THE BUZZ.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Cusack joins TV powerhouse: The Carsey-Werner Co., home of television's most successful if not notorious divas, has found its next high-profile tenant in Joan Cusack.

Sources said the studio has closed a deal with the veteran film actress to star in a comedy targeted for fall 1999. Cusack, whose four-year talent deal recently expired at CBS, sought out Carsey-Werner because she wanted to work with writer Eric Gilliland (``Roseanne''), sources said.

The studio is likely to seek a 13-episode commitment for Cusack, who has apparently indicated a desire to keep production in her hometown of Chicago. Gilliland is willing to move to Chicago, a source said.

A Carsey-Werner spokesman declined comment.

Busy last day: Mike van Dien, who directed the Dutch film ``Character,'' the winner of this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, is now set to direct ``Spy Game,'' starring Robert Redford. ``Spy Game'' concerns a CIA agent who, on his last day at the agency, must mastermind the rescue of a younger agent - his protege - captured by the Chinese.

Bo's show pulled: NBC has yanked the low-rated ``Wind on Water'' from its Saturday lineup after only two airings. The drama marked Bo Derek's television series debut. NBC will fill the 8 p.m. Saturday time slot with a repeat of ``The Pretender,'' followed by a repeat of ``SNL Remembers Chris Farley'' at 9 p.m. Nov. 7. The peacock will also air another repeat of ``The Pretender'' at 8 p.m. Nov. 14.

Universal to rock: Melissa Joan Hart, star of ``Sabrina the Teenage Witch,'' will be at Universal Studios's Halloween Horror Nights II to introduce the rock band Phantom Planet, who will perform in concert at 9 tonight. Horror Nights runs from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the park through Saturday. Tickets are $34 at the gate, $24 in advance.