SMALL SCREEN THE BUZZ ON TELEVISION.

Byline: - Compiled by Valerie Kuklenski

AGE BEFORE BEAUTY: Agism, particularly discrimination against older women, is a common complaint in Hollywood. But it is in the semi-celebrity world of local news anchors where such discrimination seems to be practiced, well, indiscriminately. Mel Harris (``thirtysomething'') stars tonight in ``Another Pretty Face'' as a 44-year-old TV anchor who is replaced by a younger face. She can't seem to get another job by the usual means, so she reinvents herself with cosmetic surgery and a shortened resume and gets hired as a secretary at a TV station. She fills in on a weather report one night and does such a good job that she is later offered the news anchor position - at the expense of an anchor in his 50s (Perry King). Her reimagined history and the way she emerges from the career ash pile are pretty implausible, but there's an underlying truth to the problem the movie addresses. Think about it - has anybody seen Kelly Lange lately?

ANOTHER PRETTY FACE, 8 tonight, PAX.

HE'S BAAA-AACK: Steve Martin has been confirmed as the host of the 75th annual Academy Awards March 23. Producer Gilbert Cates made his decision official just a few days after the motion picture academy announced Cates was returning for a 11th turn as the show-runner. The ratings were not as strong as usual for Martin's first stint in 2001, possibly due to a lack of interest in the awards competition, but he enjoyed critical praise for bringing intelligent wit to the ceremonies. In the announcement, Cates praised Martin as ``a host who's witty, clever, sharp, intelligent, quick on his feet and always on top of the unfolding action. Wait, I've forgotten something. Oh yeah, and outrageously funny.'' For his part, Martin said, ``I'm very pleased to be hosting the Oscars again, because fear and nausea always make me lose weight.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) MARTIN: Repeat Oscar host.

(2) HARRIS: New TV image.