THE red-hot Michael Jackson wars just got hotter.

In a bid to head off ABC’s likely re-airing of its high-rated Michael Jackson special on Monday night, NBC is expanding its one-hour “Dateline” on the pop star’s plastic surgery to two hours, the network said.

The special edition of “Dateline” will now run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., preempting “Third Watch.”

Meanwhile, ABC has made a deal for a second airing of “Living with Michael Jackson,” sources say, but has held off on an airdate. If the network goes with 9-11 p.m. Monday, it could be preceded by a one-hour ABC News special on Jackson at 8 p.m.