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Amid all these grass-roots Internet efforts to lobby for newshowsheaded or already on the scrap heap - "Cupid," "VengeanceUnlimited,""Brimstone" - another, far better show teeters on the brink.

Production has wrapped up on the seventh season of NBC's"Homicide: Life on the Street," and there's a disturbing silencefromthe network about renewing the Emmy-winning drama.

Ever since its 1993 debut, "Homicide" has been nearly sent to themorgue at the end of the season.The show's tightly written, thoughtful plots and excellentcharacter sketches have attracted a loyal following, but"Homicide's"audience has never been huge by NBC standards.This year it ranks its usual third in the 10 p.m. Friday slot. Itdraws about 10.37 million viewers, compared to 12.5 million peoplewho watch the glib and fluffy "Nash Bridges" on CBS and the 14million news junkies who watch ABC's "20/20."What's hurting "Homicide" more this year are two new developments.One is the surprising popularity of "Providence," a saccharinefamily drama that is to NBC what "Touched By An Angel" is to CBS."Providence," at 8 p.m. Friday, combined with "Dateline" at 9, hasprovided two-thirds of what could be a ratings trifecta for NBC. Acouple of million viewers watch those two shows, then switch awayfrom "Homicide."That sort of falloff is nearly a guarantee of cancellation.Then there's the new head of programming at NBC, Scott Sassa. Hehas no vested career interest in keeping the show, and if he can puta more popular show in "Homicide's" slot, then he'll look like agenius.While next fall's schedule won't be set until May 17, there arereports of several shows that Sassa is considering that could bumpoff "Homicide."Among them "Chaos Theory," about three sisters in a college town,"Cold Feet," a marital drama about three couples - is three somesortof magic number in Hollywood? - and "The Others," a thriller about acollege freshman with psychic powers.Any of those could be terrific shows that will trounce "NashBridges" and "20/20," but the odds are against it.Here are some thoughts for Sassa:Keep one of the few intelligent shows on TV because its 10 millionviewers still represent a sizable audience in today's 100-channeluniverse.Plus, the network owns a piece of the show, and it's already insyndication - meaning NBC is making money on "Homicide," whichultimately is the name of the game.Make your mark at the top by being bold.Stick with a show that's really a winner.