THE BUZZ.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Move over, Jim Carrey.

The hottest comedian in Hollywood is Adam Sandler, whose newest film, ``The Waterboy,'' which has done nearly $80 million in 10 days.

Although most of Sandler's films - such as ``The Wedding Singer,'' ``Happy Gilmore'' and ``Billy Madison'' - have been hits, with that figure, the 31-year-old comedian ascended into the top tier of sought-after, big-money movie stars.

Sandler is hardly a favorite among critics; his films often receive a drubbing, and reviews are relegated to the back pages (though Janet Maslin of The New York Times said ``The Waterboy'' was ``cheerfully outlandish'' and ``genuinely endearing''). But his goofball and vulnerable persona have struck a chord among boys, his largest audience.

``Because he's not understood by intellectuals, some critics put his appeal down, which is a silly thing to do,'' said Phil Barlow, who runs distribution for Walt Disney Studios, which made the movie. ``He has a link to the psyche of an awful lot of people. It has something to do with his vulnerability. People identify with him.''

In ``The Waterboy,'' Sandler plays a socially inept youth from the Louisiana swamps who, as a water boy for the college football team, is turned into a devastating tackler. Disney executives said the movie's largest audience was males from 8 to 35, with teen-agers as the biggest group. The film also has brought in a heavy contingent of teen-age girls.

Robert Simonds, Sandler's longtime producer, said the comedian knows exactly what he wants to accomplish in each movie.

``There's a certain purity there,'' Simonds said. ``He's got a very clear point of view on how he wants to be presented and what he wants to say. Somehow that strikes into the heart of a very loyal and growing following.''

CBS would Rather he stay: In an unexpected move, CBS quietly has given ``CBS Evening News'' anchor Dan Rather a contract that will keep him at the network at least until 2004, according to sources familiar with the deal.

Rather, 67, signed a new agreement early last year after cable news network CNN had expressed interest in him, increasing his annual salary into the $7 million range until 2002. But CBS News' strong desire for him to have a major presence on ``60 Minutes II,'' the newsmagazine scheduled to premiere in January, meant an increase in the anchor's workload and a change in his deal.

Rather is expected to contribute as many as 12 pieces a year to ``60 Minutes II'' - a spinoff of the long-running Sunday program - while keeping his duties at ``CBS Evening News'' and anchoring the network's other prime-time newsmagazine, ``48 Hours.''

Sources said Rather's agent, Richard Liebner of N.S. Bienstock, used the opportunity to extend the length of the network's commitment to the veteran newsman.

Since radio mogul Mel Karmazin became CBS Corp.'s largest shareholder - recently becoming CEO - there have been discussions about the company being merged or aligned with a studio or other media entity.

Rather, who joined CBS in 1962, has been anchor of ``CBS Evening News'' since 1981. One scenario has him eventually replacing the next Sunday ``60 Minutes'' correspondent to retire - most likely 80-year-old Mike Wallace - after Rather leaves ``CBS Evening News.''