Mind over matters
John Edward has discovered a novel way to brown-nose the boss.
The “Crossing Over With John Edward” host, who “connects” studio audiences with departed loved ones, sucked up to SCI FI chief Bonnie Hammer when she stopped by the Manhattan studios yesterday on the last day of production – with the fate of “Crossing Over” hanging in the balance.
Edward, knowing a good word from the boss never hurts, suddenly put Hammer “in touch” with her dead uncle.
Hey, every little bit helps.
Lopez sibs in morning
Jennifer Lopez’s visit to “The WB11 Morning News” on Tuesday sparked an impressive ratings spike in the show’s final quarter-hour.
Lopez, interviewed by her sister Lynda Lopez, was on the show in the last 15 minutes – when viewership jumped from 124,000 households at 7:30 a.m. to 151,000 households from 7:45 to 8 a.m.
VH1’s fall facelift
VH1’s award-winning “Behind the Music” series is getting a slight facelift as it enters its fourth season.
Insiders say the show, documenting the tragedies and heartbreak of rock stars, will debut Oct. 1 with a “new look” featuring revamped logos and graphics when it looks at Yussef Islam (Cat Stevens).
A “Behind the Music” fourth anniversary show airs Sept. 24 on VH1.
A passage to India?
Hey, Richard Belzer: Shamsher Wadud is trying to track you down.
Wadud, the founder/chairman of Nirvana restaurant, went to high school with Belzer (“Homicide,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) at Andrew Ward High School in Fairfield, Ct. in 1961 – but didn’t realize until recently that Belz had become a TV star on NBC.
Wadud wants to throw Belz a belated birthday bash at Nirvana – and can be contacted at 486-5700.
She’s no Asia minor
MTV Asia VJ G Toengi, whose first CD for Sony (“Very G.”) was just released, will begin a New York promo tour next week.
G has interviewed everyone from Ricky Martin to Gloria Estefan – and could end up doing some spots for MTV here in Gotham.
This just in . . .
“Maury” up 11 percent last month from July ’99.
Ronnie Milsap live today (7:30-9 a.m.) outside Fox News Channel (48th and Sixth).