LOS ANGELES — Whatever happens in The X-Files season finale, one thing is certain: Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) won't be killed off.

        Creator Chris Carter needs Mulder for the next The X-Files movie, which will be filmed whenever the TV series ends.

        “I've always thought of the movies as Mulder and Scully movies,” Mr. Carter said during a visit to The X-Files set at 20th Century Fox Television here.

        Mr. Duchovny returns to Fox's popular sci-fi series Feb. 25. He will appear in every April and May episode until the TV year ends.

        Exactly how the eighth season will conclude this spring is not known, says Mr. Carter, who has not signed a contract for a ninth season. But he's talking about it.

        Mr. Duchovny also hasn't signed for another year. But co-star Gillian Anderson and newcomer Robert Patrick are committed through the 2001-02 season.

        “I don't know if there's going to be a season No. 9. It all depends on the question of how we can make it good. It's for creative reasons, not financial reasons,” Mr. Carter explained on the set inside Stage 6 during a visit by members of the Television Critics Association.

        The X-Files plot thickens on Feb. 25 with the introduction of FBI Agent Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), who will appear in four of the final seven shows.

        Reyes, described by Mr. Carter as “more of a believer than a skeptic” about aliens, has been added to the cast for balance, he says.

        “We didn't want a triangle, with Mulder (Mr. Duchovny) and Doggett (Mr. Patrick) vying for Scully (Ms. Anderson),” he says. “I thought it was clunky with three people, and more even with four.”

        Mr. Carter says the May cliffhanger could set up the next season without Mr. Duchovny — or the next feature film with him.

        “I foresee it being Gillian and Robert next year (on TV), if there is a next year. We also have an option on Annabeth's services for next year,” he says.

        Gail Berman, Fox Entertainment president, is optimistic that her hit drama will return for fall.

        “We feel that the show has taken on a tremendous new energy this year,” she says. “We're certainly hoping that it will continue for next year.”

        Lone application: The X-Files will vanish into thin air for March so Fox can premiere The Lone Gunmen, a spin-off with the wacky conspiracy theorists.

        The Gunmen — Ton Braidwood, Dean Haglun and Bruce Harwood — have been the comic relief on The X-Files for two seasons.

        The one-hour comedy will air at 9 p.m. Sunday (Channels 19, 45) March 4-18. Fox has ordered 13 episodes.

        Mr. Carter will produce the series with X-Files writers Frank Spotnitz, Vince Gilligan and John Shiban.

        Riggi at WB: North College Hill native John Riggi (The Larry Sanders Show, Naked Truth, Dennis Miller) is producing a WB pilot, Young Person's Guide, based on the British fictional series about a group of young musicians wanting to be rock stars.

        Crichton controversy: The Michael Crichton drama announced by Fox at last winter's press tour has been quietly shelved by the network.

        The author and screenwriter (Jurassic Park, ER) has changed his mind about doing a Fox show, Ms. Berman says. “We were led to believe that Michael Crichton was going to do it,” she says.

        All that Jazz: Here are my Top 10 favorite songs in order of appearance from tonight's third episode of Ken Burns' Jazz (9 p.m., Channels 48, 54, 16),a film called “Our Language” (1924-28):

        “Heebie Jeebies,” Louis Armstrong's Hot Five, 1926; “St. Louis Blues,” Bessie Smith, 1929; “Clarinet Marmalade,” Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra featuring Bix Beiderbecke, 1927; “Since My Best Girl Turned Me Down,” Bix Beiderbecke, 1927; “Organ Grinder Blues,” Ethel Waters, 1928; “Kansas City Stomps,” Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, 1928; “Black and Tan Fantasy,” Duke Ellington, 1929; “Sugar,” Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, 1928; “Cream Puff,” Artie Shaw and His Orchestra, 1936; “West End Blues,” Louis Armstrong, 1928.

        Find the complete Jazz music list on Cincinnati.Com, keyword jazz.

        Talk show highlights: Actor Jim Gaffigan appears on Live With Regis (9 a.m., Channel 9); Richard Simmons guests on Rosie O'Donnell (3 p.m., Channel 5); Oprah's subject: abandoned as children (4 p.m., Channel 9); Tonight (11:35 p.m., Channel 5): George Clooney and Tracey Ullman; Late Show (11:35 p.m., Channel 12): Dennis Quaid and Eddie Brill.
       John Kiesewetter is reporting from the Television Critics Association's winter press tour. E-mail: jkiesewetter@enquirer.com.
       
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