Tuning In

Costas’ ’Record’ range

Bob Costas may get a bit verbose when he’s behind the mike during a baseball telecast, but even the toughest scout will admit the guy’s got range.

Just look at his lineup for tomorrow night’s “On the Record With Bob Costas,” his HBO talk show.

The program, now in its fourth season, welcomes “CSI’s” William Petersen, “The Passion of the Christ’s” Jim Caviezel (whose new film, “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius,” opens tomorrow) and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The HBO chatfest airs Friday evenings at 11, with repeat broadcasts at 10 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Monday.

Let’s ’Twist’ again

“Twister,” the movie that made us believe a cow could fly, heads to NBC this weekend.

The 1996 box-office hit airs Saturday evening at 8 — for those who decide to pass up a night on the town.

The special-effects-heavy film stars Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt as scientists tracking down the most destructive weather front ever to hit Middle America. Director Jan de Bont (“Speed”) maximizes the action but spares little time for nuance.

’Tru’ finale?

“Tru Calling,” one of many shows on the proverbial bubble regarding its future, pleads its case tonight with a two-hour season finale.

The Fox show, which stars Eliza Dushku as a woman who can save those who died untimely deaths by reliving their final days on earth, hasn’t set ratings afire.

Still, the show’s concept intrigues, and Fox hopes the late addition of former “90210” heartthrob Jason Priestley will persuade viewers to give it a try.

Tonight’s season finale finds Tru grappling with the fate of someone who isn’t a stranger — usually the case — but a person dear to her heart.

“Tru Calling” airs at 8.

’Live’ Lohan

Rising star Lindsay Lohan gets to showcase her comedy chops this weekend as the host of “Saturday Night Live.”

Miss Lohan, who impressed in last year’s sleeper hit “Freaky Friday,” will be joined by musical guest Usher. Both are making their “SNL” debuts.

While Miss Lohan could sparkle as guest host, her appearance is more likely tied to her work in “Mean Girls,” the new comedy written by “SNL’s” brainy beauty Tina Fey and produced by “SNL” head honcho Lorne Michaels. The film opens tomorrow.

Miss Lohan recently starred in “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.” Her “Mean Girls” feature is a sly look at the cruel caste system in the modern high school.

Usher will perform music from his latest No. 1 album, “Confessions.”

“Saturday Night Live” airs Saturday at 11:30 p.m.

’Restaurant’ limps

Not every show Mark Burnett touches turns to ratings gold.

The producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” is watching another of his creations, NBC’s “The Restaurant,” limp out of the gate for its second season.

The NBC reality show set in a Manhattan eatery served just 6.5 million viewers, or less than a third of the regular audience for “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, Fox has another reality hit on its hands with the makeover series “The Swan,” which had the network’s highest ratings outside of “American Idol” and “24.” Once more, the show critics despise is becoming a hit with viewers.

On NBC’s fading “must-see TV” front, “Friends” drew 22.6 million viewers last Thursday.

CBS won the ratings week, averaging 11.7 million viewers (7.8 rating, 13 share). NBC was second with 11 million viewers (7.3, 12) but won among the 18-to-49-year-old viewers sought by advertisers. Fox had 8.8 million viewers (5.6, 9), ABC 7.1 million (4.7, 8), WB 3.4 million (2.3, 4), UPN 2.8 million (1.9, 3) and Pax TV 910,000 (0.6, 1), according to Nielsen Media Research.

A ratings point represents 1.084 million households, or 1 percent of the nation’s estimated 108.4 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

For the week of April 19 through 25, the top five shows, their networks and viewerships were: “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 23.4 million; “Friends,” NBC, 22.6 million; “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 21.2 million; “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 21.2 million; “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 21 million.

Compiled by Christian Toto from staff and wire reports.