NBC and Jon Stewart do some networking

New York Daily News - New York, NY, USA - NBC's top brass may be on the hunt for Jon Stewart.

NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios co-chair Marc Graboff recently met with Stewart and his agent, according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine.

The magazine, citing a network source, said the NBC officials didn't pitch specifics and described a meeting as "exploratory."

Stewart's deal to host "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central runs through 2008.

NBC is seeking to plan its late-night future in 2009, when Conan O'Brien will move from the 12:30 a.m. slot to take over "The Tonight Show," unless something changes.

Richard Huff

Comedy's golden age

Barbara Walters is reaching out to several New York comedians to get insight for an ABC prime-time special on aging and scientific research into living longer than ever.

Walters and her crew will tape two standup showcases tomorrow (7 and 9 p.m.) at Comix, 353 W. 14th St. Steve Hofstetter hosts, with performances by Ted Alexandro, Ellen Cleghorne, Sue Costello, Tom Cotter and others. For information, call (212) 524-2500.

Sean L. McCarthy

Dots all ...

CBS' "Big Brother 8" has teamed with Showtime to give viewers more of what they could want: unrestricted spying. July 5 will mark "Big Brother's" premiere on CBS, but Showtime is also launching "Big Brother, After Dark," a live feed from inside the "Big Brother" house available from 12-3 a.m. every night on Showtime's SHOTOO channel. In previous seasons, CBS offered live feeds only on its Web site. ... Jesse L. Martin will return to NBC's "Law & Order" next season, his ninth, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Cristina Kinon