“Law & Order,” which will feature Chevy Chase playing a hate-filled Mel Gibsontype character, has now set its sights on the late Patsy Ramsey – with Liza Minnelli in the starring role.

Minnelli will guest star on an upcoming episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” titled “Masquerade,” as Debby Harner, a former beauty queen whose daughter Ashleigh is found murdered on Halloween night 1992. The case returns to the public spotlight when “a pedophileinexile” confesses to the murder. The plot bears a remarkable similarity to the still-unsolved JonBenet Ramsey murder case.

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Thursday’s episode of The CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” (Tyra Banks) soared on Ch. 11, notching an 11.7 rating among women 18-34 from 8 to 9 p.m. – higher than all of the timeslot competitors combined. CBS’ “CSI: NY” also continued to roll, winning the 10 p.m. race (nationally) with 16 million viewers – nearly a 10 million viewer advantage over NBC’s “Kidnapped.” Barbara Walters’ “20/20” interview with Steve Irwin’s widow, Teri, averaged 13.3 million viewers.

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Donald Bellisario, who’s created quite a few prime-time hits (“JAG,” “Quantum Leap,” “Magnum: PI,” “NCIS”), is giving something back to his alma mater, Penn State.

Bellisario has endowed $1 million to Penn State’s College of Communications that, when matched by the school, will generate $100,000-per-year for scholarships.

Bellisario graduated from Penn State in 1961.

Last, but not least:

* CNN’s Alina Cho one of the Celebrity Sous Chefs tonight at Project by Project’s 8th Annual Food & Wine Tasting Benefit at The Copa.

* Sarah Wynter (“Windfall”), Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers & Sisters”) at JC Penney’s Ambrielle lingerie launch party last night at Chelsea Art Museum.

* Tomorrow on Ch. 21 (9:30 p.m.): “Visions of Puerto Rico,” narrated by actress Miriam Colon.

* Veteran CBS News reporter Jim Stewart will retire Nov. 16 after 16 years.

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* NBC has pushed back the season premiere of “Crossing Jordan” (right) to make way for a new game show called “1 vs 100” starring Bob Saget. The game show will start in late October. No new start date for “Jordan.”