Programming

Fuse claims the PR surrounding its video and recording contract for William Hung helped propel the talent-less crooner to #96 on Forbes’ annual "Celeb Power List." — Sundance Channel Sept 6 will run doc "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War." — The people who represent Britney Spears are launching a Christian take on "American Idol." (Have these people taken a good, long look at her lately?) Wright Ent is producing "Gifted," a squeaky-clean talent show/singing competition, slated to debut on TBN in Oct. — Bravo’s "Celebrity Poker Showdown" had its best hand of the season last Thurs, averaging 721K adults 25-54 (9-11pm), 52% above its 25-54 viewer total of the previous week and helping the network double its Thurs prime avg for the Q.— The Golf Channel replays Sun’s U.S. Open in a special tomorrow, 7pm ET. — ESPN and USGA finalized a 4-yr extension, keeping Bristol the exclusive cable partner of the U.S. Open, Women’s Open and Sr Open. The wide-ranging agreement covers TV, online, ESPN Zone, ESPN The Magazine and rights in Africa, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Latin Am and Mid East. (No word on whether rights for Gatorade’s ESPN the Flavor were involved.)