The last time I caught up with Lucas Cruikshank, the Columbus teen had just become an Internet superstar, with the second-most subscribers (554,000) to his YouTube series, "Fred." That was in October.

Today, "Fred" is YouTube's most popular series, with a whopping 1.2 million subscribers, jumping to No. 1 a week after I profiled him.

His success hasn't gone unnoticed.

At 8 tonight, he will be featured on "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" on Time Warner Cable channel 32. Ellerbee will showcase kids who have created hit Internet shows in a piece called "Webstars: The Kids Behind the Hits."

Cruikshank plays Fred Figglehorn, a 6-year-old with anger management issues who uses his mother's video camera to post videos of himself on YouTube.

He created "Fred" more than two years ago as a last-minute idea for a Halloween-themed improvisational video. An audio program allowed him to speed up the audio, providing him with Fred's "distinctive" voice.

"Without the Internet, I'd probably just be a normal kid in Nebraska doing local plays or something," he tells Ellerbee. "It's really weird how much it's changed my life."

Across the remote

The following are quick reviews of some new summer fare:

"Merlin (The Series)," 7 and 8 p.m. today, NBC (channels 6, 106). The drama is an original story, focusing on the great wizard's teen years. We meet all the major players - Arthur, Gwen, Morgana, etc., in a show that's a tad too predictable but extremely family friendly. **1/2

"The Philanthropist," 9 p.m. Wednesday, NBC (channels 6, 106). James Purefoy is a billionaire with too much time and money on his hands. This is what makes the new NBC drama plausible. You can believe Purefoy's character is able to help people all over the world because he has the resources to do so.

The cast also includes Jesse L. Martin and Neve Campbell, and one of the executive producers is Tom Fontana, who is known for gritty dramas such as "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Oz." I can see this lasting longer than one summer. ***

"Royal Pains," 9 p.m. Thursday, USA (channels 27, 156). USA has another winner on its hands, with veteran TV actor Mark Feuerstein playing a blacklisted doctor who finds his niche helping the rich (and not so rich) in the Hamptons. It's fast, loose, funny and heartwarming - a summer must-see. ***

"The Listener," 9 p.m. Thursday, NBC (channels 6, 106). Craig Olejnik plays a telepathic paramedic who uses his abilities to help people. My question: How does he find time while on the job (and off it) to chase down leads? *1/2

* We lost two TV icons this week in Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett. I have very fond memories of both.

McMahon's "Heeeeerrrre's Johnny" introduction of Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" signaled my bedtime as a kid, but occasionally my parents would let me stay up to watch Johnny, Ed and Doc. Has there been a better No. 2 in TV history? I don't think so.

As for Fawcett, I didn't have the poster, but I sure as heck wanted it. I think my mom nixed the idea. Anyway, Fawcett and Suzanne Somers were the reasons teenage boys like me watched "Charlie's Angels" and "Three's Company," respectively. It sure wasn't for the "quality" of those shows.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.