In discussing his new, "perfect" cell-phone number on "Scrubs" last Tuesday, surgeon Chris Turk (Donald Faison) remarked, "If you call Turk, you get Turk."

Turns out that's true in real life as well. Usually, anyway.

Fans and curious TV critics who dial Turk's phone number, 916-CALL-TURK, get a taped message from Faison, in character, thanking them for calling and encouraging them to keep watching "Scrubs." "I couldn't come to the phone right now, but you've called Turk," the message says. "And that's a great thing, I'll tell you that much."

The show's cast is having some fun with the number, too. A Zap2it.com staffer called the number Wednesday afternoon, only to hear this live voice on the other end: "You've called Turk, Dr. Kelso speaking." (Flustered by this turn of events, the Zap2it staffer mumbled something about having the wrong number and hung up as Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) chuckled.)

Turk's message also notes that "Scrubs" is moving from 9:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays in the near future.

Turk's number is at least the second real phone number to be included in a prime-time TV episode this season, instead of the fake 555-numbers usually used in TV and movies. Earlier this season, Luke (Scott Patterson) left his cell number, 860-294-1986, on a message for Lorelai (Lauren Graham) in a "Gilmore Girls" episode. The number leads to a message from Patterson urging support for a new children's facility at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital.

(Zap2it.com)

Fox News elected winner

The Nov. 2 election proved very good for President George Bush, the Republican Party and Fox News Channel. Buoyed by two days of programming strength, FNC ruled the cable ratings roost for the week ending Nov. 7.

Overall, Fox News Channel averaged 3.27 million viewers per night in prime time, comfortably ahead of second-place TNT, which drew 2.33 million, and ESPN, third with 2.27 million viewers. USA Network came in fourth for the week with 2.21 million viewers and Lifetime was close behind with 2.05 million. CNN got a minor boost from the election, taking ninth with 1.73 million viewers.

Of the programs in the basic cable Top 15, FNC had nine, including seven different hourly segments from Tuesday night. The most watched hour came at 9 p.m., as the network drew 8.34 million viewers, with 7 p.m. coming in as the least watched hour with 5.28 million for No. 15.

(Zap2it.com)