CBS to produce four-hour miniseries about the rise of Adolf Hitler

NEW YORK (AP) _ CBS has given producers the go-ahead to make a four-hour miniseries about the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, based on a best-selling book. <br><br>Although it may seem risky to commit so

Monday, June 10th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ CBS has given producers the go-ahead to make a four-hour miniseries about the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, based on a best-selling book.

Although it may seem risky to commit so much television time to a notorious villain, CBS said it believed this was an important project.

``I'd be lying if I said we aren't a bit nervous about attempting to examine one of history's most heinous characters, but in this age of megalomaniacal terrorism, we feel it is all the more important and relevant,'' said Ed Gernon, executive producer.

No air date has been set, and the cast hasn't been named. CBS is hoping to run the miniseries during a ratings ``sweeps'' month next television season.

CBS has already committed to miniseries next season on other historical subjects: the Salem Witch Trials and the arrest of former FBI agent Robert Hanssen on spy charges.

The Hitler miniseries is based on ``Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris,'' by historian Ian Kershaw, which looked at the society in which he rose to power.