TELEVISION - July 14, 1993

Animation Extinct: A cartoon version of “Jurassic Park” has apparently gone the way of the dinosaurs. Fox Children’s Network President Margaret Loesch said Tuesday that there had been discussions about an animated series based on the hit film, but that “Jurassic” director Steven Spielberg was not interested. “There will not be an animated ‘Jurassic Park’ and that’s Steven’s decision,” she said.

*To Update or Not to Update: Chevy Chase and Steve Binder, executive producer of the comedian’s new late-night show for Fox, were caught off-guard by Fox’s announcement this week that Chase would be doing “Weekend Update”-type of promotional spots during Labor Day Weekend. Neither seemed happy about it, since the mock news reports that Chase made famous on “Saturday Night Live” are going to be a regular feature on the new show. “I want the first one to run during our premiere,” Binder said. A Fox spokeswoman said the short spots would be taped in advance to run between programs during the three-day period before Chase’s show premieres Sept. 7.

*Bakula and Bergen: With “Quantum Leap” behind him, Scott Bakula joins “Murphy Brown” this fall in a recurring role as a flamboyant reporter who CBS says will be a “competitive catalyst for change on ‘F.Y.I.’ ” The network admits there will be a strong “sexual tension” between Bakula’s character and Murphy (Candice Bergen). And Murphy’s baby will not be seen as much because of a behind-the-scenes belief he slowed down last season’s action.

*She’ll Be Back: Actress Shannen Doherty, whose off-screen exploits prompted speculation that she might not return to her “Beverly Hills, 90210” role next season, will join the other nine regular cast members for a full season when the show returns to Fox Sept 8. “There are no stipulations,” said Fox Entertainment Group President Sandy Grushow. “Everybody has agreed to do as many episodes as can be physically produced. It may be 32, it may be 33, it may be 35.” Most series only produce 22 episodes a season. . . . Meanwhile, a broadcast advisory committee in Singapore plans to recommend that “Beverly Hills, 90210” be banned from Singapore television after the current season. The committee believes the series’ portrayal of casual romantic affairs among its teen stars is a bad influence on Singapore youth.

THE ARTS

Expansion a Go: A Robert Venturi-designed expansion of the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, will proceed as planned, museum director Hugh Davies announced Tuesday. The project had been threatened by a lagging fund-raising campaign, but recent gifts, including a $500,000 grant from the Michigan-based Kresge Foundation and a subsequent anonymous gift of $1 million, helped the museum close in on its $10.5-million goal. The museum, designed by Irving Gill in 1916, will close to the public in January, 1994, for two years during construction. Exhibitions and other programs will continue at the museum’s downtown satellite gallery, which opened earlier this year.

*Shakespeare Claim Refuted: British Shakespeare experts said Tuesday that an ancient manuscript claimed this week to be that of “Cardenio,” a long-lost work co-written in 1612 by William Shakespeare, was not by the Bard at all. Newsweek reported Monday that document expert Charles Hamilton had used handwriting analysis to identify the manuscript, which was found in the British Museum Library. But according to Martin Wiggins of Birmingham University’s Shakespeare Institute, the manuscript is of a play known to experts as the “Second Maiden’s Tragedy,” written by dramatist Thomas Middleton, and identified by a censor’s stamp as having been written in 1611.

POP/ROCK

Idol Talks: Billy Idol’s 1991 arrest for hitting a woman in West Hollywood “had this double kind of awful meaning,” the rocker told “Entertainment Tonight,” because his mother works with battered women in England. Idol admits to “striking” the woman (he pleaded no contest to the charges and was fined $2,000 and ordered to seek counseling) and says the much-publicized incident was “the lowest moment in my career--scratch that--the lowest point in my life. . . . It was scary to see the worst side of yourself and then pretty scary watching everybody else see the worst side of yourself. I was very sorry for what happened.”

*Abdul Case: Jury selection began Tuesday in the much-publicized Paula Abdul “deceptive packaging” case in Los Angeles federal court. The case stems from a 1991 lawsuit filed by studio singer Yvette Marine against Virgin Records, the company that releases Abdul’s music, alleging that her voice was electronically combined with Abdul’s to create a composite lead vocal track on the pop star’s big hit “Opposites Attract.” Marine is seeking proper credit and compensation for what she calls the “unauthorized use” of her vocal contributions. The trial is expected to begin Monday.

QUICK TAKES

A tribute to the late Audrey Hepburn, featuring music from her movies including her rendition of “Moon River” released for the first time on record, was released Tuesday by Big Screen Records. . . . Tim Dang has replaced Nobu McCarthy as artistic director of East West Players, the Asian-American theater troupe.