NEW PRESIDENT, SAME SUCCESSFUL GOALS FOR NICK.

Byline: Ray Richmond Daily News Television Writer

When longtime Nickelodeon president Geraldine Laybourne left in December to join the competition at Disney/ABC, the network lost the person who had laid the groundwork for its phenomenal success in programming and marketing.

But Herb Scannell - the man named to replace Laybourne last week - wants to reassure the entertainment world that everything's going to be just fine.

"I've been here for eight years," said Scannell, who was promoted from executive vice president.

"I have been involved in a lot of the things that have kicked Nickelodeon to the level we're at now, like Nicktoons and Snick and Nick Jr. I learned a lot from Geri, and her philosophy will continue to be felt."

Scannell, 39, is proud to have helped mold Nickelodeon into cable's highest-rated network 24 hours a day and the most popular spot in all of television (networks included) for Nick's target audience aged 2-11.

"We accomplished it because we don't do what the other guys do, and we never sell kids short," Scannell said. "The fact is that kids are just like adults. They like good characters and good stories."

Moreover, Nick has built its following by making cartoons like "Rugrats" and "Doug" and live-action shows like "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and "The Secret World of Alex Mack" that steer clear of violence and are designed to appeal to both boys and girls.

"We don't do 'Power Rangers' and 'X-Men,' " Scannell said. "We also don't take the same cynical approach as the networks, who think that every live-action show with kids needs to have a jock, a cheerleader and a nerd."

Nickelodeon has also managed to carve out its niche in cable, which was once perceived as a disadvantage but "no longer is," Scannell said.

"I grew up with just the three networks, but we now have a generation of kids who don't carry that bias," he said. "It's no longer cable and regular TV. It's just TV. Kids think Nickelodeon is the first place they should turn, and they think it's bigger than the commercial networks because it's for them."

But Scannell won't have much time to rest on the network's laurels. There are new worlds to conquer, namely prime time and the movies.

In September, Nickelodeon will take over the 8-to-8:30 p.m. weeknight time period presently populated by Nick at Nite reruns with the new shows "KaBlam!" "Hey Arnold" and "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss," hoping to take advantage of network TV's increasing raciness in its 8 p.m. sitcoms.

Scannell said Nick is capitalizing on a vacuum in kids programming left by the broadcast networks.

"If they don't want kids, then we do," he said.

This summer, Nick unveils its first feature film, based on the "Harriet the Spy" novels and starring Rosie O'Donnell. Then in late 1997, a "Rugrats" movie is planned.

"It's a natural evolution for us," Scannell said. "But our key focus will remain on the channel. We are there for kids, and we always will be."

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Photo (1) Larisa Oleynik is the juvenile star of "The Secret World of Alex Mack," about a girl who uses her ability to liquify herself - yes, you read that right - to do good. (2) SCANNELL