SHORT TAKES : Buchwald Lines Up Witnesses

Humorist Art Buchwald will call several prominent Hollywood writers, including director-screenwriter Billy Wilder, as expert witnesses in his plagiarism lawsuit against Paramount Pictures Corp.

In the $5-million suit, set for trial in state court next month, Buchwald contends that the Eddie Murphy movie “Coming to America” is similar to an idea called “King for a Day” that the columnist came up with in 1983.

Both stories involve African princes who come to the United States and fall in love.

The studio has denied the plagiarism allegations. Late last month, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Harvey Schneider denied a motion by Paramount to dismiss the lawsuit.