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JUST ADDED: Kathie Lee Gifford delivers the Top Ten List on Thursday's "Late Show." Read it below.

Last one in the mud's a rotten egg!

"I'm obsessed with the dirty politics on 'Survivor,'" writes reader Rogers Cadenhead. "It's really the only thing that matters in deciding who gets the $1 million — forget all the bug-eating, raft-pushing, and rope-climbing. Everyone thinks Sean is an idiot because his public A-B-C strategy sent Jenna home. I think the guy's a genius. Why vote him off if (a) you can take advantage of his vote, and (b) the strategy makes him seem foolish, and thus less dangerous than his peers. This may be a case where he's accidentally brilliant, but I'm a 'Being There' fan, so I think that the best genius is sometimes entirely unintentional."

I couldn't agree more. In the early weeks of "Survivor," the big stories were who would eat the grubs. Who would eat the rats. No wonder I found myself watching the show indifferently. That's manufactured entertainment. But these intrigues and back-stabbings and surprise turns of fate as our dwindling band begins to close in on the million smackeroos — now that's entertainment. "Survivor" has become the third hour of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," only funnier.

And I have to say, it's even more enjoyable if you believe the scenario that has been mapped out by what we think are "Survivor's" accidental spoilers: the brief clip of what appears to be the final four contestants and, of course, the Web slipup that told us the winner. I mean, really, how did that person wind up winning it all?

Of course, you're free to enjoy the show on your own terms and argue with others about who will win "Survivor." That's fun, too.

"I'm rooting for Richard III to win it all," writes Daniel Murphy, who doesn't buy our spoiler theories. "I respect him as the one player who understands this is a game, and who remains focused on the objective. He's playing the game the way it's supposed to be played. If you want a friend, buy a dog."

* * *

Meanwhile, excerpts from the behind-the-scenes "Survivor" book, due out in September, are beginning to make the rounds. Among the revelations: Greg hammed it up at the tribal councils, to the continual annoyance of host Jeff Probst. And Richard wasn't the only gay contestant. Here's a good summary of the "Survivor" book's opening pages; it's spoiler-free.

(RATINGS: With 47 of 48 metered markets reporting, "Survivor" averaged a 27 share its first half hour and 29 share the second half hour. I wouldn't be surprised if that went up to a 30 share when Kansas City checks in. Our meter results were delayed, no doubt due to the fierce lightning storms that rattled the area all night.)

Another Kathie Lee countdown ...

... only this one will only take a minute or two instead of months and months and months. Less than 24 hours before abdicating her barstool on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee," Ms. Gifford made an appearance on Thursday's "Late Show with David Letterman" and read this Top Ten List:

"Things Kathie Lee Will Do with Her Free Time"

10. Sell on eBay all the crap I've stolen from the show.

9. Wait around for Letterman's heart to explode again.

8. Let's just say a lot of people will be surprised when Gore announces his running mate.

7. When new co-host discusses her two adorable children scream, "Who the hell cares?"

6. Six words: New York Senator Kathie Lee Gifford

5. See how fat I can get on nothing but Fritos and Schlitz

4. Produce a heart-warming family Christmas special every week of the year.

3. Think of something else to say instead of, "I have to wake up early" when Letterman asks if I watch his show.

2. Show Frank the kind of love he hasn't seen in 75 years.

1. Dave, can I crash here for a while?

Pick to click

Remember ABC's endless promotion campaign last season for "Once And Again"? (If you're an "NYPD Blue" fan, how could you forget? You had to cool your heels until January while ABC ran "Once and Again" in the "NYPD" time slot.) Well, here's all the good it did: According to Nielsen, "Once and Again" finished the season in a ratings tie for 58th place.

The show it was tied with? Would you believe "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (8 and 8:30 p.m., ABC), the low-budget improvisational comedy show with host Drew Carey. "Whose Line" was hardly ever promoted — and worse, it was buried in a Thursday-night time slot where many an ABC show has gone to die.

What made it such a hit? If you ask me, two words: Ryan Stiles. The lanky "Drew Carey Show" co-star is possessed of one of comedy's fastest minds. Pair that with a body made for physical humor and you have one of the loopiest, most sublime performers in the deceptively simple art of improv.

Other regulars on "Whose Line" include Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops and musical whiz Laura Hall. The original British version still airs in reruns on Comedy Central (and the Brits return the favor, carrying the U.S. version over there).

On this date...

in 1974, NBC evicts "Dinah's Place" after four seasons. The half-hour talk show was her third series with NBC. But rather than retiring to play golf, she'll soon find a new place in syndication with the 90-minute talk show "Dinah!" -- Tom Heald

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