THE HYPE THE ANGEL ANGLE CHARLIE'S GIRLS HAVE THEIR PRIVATE EYES ON MERCHANDISE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

``Charlie's Angels'' stars Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu not only bust crime and break hearts in their new movie that opens citywide on Friday, but they also kick off a merchandising frenzy.

Remember those rimless aviator sunglasses from the '70s? These private eyes sport an updated version designed by Richard Walker, who says he scoured flea markets for the oldies, then created the new shapes right on the actresses' faces. For Diaz, Walker designed a double diamond pattern, for Barrymore a star rhinestone pattern, and a rainbow design for Liu. But you can pick your own shades and shapes at Sunglass Hut stores. Color choices include gray, blue, rose, auburn and violet lenses, and optional rhinestone trim, priced at $70 to $80.

For would-be ``Angels,'' Sony Pictures Consumer Products has slogan shirts such as ``Girl Power'' and ``Good Morning, Angels.'' The ``Charlie's Angels'' shirt collection by Freeze will hit the shelves this month at Target, Wal-Mart, Sears and Wet Seal stores, priced at $12.99 to $24.99. Angel Power necklaces and bracelets will be available at Claire's, Miller's Outpost and Hot Topic stores, priced at $8 to $10.

For little angels-in-waiting, there are ``Charlie's Angels'' action-fashion dolls at Kmart and Target for $14.99 each, and school backpacks for $12.99 at Musicland stores.

- Barbara De Witt

QUOTABLE 

``Who needs a 72-year-old Rockford? No. I pushed the envelope a little bit in the `90s. ...That's about as far as we can go with it.''

-James Garner

on the suggestion that he might be interested in reviving the character of Jim Rockford from the 70's show ``The Rockford Files''

BOOK BEAT

KEEP LIFE MANAGEABLE ... WITH STYLE: Tom Cruise is coming for dinner, and you didn't wash off the top of the ketchup bottle? Get it done, girl, and stash the laundry basket of socks in a drawer. And if you don't have time for a shower, just throw on a fancy cocktail apron and tiara, advises fashion designer Cynthia Rowley in her cleverly cute new book ``Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life'' (Warner Books; $23.95).

For more party tricks, tune into ``Everyday Elegance With Colin Cowie'' at 5 tonight on the Romance Classics network. The episodefeatures Rowley and her co-author, Ilene Rosensweig, sipping chocolate cows with style guru Cowie while discussing the importance of embracing one's own personal style and navigating life's curves with a little swagger and whole lot of grace. They'll also give tips on planning a '60s party with paisley prints and baked Alaska.

- B.D.

ON THE TUBE

LIVE FROM L.A., IT'S DREW: For the second straight November sweep, Warner Bros. TV's ``The Drew Carey Show'' is going live on ABC. After the rating success last year, when the show's cast performed the partly unscripted episode live three times for three time zones, the actors will repeat the feat Nov. 8 at 6, 7 and 9 p.m. PST.

What's more, the show's producers are planning to push the envelope even further this year. To make it more exciting, executive producer Bruce Helford is keeping many surprises a secret from the cast.

``The actors don't know what's coming at them,'' Helford said. ``They don't know what's behind every door.''

He is also planning to bring in surprise guest stars during the broadcasts. If time allows, he might let the studio audience decide how the episode should end, and the cast will act out the suggested ending.

ABC also plans to get in the live television spirit by staging live promos. Stars from other ABC shows are expected to stop by the ``Drew Carey'' stage to plug their series. Warner Bros. TV has become the live broadcast specialist recently. In addition to ``Drew Carey,'' the studio produced the 1997-98 season premiere of ``ER'' for NBC and George Clooney's live black-and-white rendition of the 1964 thriller ``Fail Safe'' for CBS.

ABC broadcast and standard practices editor Neil Conrad said the live ``Drew Carey'' broadcasts make him a little nervous. Helford, on the other hand, is not worried at all.

``You can't lose in a live show,'' he said. ``If they goof up, it's fun. If they do it right, it's fun.''

- Hollywood Reporter

CAPTION(S):

7 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) no caption (``Charlie's Angel's'' action fashion doll)

(2 -- 4 color) Drew Barrymore, left, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Lui are a little bit Charlie with the accompanying merchandise to their new movie. Above, a backpack is available at Musicland; far left, the Natalie doll (Diaz) is $14.99 at Kmart and Target; and below, the official Angel sunglasses, designed by Richard Walker, can be found at Sunglass hut.

(5 -- color) no caption (James Garner)

(6 -- color) no caption (Drew Carry)

(7 -- color) no caption (``Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life'')