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TUBE TALK The Nielsen ratings this week looked a lot like Game Six of the World Series; like the Diamondbacks' 15-2 victory over the Yankees, it wasn't even close. Fox's week, which included the final five games of the series, averaged 21 million viewers, almost as many as the next two networks combined. It was Fox's best week since the 1999 Super Bowl, and the fourth-best week in Fox's history. The nail-biting final game on Sunday was the week's top-rated program, drawing 39.1 million viewers. Though only 17.1 million watched the Emmys on CBS opposite the game, that was enough to push CBS into second place for the week, with an average of 12.9 million viewers. NBC was third (12.3 million), followed by ABC (9.7 million), UPN (4.8 million), and the WB (4.1 million)....

Fox has another potential crowd-pleaser on its schedule with the Billboard Music Awards in December. Performers scheduled to appear include Jennifer Lopez, Sean ''P. Diddy'' Combs (and wouldn't you love to be backstage when they run into each other?), 'N Sync, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, blink-182, Shaggy, Creed, Pink, Godsmack, and Aaron Carter. The ceremony airs live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 4.

The busy Creed will also show up on ''My VH1 Music Awards '01,'' to air live two nights before the BMAs. Also appearing will be Mick Jagger, Sting, Nelly Furtado, Lenny Kravitz, Destiny's Child and No Doubt. Wayne Brady will emcee the interactive ceremony, in which viewers may suggest categories, nominate finalists, and vote for winners up to the last minute....

Who says reality programming is dead? CBS has ordered a second season of ''The Amazing Race,'' to air next summer. MTV has ordered an 11th season of ''Road Rules'' and a 12th season of ''The Real World.'' Where would producers like to house next year's ''Real World'' roomies? Vegas, baby, Vegas!...

Given the production turmoil on Hank Azaria's midseason replacement sitcom, you'd think he was a ''Seinfeld'' alumnus. He's starring in and co-executive producing the aptly-titled ''The Hank Azaria Show,'' in which he plays a sitcom writer whose fantasies come to life. However, the show shut down production this week with the departure of co-executive producer Seth Kurland, who left over the usual creative differences with the star. The show is expected to resume shooting as soon as a replacement is hired.


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