by David Goetzl,

WITH COLLEGE RATINGS EMERGING AND a cadre of cable networks increasingly interested in capturing younger audiences who may view TV outside prime time, male-targeted Spike is launching a new late-night comedy series.

Called "MANswers," the nine-episode series coming this fall is billed as an attempt to ask the taboo questions males wish to know answers to, but are afraid to ask. Examples could include how long can one survive on beer alone, and can a drug test be beat?

In the half-hour episodes, the show raises the "off-limits" issues and seeks to "educate" viewers on the answers through expert commentary, interviews and other research tactics.

"At the end of a hard day, why think about real life issues when you can find out how to blow up an implant?" said Sharon Levy, senior vice president-alternative programming at Spike.

Besides Spike, TBS is placing an even bigger bet on late night with a second season of comedy "10 Items or Less" and the launch of "The Frank Show," a sketch comedy with noted Impressionist Frank Caliendo. And a project with Bob Newhart is in development.

With the backdrop of college kids' viewing behavior and others who orient their principal viewing hours outside of the tried-and-true 8 to 11PM, Turner sales chief David Levy said recently, "We are focusing on original programming in the late night area."

And Spike corporate cousin Comedy Central is unspooling "Web Shows," a half-hour late-night show reversing the traditional TV-to-Internet migration by using original programming from comedycentral.com and AtomFilms.