Are you?

"Supernanny" was one of four reality series renewed for the fall season by ABC last week (the others were "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," "Wife Swap" and "America's Funniest Home Videos"), and now the search is on for Western Pennsylvania families interested in participating in the show.

A casting call is scheduled Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Boscov's (third floor near the children's department) at South Hills Village. While the press release emphasizes the show is seeking families from a variety of backgrounds, it encourages families "who are preparing for a wedding or family reunion; teen moms; parents with mean girls or bullying boys; culturally diverse parents; and divorced parents who are both seeking help."

While you're not likely to be nearly as embarrassed as knucklehead contestants who agree to appear on "Moment of Truth," be warned that your parenting skills might not be cast in an especially good light.

Those who would rather skip the audition also can apply at www.supernanny.com. Parents also can call 1-877-NANNY-TIME for more information.

By the way, if my calculations are correct, ABC, with this latest round of renewals, could return in September without one new series. That's not likely to happen, however. While the network has a few top 10 hits, the shows in the cellar are deeply embedded in the cement.

Last week, when ABC should have won the ratings week with the No. 1 "Academy Awards Show," it instead finished second to Fox. The main reason was that three of its prime-time shows - "October Road," "Cashmere Mafia" and "Carpoolers" - had fewer viewers than the "Al Diablo Con Guapos" soap opera airing on the Univision Network. That's an alarming fall from grace for a network that used to obliterate the competition.Those three series are likely goners, but ABC oddly picked up another loser, "Women's Murder Club," for at least three more episodes.

Radio personality dies

Myron Cope and Bill Currie weren't the only veteran Pittsburgh broadcasters who passed away last month. Bill Brant, who died Feb. 5, was well-known for his shows on AM stations KDKA, WWSW and WJAS. A Charleroi native, his radio career actually began in the early 1940s on WJPA in Washington. After a brief stint on WWSW, he moved to KDKA, where he hosted the "The Midnighters Club."

From there, it was on to WDTV (later KDKA), where he hosted variety and talk shows. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Brant was a candidate to replace Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show," a seat that went instead to Johnny Carson.

While on KDKA, he also hosted a morning show on WJAS-AM in the '50s. Eventually leaving radio (he also had a band and did commerical voiceovers), Brant made a comeback in the '80s, returning to WJAS as morning host. He retired in 1988, and lived in O'Hara Township with his wife, Yvonne. Brant was 84.

'Idol' time

We usually pass on the "American Idol" results show in our home, but we tuned in last week hoping for an altered format from previous years. There wasn't one. The dreaded, hastily produced medleys are still there, along with a prolonged elimination process guided by a sinister Ryan Seacrest, who seems to be enjoying torturing the young singers (OK, there was one vulnerable moment with one of the girls he sent packing, but it was an unplanned blip).

And, in one of those "hmmm" moments, two of the eliminated contestants had picked songs that fit the moment all too well - "If You Leave Me Now" and "Hopelessly Devoted To You," for which a tearful departee sang, "Mine is not the first heart broken, my eyes are not the first to cry." Two weeks ago, one of the axed singers had sung "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do." Perhaps when Simon tells them it's all about song choice, he's not kidding.

By the way, if you're a Seacrest fan, you may be able to have him at your breakfast table. He's reportedly syndicating his radio morning show.

Tube tidbits

Last week, we noted that NBC was trying to team with cable stations to produce a third season of "Friday Night Lights." Fans of the show, though, aren't convinced "FNL" will return and so have started a campaign similar to "Jericho" (without the nuts). Visit www.SaveFridayNightLights.tv for more information. ... Although it's doing poorly in the ratings since its return, "Jericho" did outdraw the premiere of "Quarterlife" last Tuesday - and NBC promptly axed it. ... ABC's long-awaited "Miss/Guided" sitcom is finally on the schedule. It will premire at 10:30 p.m. March 18 after "Dancing with the Stars," then air back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. Thursdays through mid-April. ... The same network has struck a deal to put its powerhouse shows such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" on cable's On-Demand system. However, unlike CBS' shows that also can be found On Demand, ABC's will come complete with commercials.

Saturday Night Live?

No, not that one. After several seasons of all repeats on Saturday, CBS is dipping its toes into the prime-time waters again. It's planning to air four live Saturday specials featuring Mixed Martial Arts next season. The decision was no doubt prompted at least partly by ABC's success with prime-time college football games on Saturday nights.

Terry Hazlett covers television and radio for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at Snowballrizzo@aol.com.

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