Dave’s Coming Back, but So Is Howard

Television’s late-night talk-show wars are still very serious business. David Letterman makes his return to CBS’ “The Late Show” at 11:35 tonight, a much-anticipated event five weeks removed from his quintuple bypass heart surgery and subsequent seclusion. It’s also just in time to give “The Late Show” a huge boost in the February ratings sweeps, if audiences stick around after tonight, when original Letterman shows are interspersed with guest hosts--Bill Cosby on Tuesday and Kathie Lee Gifford on Thursday. But “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” isn’t about to lie down. It’s got its own brand of event television scheduled tonight: Howard Stern. The syndicated radio-show host and fledgling TV producer (he’s got projects at UPN and cable’s FX) makes his first “Tonight Show” appearance in nearly three years. Coincidence? For “The Tonight Show,” Stern is a proven ratings-getter. He’s made four appearances over the last seven years and, on average, viewership goes up 15%, according to figures from the network. “Some people are saying we need to ratchet it up a notch,” one NBC source said of competing with the built-in interest in Letterman’s return. “But the other train of thought is, ‘You’re winning. Why act like you’re in second place?’ ” “The Tonight Show” is attracting about 2 million more viewers per night than “The Late Show” so far this season.

Book Adaptations Are Always a Gamble

Read any good books lately? Hollywood has, and often turns them into movies. On Wednesday, for instance, Paramount Pictures will roll out an offbeat comedy starring Michael Douglas called “Wonder Boys.” Directed by Curtis Hanson (“L.A. Confidential”), the movie is based on a novel by Michael Chabon about a college English professor and onetime award-winning novelist named Grady Tripp (Douglas) who hasn’t had a thing published in years. Literate films are always welcome, but truth be told, movies based on literary works are a gamble for the studios. Paramount had high hopes for “Angela’s Ashes,” Frank McCourt’s moving autobiography about growing up poor in Ireland, but the film had only grossed about $10 million going into the weekend. “Snow Falling on Cedars” had made only $13.5 million for Universal Pictures as of last week. Miramax Films’ “The Cider House Rules,” based on John Irving’s bestselling novel, had grossed about $23 million going into the weekend, but it should do well after receiving seven Oscar nominations, including one for best picture. The Paramount/Miramax film “The Talented Mr. Ripley” has made more than $77 million, but that film had the star power of Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow. Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., says adapting movies from books has proven to be a mixed bag for studios. Many of the big blockbusters over the years have been rooted in books, including “Jurassic Park,” “Forrest Gump,” “Jaws” and “The Exorcist.” Why do some films adapted from books make hit films, while others don’t? “Movies that are based on books or novels are held up to greater scrutiny than other films because they have this built-in fan base,” Dergarabedian explained. “How often do you hear, ‘The movie was OK, but the book was better?’ ” Which begs the question, how might “Wonder Boys” do this weekend? “I don’t know how many people are aware of the book,” Dergarabedian said. “But maybe that can help because you don’t instantly have all these comparisons made.”

‘Total Request Live’ Has the Grammy Gift

And the big Grammy winner this year is . . . MTV? Sure, Carlos Santana appears poised to take home the most trophies at Wednesday’s 42nd annual Grammy Awards, but a quieter success story will likely belong to the music cable channel and its flagship show, “Total Request Live.” The program, known as “TRL” to its loyal viewers, has been ground zero for the 1999 explosion of teen pop and has become recognized as a potent industry launch pad for new stars. With a slew of nominations in major categories going to youth pop acts and other “TRL”-friendly artists this year, the show’s host, Carson Daly, says “TRL” will enjoy even more prominence. “It will help give us the validity we’ve been looking for,” says Daly, a former disc jockey for Los Angeles rock station KROQ-FM (106.7). “People have been talking about the phenomenon of the show and the impact [on music sales], but something as prestigious as the Grammys solidifies everything. . . . We’re going to be like proud parents sitting there watching.” And parents love family photos, which might explain why a dozen past “TRL” guests who got big boosts from the show--such as Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Jennifer Lopez, Goo Goo Dolls and Limp Bizkit--will gather today at a secret location in Los Angeles to be photographed for a “TRL Grammy Class of 2000” poster to be sold for charity. “TRL” will also set up shop in Los Angeles on Wednesday (giving a brief respite to Times Square in New York City, where fans create daily traffic snarls during tapings) for a two-hour Grammy episode. And what about rumors that Daly, who has become a teen heartthrob in his own right, may be mulling a departure from his “TRL” gig? “I’m not supposed to talk about it, but we’re in negotiations now. . . . I’m very optimistic about [staying] and very proud of ‘TRL.’ ”

--Compiled by Times staff writers