THE HYPE OH, WE WISH WE WERE IN THE LAND OF DIXIE CHICKS.

Blame the presidential campaign for the long delay in getting Dan Rather's interview with the Dixie Chicks on ``60 Minutes II.''

The segment, taped over the summer, finally airs at 9 tonight on CBS (Channel 2).

``We kept getting bumped 'cause of all this election stuff,'' said Dixie Chicks singer-fiddler Martie Seidel.

The beyond-hot country superstars will further soar Nov. 20 when NBC offers ``Dixie Chicks: On the Fly,'' a prime-time concert special that includes comic skits and hits from ``Wide Open Spaces'' and ``Fly,'' the Texas trio's two multimillion-selling albums.

``We didn't like the word 'special' because usually those TV specials aren't very special,'' Seidel said.

In addition to concert footage, the NBC special features the Grammy Award-winning Chicks - singer Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Seidel - in their acting debut opposite wacko funnyman Andy Dick.

``We originally wanted to do a 'Spinal Tap'-like film about being on the road,'' Seidel explained. ``But that didn't pan out, so we hired the guy who wrote some of those skits for the MTV Movie Awards to write us some comic bits.''

The Dixie Chicks - who appear Nov. 21 at Staples Center - will also guest on ``Saturday Night Live'' on the series' last episode before Christmas.

After the final date in the Chicks' current 90-city ``Fly'' tour, the trio plans to take some time off. Maines is expecting her first child and Seidel recently bought a house.

``It's just cozy,'' she said. ``I'm single and I didn't want anything too grand. It's just a comfortable little place.''

- Fred Shuster

QUOTABLE

``I was in a public restroom. It was not a urinal. You fill in the rest, OK? There was no door. I thought, 'You've got to be kidding.' ''

- John Travolta, on his worst moment with an autograph seeker

ON THE TUBE

GRAMMER LESSON: As ``Frasier'' begins its eighth season on the air with Niles and Daphne finally declaring their affection for one another (season premiere, reviewed on page 7), Kelsey Grammer begins his 17th year playing the erudite yet beleaguered shrink, a character that began simply as a guest shot on ``Cheers.''

Grammer marveled at Frasier's durability: ``No one had a 17-year character arc when it started out,'' he said with a laugh. As ``Frasier's'' season progresses, he added, the love story will fade into the background while Frasier himself re-evaluates his career path and, later on in the season, is enmeshed in a new romantic entanglement of his own. A new character will move into Daphne's room in Frasier's apartment, probably Anthony Lapaglia's wacky Simon.

As for the show's move from its cushy Must-See Thursday slot to Tuesdays, Grammer admitted, ``Certainly, I was upset in the beginning. But that which I cannot change, I don't need to spend my time deliberating about. Thank God for AA, though.''

- David Kronke

`SURVIVOR TACTICS'

NO MAN (OR WOMAN) IS AN ISLAND: Can you survive more ``Survivor''?

In the course of inevitable events, it had to happen: ``Survivor'' the DVD. It hits stores on Jan. 9 (also on VHS) just in time for the premiere of ``Survivor II'' on Jan. 28.

This video release will feature moments from Season One, including footage that could not be shown on television: emotional confrontations, voting confessions, intimate conversations, exit interviews and behind- the-scenes casting tapes.

``Survivor Season One: The Greatest and Most Outrageous Moments'' on VHS is $14.95, and the DVD, with many more goodies, will be $19.99.

- Rodney Richey

MOVIE SCENE

THEY CALL THE WIND MARIAH: The Scene: Mariah Carey, waiting in the lobby of a Tribeca apartment building in New York City, while the crew of her movie ``All That Glitters'' set up her next shot. A guy gets off the elevator and asks, ``Are they shooting a commercial?''

``It's a movie,'' says Carey.

``Really?'' says the guy. ``Anybody famous in it?''

The biggest-selling female pop artist in the world gave the guy a sly smile, then stepped outside, to the excitement of a mob of young fans.

``All That Glitters'' features Mariah as a singer whose deejay boyfriend, played by Max Beasley, helps her get into the music business, only to turn jealous and controlling.

- Wire services

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines, left, Martie Seidel and Emily Robison are on ``60'' Minutes II'' tonight, one of many TV and live performances for the rest of the year.

(2) no caption (John Travolta)

(3) no caption (Kelsey Grammer)