Beat the Devil

During their famous prison interview last spring did Charles Manson call for satanists to murder Geraldo Rivera? And did the interview inspire the journalist’s latest TV special, “Devil Worship: Exposing Satan’s Underground “? The program, which airs Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m. on NBC, marks Rivera’s return to the networks.

Recall that his last syndie spec, “Geraldo Rivera Live From Death Row,” had the host trading insults with murderer Manson, who let loose tirades while using all kinds of frantic hand gestures.

Experts on such things--including Dr. Russell Norris, psychologist-author of the book “Serial Killers”--tell us that Manson was actually using satanic hand signals to communicate with fellow devil worshipers on the outside, calling for Rivera’s death.

“A lot of satanists have told Geraldo that those gyrations meant something,” said “Devil Worship” producer Pete Simmons. “But we don’t know if Manson was taking out a hit on Geraldo or not.”

Rivera refused to say whether Manson’s alleged threats influenced his latest show, which he says will reflect that “satanism will be the most disturbing crime wave of the next decade.”