John Katsilometes on the more exclusive cable audience that will tune into Miss America on CMT

kats@lasvegassun.com

Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 | 10:28 a.m.

Over the past several years millions of TV viewers have missed Miss America.

Consider these numbers when gauging the success of Saturday's pageant at the Aladdin, to be broadcast on CMT: The most recent pageant, held in September 2004 and broadcast on ABC, drew its lowest Nielsen ratings with a total audience of 9.8 million. A decade earlier 20.9 million watched the pageant. In 1984 the total audience was 28.9 million - about three times higher than in 2004.

Because of the more limited reach of basic cable, there is no chance of this year's pageant approaching even the '04 numbers, CMT Vice President of Programming and Development Paul Villadolid said at a news conference Tuesday at the Aladdin.

Villadolid added that the "bench mark" for success on CMT would be "The 2005 CMT Music Awards," which drew the highest ratings in the cable channel's history - 2.9 million total viewers.

By comparison, the debut of "American Idol," one of the contest-based shows largely blamed for usurping Miss America's audience, drew 35.5 million viewers to its debut on Fox. Villadolid and Miss America President and Chief Executive Officer Art McMaster said it was too early to determine the specific ratings numbers on CMT that would be deemed a success - or what, in general, would be required to return the pageant to Las Vegas.

"We're just trying to get to Sunday," McMaster said.

NoteMart

Conversely, I am an organ donor: Southern Nevada Music has donated two grand pianos to Saturday's Miss America pageant. Southern Nevada Music donates pianos to several events and organizations throughout the year, including Nevada Ballet Theatre, Community College of Southern Nevada and UNLV ...

Oh, Pam!: I picked up the lunch tab of Pamela Anderson on Wednesday. Seriously, I sat down for lunch with a friend at PT's Gold on Jones Boulevard and Interstate 215, and the bill from the previous diner was still on the table, tucked in a little padded book. I checked it out and it read "Pamela Anderson," who ran up a $30.51 tab with an order of two Thai peanut salads, an iced tea and a diet Pepsi.

But upon further review I was informed it was not the famous Pam Anderson, just someone with a coincidentally (sometimes unfortunately so) famous name ...

Newton moves: If you missed Wayne Newton on "Nightline" Thursday night, you didn't actually miss him. ABC said his segment, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to tonight; he's discussing his role with the USO ...

Pure genius: Might he become our next Dennis Rodman? Self-aware wide receiver Terrell Owens hosts his Super Bowl party on Feb. 3 at Pure, the fabulous nightclub inside Caesars Palace. A year ago Owens actually played in the game ...

"Hello? Instant pedestrian here." Passed along by a keen-eyed cohort this week is literature from the DMV - which rivals Pure in the area of line lengths - that informs prospective drivers, "Cellular phone usage during a drive test will result in automatic failure." Pardon me while I stand and applaud ...

Eat the meatles: According to a creatively crafted news release, "competitive eating's finest gurgitators" will be in town Saturday at the Plaza to attempt to devour the resort's 9-pound Big Daddy Burger at the "Plaza Casino Big Daddy Burger Eating Contest." Taking part in the event, set for 1 p.m., will be Las Vegas favorite Rick "The Locust" LeFevre.

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at 259-2327 or 812-9812, or at kats@lasvegassun.com.