MOVIES - Sept. 6, 1993

Taming ‘The River Wild?’: Environmental groups are going up against Universal Pictures’ “The River Wild” again. On Friday, two groups appealed to the film’s star, Meryl Streep, to abandon filming part of the movie on a protected section of Oregon’s Rogue River. The Oregon Natural Resources Council and Wilderness Watch also said they would ask the U.S. Forest Service to overturn permits granted to Universal that allow jet boats, helicopters and other gear in a federal wilderness area. In response, Universal issued a statement calling the group’s charges “insulting.” The studio said it’s committed to a “leave-no-trace” ethic in location shooting and has worked closely with local groups and the Forest Service. Last month, environmentalists settled a disagreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management about the movie filming on another section of the river. The film stars Streep as a woman who takes her family on a river rafting expedition to bring them closer together.

*Actor Survives Fatal Crash: Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham was released from a hospital in Wenatchee, Wash., on Sunday after a short stay following a two-car, weekend traffic accident that killed the driver of the other car. Guy E. Ketzenberg, 28, of Fall City, Wash., died at the scene, 19 miles from Wenatchee. Abraham, 53, reportedly was alone in his car and suffered a fractured wrist and facial lacerations. The actor, known for his role as Salieri in “Amadeus” and currently appearing in the chess movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” was in the area working on the film, “Surviving the Game.”

RADIO

In the Marketplace: David A. Brancaccio, London bureau chief for “Marketplace,” has been named to take over as host and senior editor of American Public Radio’s daily news program about business and finance. Brancaccio, 33, has been in the program’s London position since 1990, and earlier worked at stations in San Francisco and Washington. “Marketplace,” which is produced at USC and is heard locally on KUSC-FM (91.5), KCRW-FM (89.9) and KPCC-FM (89.3), previously was hosted by Jim Angle, who left earlier this year for a job at ABC.

TELEVISION

Playboy Talk: “Who’s On Top?,” a new talk show about sex and relationships in the ‘90s, will premiere Nov. 6 on the Playboy TV network. Hosted by former “NBC Nightly News” correspondent Eric Burns, the show will feature “Saturday Night Live” alum Nora Dunn taking the female perspective as she faces off against Playboy magazine’s “Men” columnist Asa Baber with the male perspective. Guest experts in such fields as medicine, psychology, show business and the arts will also appear.

*Home Sweet Home: It may be the only television market in the country without a local station carrying David Letterman’s new show, but his reference to Sioux City, Iowa, was heard there anyway. Letterman used Sioux City as the mythical home office, source of the famous Top Ten lists, on the “Late Show” last week, his first on CBS. So Mayor Jim Wharton offered Letterman use of City Hall and invited him to town. The mayor also unveiled a temporary home office sign.

AWARDS

Accolade Time: Placido Domingo, actress Elizabeth Pena, ballet dancer Fernando Bujones and artist-writer Guillermo Gomez-Pena were honored Sunday by the Los Angeles Music Center for their contributions to theater and dance during the third annual Viva Los Artistas! Performing Arts Awards, which celebrates Latino performers. . . . Canadian Opera snatched the world’s largest festival prize over the weekend--the Hamada award at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland. The Toronto-based company won the $75,000 prize for its Bartok and Schoenberg double bill.

QUICK TAKES

The Mark Taper Forum has announced dates and titles for two special presentations this fall. Monologuist Eric Bogosian will bring his new “Pounding Nails in the Floor With My Head” to the Taper, Nov. 3-14, and the Latino comedy trio Culture Clash appears in “Carpa Clash,” Dec. 5-19. . . . Country star Clint Black has written and recorded the title theme for the upcoming CBS series “Harts of the West,” starring Beau Bridges with guest appearances by his father, Lloyd Bridges. It premieres Sept. 25. . . . Speaking of theme songs, Delfeayo Marsalis, brother of Branford and Wynton, is the composer of the title music for ABC’s new show “Moon Over Miami,” a romantic comedy filmed in Miami’s South Beach that previews Sept. 15 and premieres Sept. 22.