It’s a ‘Dog’s’ life

OK, so maybe A&E has its head way up where the sun don’t shine when it comes to “Biography” selections – but that hasn’t affected its other programming acumen.

Take, for instance, Tuesday’s back-to- back episodes of “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” starring Dwayne “Dog” Chapman and his clan. The episodes averaged 2.7 million viewers from 10 to 11 p.m. – with the 10:30 episode, “Hide and Seek,” snaring nearly 3 million viewers to set a personal record among adults 25-54 and 18-49. It also ranked as one of the top 10 primetime shows ever aired on A&E.

Speaking of ratings, perennial time slot winners “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” have been picked up through 2010 by many ABC-owned stations, including Ch. 7 – while Tuesday’s season finale of “Nip/Tuck” on FX, featuring Joan Rivers, snared 5.2 million viewers to become the most-watched original series episode in network history.

Last, but not least:

* Fox News Channel snared a winnning 7.8 million cable viewers for Tuesday’s Cheney-Edwards debate – more than CNN (3.3 million viewers) and MSNBC (1.5 million viewers) combined.

* CNBC’s Liz Claman moderates a panel at The 100 Best Companies Work Life Congress today (noon).

* Saturday on Ch. 7 (7:30 p.m.): “Breast Cancer: The Power of Information.” Diana Williams, Stacey Sager host the special.

* Cameron Blanchard has been promoted to vice president, NBC Entertainment Publicity, East Coast.

* Tonight on “Extra” (7 p.m./Ch. 4): The first look at the Ben Affleck/James Gandolfini flick, “Surviving Christmas.”

* ABC’s “World News Tonight” (Peter Jennings) trav els to Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania Oct. 18-21.

* Cardinal Games will begin marketing “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City” trivia games beginning in June and July ($19.99 apiece).

* First Lady Laura Bush “locked in” as a guest on “Live with Regis & Kelly” Oct. 19 (9 a.m./Ch. 7).

* Emad Ashgar named managing editor at Ch. 2.

* Now he’s even more sleep-deprived: Congrats to “GMA” executive producer Ben Sherwood and wife Karen on yesterday’s arrival of William Richard.