KCET GETS $600,000 FROM FOUNDATION

The W. M. Keck Foundation has bestowed a $600,000 grant on KCET Channel 28 to pay for the acquisition of “Sesame Street,” “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour” and other national programs, and to buy a new 24-track audio console, the station said Wednesday.

The foundation, established by the late founder of the Superior Oil Co., has been a strong supporter of KCET in recent years.

“Their generous grant helps ensure quality programming on a daily basis and enhances the station’s ability to serve our growing audiences,” said William H. Kobin, KCET’s president.

NEW TIME: KNBC Channel 4 plans to juggle its early-morning programming lineup, starting next week.

The station said Wednesday that its local newscast, “Today in L.A.,” will change time periods with the NBC News program “Sunrise.” “Sunrise” will air weekdays at 6 a.m., followed by “Today in L.A.” at 6:30 a.m.

“Before Hours,” a 15-minute report from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal about business news, will join the Channel 4 lineup March 2 at 5:45 a.m.

COMINGS AND GOINGS: Former talk show host David Frost, who has a knack for landing interviews with prominent people, is joining “Entertainment Tonight” as a special correspondent. . . .

Susan Howard, who plays Donna Krebbs Ewing on “Dallas,” says she’s been told by the producers that they won’t be bringing her back to the soap opera next season because her character’s divorce from the Ewing family will have become permanent, making her extraneous to the story. . . .

Pat O’Brien has rejoined KCBS Channel 2 as co-anchor of the station’s 7 p.m. newscast after spending the last few years at CBS Sports. He will continue to do a daily sports report for CBS Radio and also will anchor “At the Half” for CBS’ professional basketball telecasts.

HEAVY HITTERS: KCBS’ lightweight “2 on the Town” has lined up some heavyweight directors to work for it.

The Channel 2 magazine series has invited prominent film directors to make short pieces about life in Los Angeles.

About a dozen have expressed interest to date, a KCBS spokeswoman said, and the first program to feature their work will air Feb. 2. Included in that installment will be pieces by Amy Heckerling (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Johnny Dangerously”) and Tobe Hooper (“Poltergeist”).

RENEWED: “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which received critical praise when it joined the CBS lineup last fall, will be returning to the Saturday-morning schedule for a second season, the network says. The wacky comedy is CBS’ only live-action weekend show for children.