Hollywood Digest

, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- SCI-FI CHANNEL PLANS NEW BIG PROJECT

With a successful run for the 20-hour miniseries "Taken" under its belt, the Sci Fi Channel has plans for another huge project in 2003.

According to a report in Daily Variety, the cable channel will collaborate with Marvel Studios on an adaptation of the comic book "Strikeforce: Morituri" for a live-action drama series called "A Thousand Days."

"Taken" -- which aired over 10 nights from Dec. 2-13 -- made the Sci Fi Channel the No. 1 basic-cable outlet in prime time for both weeks that the Steven Spielberg-produced miniseries was on. There were times when Sci Fi even beat the WB and UPN in household ratings.

Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of the Sci Fi Channel's parent company Vivendi Universal Entertainment, told reporters it isn't likely that "Taken" will spawn a sequel.

"For my nickel, let's call it a great day, and go on to the next thing," said Diller.

LIZA AND DAVID FILE SUIT

Liza Minnelli and her husband David Gest are suing Viacom for $23 million, claiming breach of contract in the cancellation of their VH1 reality series.

The suit -- which is also aimed at Viacom's MTV Networks and the Remote Productions Inc. -- accuses the defendants of defaming Gest's character in statement to the media, including referring to him as a "control freak." VH1 suddenly canceled the show before it ever reached the air in October, citing disagreements with Gest about the way the show was being produced.

In court documents, Minnelli and Gest said their contract called for them to film 10 episodes of the show for $1.25 million. They said that after the production company shot more than 60 hours of their lives, the company "unlawfully terminated the contract."

TV HONCHOS WILL TRY HAND AT MOVIES

Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, one of the leading producers of TV comedies over the past two decades, has signed a deal to develop feature films for Paramount Pictures.

The deal calls for CWM -- which has turned out such TV hits as "The Cosby Show," "Roseanne," "That '70s Show" and "3rd Rock from the Sun" -- to focus on comedies for Paramount. The studio already has several comedies in the works for 2003 -- including a David Space movie about a former child actor and romantic comedy starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson.

ARSENIO HALL'S NEXT

CBS has announced that Arsenio Hall will host the network's new version of the long-running talent show "Star Search."

The network is bringing the show back in response to the revived interest in the talent show format sparked by this year's ratings hit on Fox, "American Idol."

"Star Search" will air live in prime time on CBS on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 8 and 9. The finale is scheduled for Feb. 6, with celebrity judges and viewers at home deciding who the winners are.

Winners in the adult singer, junior singer, comic and supermodel categories will each get $100,000.

Hall hosted "The Arsenio Hall Show" in syndication for six years.

GANDOLFINI'S NEXT?

According to published reports in Hollywood, "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini is in talks to star in a comedy with Ben Affleck.

"Surviving Christmas" is described as the story of a wealthy man (Affleck) who hires a family to give him a nice Christmas because he has so many personal problems he is incapable of enjoying the holidays himself. Gandolfini would play the head of the family-for-hire, which turns out to be even more dysfunctional than the man's real family.

NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY ADDS 25 TITLES

The Library of Congress has added 25 movies to the National Film Registry, including "From Here to Eternity" and "In the Heat of the Night."

The list announced Tuesday also includes Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi classic "Alien," John Singleton's breakthrough 1991 urban drama "Boyz N the Hood" and Rob Reiner's 1984 "rockumentary" "This Is Spinal Tap."

Also joining the National Film Registry: "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), "The Black Stallion" (1979), "The Endless Summer" (1966); "Lady Windermere's Fan" (1925); "Sabrina" (1954) and "This Is Cinerama" (1952).

The film registry now holds 350 titles.