Thanks a million.

That's what folks at WKRC-TV (Channel 12) and WXIX-TV (Channel 19) are saying to their networks for the huge late news ratings boost this month.

With one week to go in February sweeps, Channel 12 and Channel 19 are a solid one-two in weekday late news from the popularity of Fox's Joe Millionaire, CBS' $1 million Survivor game and two CSIs.

The Joe Millionaire finale Monday, watched by 35 percent of Tristate viewers, pushed Channel 19's 10 p.m. news into a strong second (to Channel 12) in the late local news ratings.

Channel 19's late news Monday drew a 14.9 rating and 21 percent audience share, beating Michael Jackson specials here on NBC (Channel 5) and ABC (Channel 9).

Monday's 10 p.m. news was second that hour to CSI: Miami on Channel 12, and the No. 2 late news behind Channel 12.

Channel 12 sits comfortably atop the late news race, averaging a 14.8 rating and 26 percent audience Monday-Friday. Channel 19 is second with a 10 rating and 15 percent share, followed by Channel 9 (9.2 and 16 percent) and Channel 5 (7.7 rating and 14 percent). Channel 19's news share is smaller at 10 p.m. because more sets are in use at that hour than 11 p.m.

The premiere of Survivor: The Amazon last week, coupled with a 90-minute CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, helped Channel 12 blow away the news competition last Thursday.

Channel 12's news drew a 20.8 rating and a 37 percent share of the audience Thursday, more than the combined audience for Channels 5 and 9 that night.

On Tuesday, Channel 12 also again won at 10 p.m., with Judging Amy beating NYPD Blue. Now you know why Channel 12's promotes "great CBS shows at 10 p.m.," followed by local news at 11 p.m.

Miami TV: Eric Rogers, a 1991 Edgewood High School graduate and 1995 Miami University graduate, wrote Tuesday's NYPD Blue. He's the son of Lana Rogers of Monroe and Randy Rogers of Middletown.

It's the second time in three weeks NYPD Blue was scripted by a Miami graduate. Greg Plageman from Forest Park wrote the Feb. 4 episode, his third this season.

And Chris Burgoyne, a 1992 Sycamore High School graduate and Miami grad, works on CSI: Miami special effects, reports his mother, Sandy, of Symmes Township. Burgoyne also worked on The X-Files with Matthew Mungle, the award-winning special effects director mentioned in my Feb. 3 CSI: Miami story.

Enquirering Mind: Today's guest Enquirering Mind, reader Peter Krimmer, wants to know: With the debut of Nia Vardalos' My Big Fat Greek Life on Monday after Everybody Loves Raymond, "what are they going to do with Still Standing? I hope they keep it on the air."

Don't worry, Peter, the sitcom will be still standing on CBS. Big Fat Greek Life moves on March 2 to its permanent time slot, 8 p.m. Sunday, paired with Ted Danson's Becker. CBS is just using Raymond, and Sunday's Grammy Awards, to launch the show based on the hit movie.

This just in: CNN broke away from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's Cincinnati address at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday for live coverage of men in a rowboat rescuing a dog trapped on ice in New Jersey's Passaic River.

Radio note: Ryan Aiken, the first person booted off Survivor: The Amazon talks to Chris O'Brien and Janeen Coyle at 7:45 a.m. today on WGRR-FM (103.5).

WGUC-FM news: Reducing pledge breaks paid off for WGUC-FM (90.9) during the winter fund drive completed Friday.

A total of $205,539 - more than $5,000 more than the goal - was pledged by 1,163 listeners, including more than 400 new members, when the station cut back "on-air pitching" from 99 hours a year ago to 54 hours, says Coleen Tracey, station publicist. More than 28 percent ($37,129) was raised on the Internet, she says.

TV today: Colin Powell answers questions from high school students on BET Open Mic: Secretary of State Colin Powell Speaks To Our Youth (8 p.m., BET).

Biography profiles writer James Baldwin(8 p.m., A&E).

An examination of slave skeletons in a New York cemetery reveals their appalling living conditions on Meet the Ancestors (10 p.m., Learning Channel).

Talk shows: Today's guests:

Regis and Kelly (9 a.m., Channel 9): Kevin Spacey.

Wayne Brady (10 a.m., Channel 9): Donny Osmond.

The View (11 a.m., Channel 9): Dennis Franz.

Good Day (Noon, Channel 64): Cast of What I Like About You.

Caroline Rhea (3 p.m., Channel 19): Trista Rehn and her boyfriend.

Larry King (9 p.m., CNN): John Hartman, brother of the actor Phil Hartman.

TV Data contributed to this report.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com