[0] NEWS LITE : HIZZONER OPTING TO BE `YOUR HONOR'.

As New York City's mayor, Ed Koch appointed 140 judges. Now it's his turn behind the bench.

Koch will preside over a new version of ``The People's Court,'' handling actual small-claims cases on television. The show is scheduled to begin next fall.

``I think this is going to be more than a little interesting,'' said Koch, who has been in private law practice since leaving City Hall in 1990.

Warner Bros. confirmed Koch's appointment Friday.

Retired California Judge Joseph Wapner handed down televised justice in the first version of the syndicated TV program from 1981 to 1993.

The 71-year-old Koch, who's been host of his own daily talk-radio show, never presided over a real courtroom, but does have acting experience, with commercial credits and stints in the film ``City Hall'' and ABC's sitcom ``Spin City.''

Work takes center stage

for Marshall

The love of labor isn't lost on Penny Marshall.

``When I'm working, I'm obsessively working,'' Marshall says in the Dec. 23 People magazine. ``I've lost all concept of what day it is.''

The 53-year-old director's work ethic certainly impressed Whitney Houston.

``Penny has the stamina of a horse. She didn't take one day off,'' said Houston, who has the title role in Marshall's new film, ``The Preacher's Wife.''

With ``The Preacher's Wife,'' which also stars Denzel Washington, Marshall continues her string of cinema successes including ``Big,'' ``Awakenings'' and ``A League of Their Own.''

Once married to fellow actor turned director Rob Reiner, Marshall's devotion to working means her personal life comes second.

``I'm not dating anyone now; I'm too busy - maybe around February I'll resurface,'' Marshall said. ``I've been married. I have a child and a grandson. I'm very happy to watch a video at home with a friend rather than do dinner.''

Poll shows adults believe in Santa

WASHINGTON - He drops down the chimney in a bright red suit, loads up stockings with gifts and toys, then flies to the next house in a sleigh pulled by gravity-defying reindeer.

At least that's the Santa Claus story believed by children - and nearly one in 10 adults, according to a new survey.

Asked what age they stopped believing in Santa, 9 percent of adults said they still believe in him, according to a U.S. News and World Report poll released Saturday. Four percent said they never believed in him.

Of those who said they once believed in Santa, 84 percent said they decided by age 10 that he didn't exist, the poll found.

The Santa Claus tradition detracts from the religious celebration of Christmas, said 48 percent, while 20 percent said it enhances the holiday.

Ninety percent said celebrating Christmas is important to them, but 69 percent said the holiday has lost meaning for most people.

When it comes to buying Christmas gifts, 44 percent of those surveyed said they spend too much on cards and gifts, 48 percent spend the right amount and 5 percent spend too little.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) Ed Koch

Headed to TV

(2) Bidding wide open

Claudia Florian looks for a bid at the Phillips Fine Art Auctioners in New York for the fossil jaw of an 8 million-year-old great white shark.

Associated Press

(3) Penny Marshall

Work ethic leaves no room for dating