SMALL SCREEN.

Byline: - Compiled by Valerie Kuklenski

THEIR TIME TO SHINE: The top winners of the 2002 SHINE Awards presented over the weekend were cable programs, which should come as little surprise given that SHINE stands for Sexual Health in Entertainment. The awards, presented by the nonprofit Media Project, recognize the most realistic or effective portrayals of safe sex, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and other intimacy issues. HBO's ``Sex and the City'' picked up the comedy episode award, while Showtime's ``Queer as Folk'' was chosen for best drama episode. Lifetime's ``Strong Medicine'' won two honors: scene stealer for its episode titled ``Control Group'' and series story line for ``Lu's Rape.'' The daytime drama award went to CBS' ``Guiding Light'' for ``Tony and Marah's Prom Night,'' and the youth program prize went to MTV's ``Flipped: Safe Sex.''

A 'STAR' IS REBORN: Remember ``Star Search,'' which aired weekends in the '80s through the mid-'90s, promising - and occasionally delivering - the next big singer, comedian or model? It was the little syndicated show that could, but it was never taken too seriously - maybe by contestants, but certainly not by programming executives. That, of course, was before Fox's ``American Idol.'' CBS is jumping on the talent showcase bandwagon with a midseason version of ``Star Search,'' to run nine weeks and to be judged by a celebrity panel and viewers at home. Open auditions will be held in six cities, including Los Angeles (Nov. 16-18). Producers are looking to fill four tournament categories - adult singer, junior singer, comic and supermodel. The prize package at the end of the series is $100,000 for the top finisher in each field. With their winnings, they can hire a manager, pay for head shots and demo tapes, run ads in the trades and maybe get a professional gig the old-fashioned way. For more information on the auditions, call [phone] or check www.cbs.com.