CBS, WGBH win Peabodys

NEW YORK -- CBS News won a Peabody Award yesterday for its report on abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, a story anchored by Dan Rather and produced by Mary Mapes, who was later fired by CBS for her role in the story about President Bush's military service.

WGBH-TV's (Channel 2) ''American Experience" series also won a Peabody for its 2004 documentary ''Tupperware!," which examined why the plastic food container has become a cultural icon and ubiquitous product.

''Tupperware!," which was narrated by actress Kathy Bates, was coproduced by Blueberry Hill Productions and the Filmmakers Collaborative. It was written and directed by Watertown-based Laurie Kahn-Leavitt.

The George Foster Peabody awards, for broadcasting excellence in both news and entertainment, are given by the University of Georgia. Thirty-two awards will be handed out at the ceremony on May 16.

The controversy over CBS's discredited story about Bush's National Guard service played no part in the judges' determination that the Abu Ghraib report on ''60 Minutes II" deserved honor, said Horace Newcomb, Peabody Awards director.

''We feel that this story stood on its own merit," Newcomb said. ''It was really an important moment in television this year."

The Abu Ghraib story aired last April, while the story about Bush's military service ran in September. Mapes was fired in January 2005 and Rather was admonished for his role in the Bush story.

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart won his second Peabody Award, for his satiric take on the 2004 election campaign, while HBO's Western ''Deadwood" also won.

Stewart's show, which also won for its ''Indecision 2000" coverage, ''provides the kind of cathartic satire that deflates pomposity on an equal opportunity basis," judges said.

CNBC won its first-ever Peabody for an insider's look at Wal-Mart, and the networks Trio, Link TV, and Univision were also first-time winners.

HBO won three awards. Besides ''Deadwood," the pay cable outlet was honored for ''Beah: A Black Woman Speaks," a biography of actress Beah Richards, and ''Something the Lord Made," a documentary about two men who fight racial prejudice doing pioneering work in heart surgery in the South in 1944.

HBO's sister company, Cinemax, won two awards for documentaries.

The Peabodys also gave a rare individual award to Grant Tinker, former NBC chairman who was cited for fostering ''creative opportunities that led to some of television's most exciting work -- and workers."

Suzanne C. Ryan of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

CN8 taps comedian for live talk show

CN8, Comcast Corp.'s regional television network, announced yesterday the launch of a weekly 30-minute live talk show starring comedian Jackie Mason.

''The Jackie Mason Show" will air exclusively on CN8 on Mondays at 6 p.m., beginning April 25.

Mason will offer political satire and observations in a monologue and then take phone calls from viewers.

CN8 can be found on either Channel 3 or Channel 9 in Massachusetts.

SUZANNE C. RYAN

Globe on NECN

Here's what's happening on ''Around the Globe" today on NECN:

12:30 p.m.: ''Globe at Home" -- Tina Sutton, who writes about fashion for The Boston Globe Magazine, on what's hot on the streets.

4 p.m.: ''Around the Globe"

6:30 p.m.: ''New England Business Day"

8:30 p.m.: ''NewsNight"

Schedule is subject to change.

On Boston.com

Noon: Chat with two ''American Idol" finalists for the third season, LaToya London and George Huff.

Talk of the dial

8 a.m. WBIX-AM (1060) -- ''Stu Taylor on Business." Guest: Michael Gueiss, executive chef at Fenway Park, Aramark.

Other radio highlights

9 a.m. WCRB-FM (102.5) -- Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 19; Beethoven's Symphony No. 1; Baguer's Symphony No. 13.

6 p.m. WUMB-FM (91.9) -- ''Live Interview." Guest: Amelia White, pop/country singer-songwriter.