MOVIES - June 23, 1993

He/She on Film: “Pat,” the upcoming movie based on the popular androgynous “Saturday Night Live” character played by Julia Sweeney, is back on track again. The film, written by Sweeney and her husband, Steve Hibbert, was stalled when 20th Century Fox dropped it a few days ago. But Disney has picked up the reins, with Buena Vista set to distribute the film, which will be produced by Charlie Wessler. “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels will not be involved in the venture, and a director has not yet been set, Disney said.

Tonight, Sweeney will be joined by “Herman’s Head” star Yeardley Smith (also the voice of Lisa on “The Simpsons”) and Lynn Stewart of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” at the Groundlings Theater to headline a performance benefiting the L.A. County-USC Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

STAGE

A Deluxe Apartment on Stage: George and “Weezy” Jefferson, along with their acerbic housekeeper, Florence, are coming to a stage near you. The original cast from “The Jeffersons” TV show, including Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford and Marla Gibbs, are putting together a nationwide theatrical tour scheduled to begin this October, most likely in New Orleans. The show reprises three classic episodes from the 11-season Norman Lear series. Stay tuned for confirmed venues for “The Jeffersons ‘Movin’ On Up’ Tour,” which is billed as the first original television cast to be featured in a stage tour.

THE ARTS

Geldin to Head Wexner Center: Sherri Geldin, former associate director of L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art, has been named director of the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University in Columbus. Geldin’s appointment, which still must be formerly approved by the university’s Board of Trustees, will be effective Sept. 1. Geldin joined MOCA at its inception and was actively involved in the construction of the museum’s Arata Isozaki-designed building and the implementation of new administrative, programming and acquisitions policies. She will undertake a similar task at the Wexner Center, where the 3 1/2-year-old museum is housed in a controversial new building by Peter Eisenman.

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$1-Million Gift: The Anaheim-based Leo Freedman Foundation has awarded the Orange County Performing Arts Center a $1-million grant to support the center’s programming over the next five years. Thomas R. Kendrick, president of the center’s board, called the grant an “investment in protecting the center’s future.” The center plans to use the first year’s funds to support its dance series, Imagination Celebration, as well as a children’s arts festival and other educational and outreach programs.

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More Good Indicators: London dealers Tuesday cheered the $8.5-million sale of a Renoir painting of a young girl as a sign of long-awaited revival in the depressed international art market, but fell short of predictions of another 1980s-style boom. The Monday night sale at Christie’s, London, also brought $4.2 million for Modigliani’s “Tete de Jeune Fille” and $3.6 million for Matisse’s “Nu au Turban.” Art dealers said the sale confirmed a tentative market recovery seen last month when more than $110 million in works sold over a two-week period in New York.

TELEVISION

No Threat: Opening day of the morning ratings wars was no contest. KTLA Channel 5 crushed all-comers Monday including KTTV Channel 11’s brand-new local morning news show. In its premiere, Channel 11 managed just a 1.2 rating and 5% share of the audience between 7 and 9 a.m. compared to Channel 5’s 5.2 rating and 21% share for its popular two-hour morning program. Each rating point represents about 50,000 area homes. The three network morning news programs all trailed KTLA as usual, but they all easily beat KTTV’s premiere effort.

QUICK TAKES

No word on whether another Vanity Fair cover is planned, but “Indecent Proposal” star Demi Moore is pregnant again. The child will be the third for Moore and her actor-husband Bruce Willis. The couple has not disclosed the due date. . . . George Lucas is giving a rare interview on this morning’s “Today” show. The subject: the 20th anniversary of his 1973 hit film “American Graffiti.” The movie’s stars, Richard Dreyfuss and Cindy Williams, will also be interviewed. . . . Former basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will guest-host KNBC Channel 4’s “Hosted By” today and Thursday at 9 a.m. His guest today is music producer Quincy Jones. . . . “A Different World” star Kadeem Hardison will be at the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club today to tape “Teens Talk Violence,” a special for PBS’ teen magazine show “In the Mix.” The special will air sometime this fall.