George Carlin

What's in a simple word? Only simple misunderstanding, stupidity, insensitivity or simple ruin.David Howard, an aide to Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, resigned this week after using the word "niggardly" to mean what it means: stingy, miserly. Some people were offended, as the word sounds very similar to a racial slur.Williams accepted the resignation, saying his aide showed poor judgment; an investigation is under way. Howard said he used the word to describe a fund he administers."Niggardly" generally tends to be avoided in speech and in writing.

Goodbye, February sweeps."Family Matters" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Suppose you could win big bucks on a game show by becoming Steve Urkel. Would it be worth it? ABC."Soap Opera Digest Awards" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- Readers of Soap Opera Digest reveal their favorites, in ceremonies beamed live from Universal City, Calif. Will somebody please give Susan Lucci an award? NBC."Sliders" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Roger Daltrey and Kari Wuhrer are the guest stars in this conclusion of a sweeps-month two-parter, as the sliders try to slide into a parallel world that, unlike the one they're on now, is not about to blow up. One of the sliders will slide no more after tonight.

Afederal appeals court ruling that challenges the Federal Communications Commission's authority to limit on-air cursing rightly questions the agency's rather inconsistent approach to what's decent or indecent on the air and scores a victory against government censorship. The FCC would do well to take a more hands-off approach to regulating broadcast language and to let consumers be the ultimate arbiters of what they want to watch. In the three decades since the agency succeeded in labeling indecent a 12-minute monologue by George Carlin that included dirty words on Pacifica radio, the FCC has variously been more and less aggressive in imposing decency standards depending on prevailing political winds.

Sarah Silverman says things you wouldn't expect a nice, attractive Jewish girl to say. But that's only half her appeal. In a week when we've said goodbye to the great Richard Pryor, it seems appropriate that we say hello to another in that line of incendiary comedians (in Pryor's case, unfortunately, that incendiary label became all too literal) who have specialized in pushing society's buttons and going where others do not dare to tread. It's a line that goes back at least as far as Lenny Bruce, continues through George Carlin and Pryor, and can now safely be said to include Silverman.

Neon colors and novelty shapes are not usually the hallmarks of quality food. So I was surprised last week when a colleague who is a serious foodie brought in a mix of peanuts, plain M&Ms and candy corn. I understood the M&Ms -- along with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, they're the only things I'm even tempted to steal from my kids' Halloween haul -- but candy corn? Really? "They just feel autumny," said John- John Williams IV, recalling how the tri-colored candies topped the Halloween cupcakes he had as a kid. "It reminds me of being young.

National best sellers from data gathered and reported by Publishers Weekly. The number in parentheses indicates last week's position and may be greater than 10 as PW lists the top 15. Fiction ........................................ ............................ Weeks on list 1. (2) The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom ...62 2. (3) The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown ..................................... 89 3. (-) A Salty Piece of Land, Jimmy Buffett .............................

Here is a list of the nominees in major categories of the Daytime Emmy Awards:2 Heather Tom, "The Young and the Restless," CBSYOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIESDondre T. Whitfield, "All My Children," ABCScott De Freitas, "As the World Turns," CBSBryan Buffinton, "Guiding Light," CBSMonti Sharp, "Guiding Light," CBS6* Roger Howarth, "One Life to Live," ABCPERFORMER IN A CHILDREN'S SERIESShari Lewis, "Lamb Chop's Play-Along," PBSLe Var Burton, "Reading Rainbow,"...

Why so many repeats tonight? Because the November ratings sweeps, the competitive period in which audience levels are used to set advertising rates for the next few months, just ended. The stakes are lower now; accordingly, so is the level of programming."Melrose Place" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45 ) -- Here's one show offering a first-run episode tonight, though -- one that continues the story line about Amanda's quest to reclaim something she's lost recently: her backbone. Fox."Oops!

Want to watch some good TV on this last weekend before Halloween? You don't stand a ghost of a chance.* "Inside America's Courts" (7:30-8 p.m., Channel 13) -- Baltimore, with its restrictive cameras-in-the-courtroom laws, gets one of its first in-depth looks at what such coverage can provide, as Court TV's syndicated series premieres this week on Channel 13. Two cases are summarized -- the second of which may well have you reaching a verdict different from that of the jury.* "2nd Annual Comedy Hall of Fame" (8-10 p.m., Channel 2)

A pair of sports events occupy the afternoon hours; Peter, Paul and Mary perform on public TV; and the movie selection is pretty good, too.* "PGA Championship" (2:30 p.m.-7 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- The fairways of the the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., are fringed with an exotic grass called kikuyu, making things tough in the rough. Follow the final rounds of the season's third major tournament, with a $1.75 million purse, today and tomorrow. CBS.* "World Track & Field Championships" (3 p.m.-6 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2)