NBC may blink
in TV match-up

NBC officials will be looking closely at tonight's ratings of "Hawaii," compared to its same time-slot competitor "Lost" on ABC. If "Lost" slams NBC's "Hawaii" for the second-straight week, the Peacock may move the cop drama to a later time or another night.

ABC will air the entire two-hour "Lost" pilot this Saturday. Sources say each hour-long episode of the drama costs between $3 million to $4 million. Day-to-day guidance of "Lost" is by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof ...

HVCB officials had been in discussions with "American Idol" producers for about four months to tape a one-hour Christmas show in Honolulu next month for a December broadcast. Fox canned the deal 10 days ago because of the high costs, despite the Bureau's offer of airline tickets, some accommodations and a possible free venue such as the Waikiki Shell, a source says.

The show would have starred the "AI" winners of the last three years, Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Barrino. Hawaii competitors Camile Velasco and Jasmine Trias would have served as hosts. Producers couldn't get a commitment from Clarkson or Aiken ...

The short film "Silent Years," produced and directed by James Sereno, will be featured at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. Sereno, a top local director who has done several commercials here, has founded Kinetic Films.

Also at next month's festival will be "Riding Giants," as part of the "Focus: Surf Cinema" showcase. Former Surfer magazine editor-turned-screenwriter Sam George says the biopic script for Sony Classics on big wave legend Greg Noll is due next month from Stacy Peralta, who wrote, directed and produced "Riding Giants." Much of the new film will be shot in Hawaii ...

Fox's "North Shore" begins its monthlong hiatus, returning Nov. 4 on a new night, Thursdays. Writers-producers Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts have a script commitment from the network and 20th Century Fox TV for a new drama, though it will not to be filmed in Hawaii ...

John Stockwell is at The WB studio editing his "Rocky Point" pilot. A final decision on whether it will be greenlit for further production is expected next month. "Rocky Point" could have either a March or June launch ...

Maui's Blaise Noto is working with Mel Gibson and Icon Productions on the Academy Awards' Oscar campaign for "The Passion of the Christ." Noto originally worked on the publicity for the blockbuster film ...