabrielle Carteris, Jerri Manthey and Vince Neil -- are the butt of a joke. "I have never been called a 'has-been' in my career until I did this show," Feldman, who has starred in films including "Stand By Me" and "The Goonies," told TV Guide. "With this, it's like, 'has-been, loser, C-lister, D-lister,' and I'm like, 'Why did I sign onto this thing? This is terrible!'" During the 10 days in which "The Surreal World's" stars were holed up together in a Hollywood mansion for taping, tensions arose between Feldman and former "Survivor" contestant Manthey, and the two have been badmouthing each other in the press since. Manthey has said that Feldman didn't understand the basic conceit of reality TV, believing he was supposed to be playing a character, while Feldman accuses Manthey of being a shameless publicity hound desperate to break into acting. "All us roommates were having dinner at Gabby Carteris’ house, having authentic downtime away from the cameras," Feldman told TV Guide. "Don't we find it mighty coincidental that Jerri was the only one who didn't show up? There was no game there for her. But every press day we do, she's the first one there."

For the serious auction junkie, 'eBay TV'
Coming soon, the chance to see the junk on TV before buying it online. The eBay TV show will debut this fall after months of speculation. Sony Pictures Television will co-produce the hour-long syndicated show, which producers describe as a blend of “Entertainment Tonight,” “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” and “Antiques Roadshow.” “EBay TV” will not offer live auctions, only features on big auctions on the horizon such as celebrity-owned items or sports memorabilia. Former “Daily Show” regular Molly Pesce will host. Local affiliates that run the program will air brief segments urging viewers to log on to eBay.com to look at auctions with local angles, like tickets to a game. Sales will earn the stations small commissions. Stations also will earn a small sum (probably $6) for local viewers who become eBay members through the station’s web site.

January 23, 2003© 2003 Media Life

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