TV/RADIOIn the ‘Crossfire’: Geraldine Ferraro, the former...

TV/RADIO

In the ‘Crossfire’: Geraldine Ferraro, the former New York congresswoman who ran for vice president in 1984, will carry the debate from the left in clashes on CNN’s “Crossfire,” the news network announced Monday. Ferraro replaces Michael Kinsley and will face off on the weeknight show against the alternating right-wing representatives, former New Hampshire Gov. and Bush Administration Chief of Staff John Sununu and syndicated columnist Robert Novak. Ferraro, who ran on the losing Democratic national ticket headed by Walter Mondale, has been a guest co-host on “Crossfire.” She will alternate with a co-host on the left to be named later. Her first duties will be as co-host from New Hampshire Feb. 16 through primary night, Feb. 20. She will take her regular “Crossfire” role in May following a commitment to the United Nations, where she serves as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Giant Ratings: The opening segment of the two-part “Gulliver’s Travels” brought NBC its highest Sunday Nielsen ratings for a made-for-telefilm or miniseries in nine years. The show starring Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen averaged a 23.3 rating and 33 share based on Nielsen preliminary metered data. (National ratings are due out today.) That was the best rating for a Sunday made-for/mini since “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles” Part 1 scored 23.9 on Feb. 8, 1987. . . . In another ratings coup, the TNT network announced that a record 4,745,000 households were tuned in Friday night when the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring Magic Johnson, were defeated by the Chicago Bulls, starring Michael Jordan. It was the first time both superstars had competed against each other since each returned from retirement. The TNT rating of 7.1 topped its previous high of 5.1 when Jordan came back to play at Madison Square Garden on March 28.

New at KUSC: Starting March 4, veteran KUSC-FM (91.5) host Jim Svejda will do his weeknight show two hours earlier, 8 p.m. to midnight, under the new title of “Music ‘Til Midnight.” In other changes at the station, two new weekday hosts have recently come on board: Martin Perlich in the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. slot and Rene Engel, a former host on KPCC-FM (89.3), who handles the 2-6 p.m. shift.