A Chippendale 'Pirate'

CBS yesterday announced the 16 contestants for its new Mark Burnett "reality" series, "Pirate Master," which premieres May 31 and includes the usual "Survivor"-like assortment of bartenders and Los Angeles-based types.

In other words, people whose occupations could be code for "actor."

There's also an ex-NFL player, Nigerian-born Christian Okoye, a onetime running back with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The closest thing we have to a local is Christa DeAngelo, 29, of Tamaqua, Pa., who's labeled "ex-military."

Keep your eyes peeled, though, for John Lakness, 25, of Carlisle, Mass., who's described by CBS as a "scientist/Chippendale dancer." Now there's a skill set that should come in handy aboard a pirate ship.

PBS has ordered a first season of "Wired Science," a production of Los Angeles' KCET-TV and Wired magazine that's scheduled to premiere in October.

You may not care, but if there are tweens in your house, they probably will: The Disney Channel's long-awaited "High School Musical 2" will premiere Aug. 17.

Followed, no doubt, by much screaming and singing - and, of course, massive amounts of CD-buying. Consider yourself warned. *