Tuning In

Boxing double take

Spike TV gets into the boxing business tonight with a replay of this month’s Byrd-Golota battle.

The network for men will telecast the April 17 heavyweight bout between Chris Byrd and Andrew Golota at 9 tonight.

The two-hour program, titled “Knockout,” also will feature a behind-the-scenes peek at the boxing world through the eyes of promoter Don King, a show in and of himself.

The broadcast marks Spike TV’s first foray into championship boxing, a realm more typically associated with ESPN, Showtime and HBO on the cable dial.

The telecast also includes the April 17 fight between World Boxing Association heavyweight champ John Ruiz and challenger Fres Oquendo.

Byrd fought Golota to a draw in their match, letting him retain his International Boxing Federation belt. The fight marked Golota’s first return to Madison Square Garden since he was disqualified for hitting Riddick Bowe with repeated low blows eight years ago.

Reality pugilism

Speaking of boxing, Fox has decided the sport could be the next reality playground.

The network, following on the heels of NBC’s upcoming reality show “The Contender,” is gearing up to produce “The Next Great Champ,” Reuters News Agency reports.

The show will feature a dozen aspiring prizefighters from across the country hoping for a shot at fame and fortune.

Created in partnership with boxer Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and reality TV heavyweight Endemol USA, the show will hold casting calls in cities across the country for fighters between 130 pounds and 170 pounds who are either amateurs or have fought in pro fights of four rounds or fewer.

Each fighter will be accompanied on the series by a “cornerman,” a person, Fox said, who will be drawn from the fighter’s personal life.

The winner will receive a “large cash prize,” according to Fox, a possible title fight and a contract with Golden Boy.

In late February, NBC announced it would be stepping into the reality ring with its own boxing series, “The Contender,” from “Survivor” and “Apprentice” producer Mark Burnett.

The 16 fighters in that series will be mentored by “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone and boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and will compete for a $1 million prize.

’Matrix’ revisited

HBO viewers can check out the middle installment of the “Matrix” series as “The Matrix Reloaded” makes its pay-cable debut this weekend.

The second chapter in the trilogy picks up six months after the 1999 original left off. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is about to lead the rebellion against the machines threatening their humanity. Yawn away at the pretentious dialogue, but the film’s action set pieces are nothing short of spectacular.

“The Matrix Reloaded” debuts at 8 p.m. tomorrow on HBO.

Curtis finds ’Faith’

ABC’s minor hit “Hope & Faith” gets some additional star power tonight with a trio of guest cameos. Tony Curtis, Robert Wagner and former Playboy pinup Jenny McCarthy all drop by tonight’s installment of the Friday sitcom.

The episode, airing at 9 on ABC, finds Faith’s best friend (Miss McCarthy) involved in a May-December romance with Faith’s dad (Mr. Wagner).

Broadway bound

The average Broadway theatergoer probably surfs by “The Jerry Springer Show” as quickly as his or her fingers will allow.

Those two worlds are on a collision course nonetheless.

“Jerry Springer the Opera” is coming to Broadway, but not until the fall of 2005, Associated Press reports.

The raunchy London hit about the American talk-show host will open Oct. 20, 2005, at a theater to be announced, producer Jon Thoday told AP.

First, though, the $13.9 million production will play San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre for six weeks starting at the end of February or the beginning of March 2005, the producer said.

“Going to San Francisco gives us a chance to work on the show if we need to improve it,” Mr. Thoday said. No cast has been set for the American production, and Mr. Thoday has not ruled out hiring Michael Brandon, an American who originated the role in London.

“Jerry Springer,” created by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, opened last April to rave reviews at the National Theatre in London and later transferred for a commercial run to the Cambridge Theatre, where it is still playing.

The production, which won the Olivier Award (the British equivalent of the Tony Award) for best musical, features tap-dancing Ku Klux Klansmen, rude language and a never-ending parade of lowlifes and freaks. In the musical, Springer is shot at the end of the first act and gets dragged down to hell.

The real-life Mr. Springer gave the production his seal of approval, though he distanced himself from his own portrayal.

“It’s a persona, and they did it remarkably well,” he said. “As an opera, it’s perfect.”

Compiled by Christian Toto from staff and wire reports.