MOVIES - Oct. 16, 1993

Nicholson Gets Life: Jack Nicholson joins the ranks of such figures as Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, Fred Astaire, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart and Bette Davis, among others, in receiving the American Film Institute’s 22nd Life Achievement Award at ceremonies March 3. AFI made the announcement Friday, noting that it has broadened its selection criteria from individuals who have had career achievements in order to include persons who may still have work of significance still to come. Nicholson’s nearly 50-film career includes 11 Academy Award nominations and two wins: as best actor in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and supporting actor in “Terms of Endearment.” Nicholson’s next film is “Wolf,” which co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer.

TELEVISION

NBC News Flap: “NBC Nightly News” executive producer Jeff Gralnick’s use of a racial slur was taken out of context and distorted in a newspaper account, NBC News President Andrew Lack contended Friday. Lack said, “The term was used as part of a staff discussion on how not to perpetuate stereotypes. The term does not reflect the producer’s feelings, beliefs and personal history and, in fact, has resulted in a reaction that is opposite to what he intended.” Earlier in the day, the New York Daily News Friday reported that slur, “jungle bunny,” in referring to Somali clan leader Mohammed Farah Aidid at an editorial meeting Tuesday morning.

*

Friday Make-Over: CBS has reworked its Friday night lineup to accommodate the loss of “Good Advice,” which has experienced production delays due to the illness of star Shelly Long. “Bob,” which was to have made its season premiere Friday at 9:30 p.m., behind “Good Advice,” will now move into the 9 p.m. slot. “Family Album,” which has been airing at 8:30 and was to have gone on hiatus with “It Had to Be You” because of low ratings, will follow “Bob” at 9:30 beginning Oct. 29. “Good Advice” and “It Had to Be You” will return later in the season, CBS said. The network also said it has ordered a full season of the Monday night comedy series “Dave’s World” with Harry Anderson. It’s the first of the network’s new shows to get the production go-ahead

*

A Knockout?: ABC said it will introduce “George,” a new series starring ex-heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman as a retired boxer whose wife, a teacher, talks him into helping with problem students. The show will debut in a special airing on Nov. 5. The very next night, “George” will show up again in its regular time slot of 8 p.m. Saturdays to continue its 13-week run.

ARTS

Southwest Museum, Take Two: Los Angeles’ Southwest Museum said Friday it will study the feasibility of opening of a second location in Palm Desert. The proposed facility would feature approximately 30,000 square feet of space for exhibitions, education programs, and music and dance performances, as well as an auditorium and store. Discussion of a second site arose from the museum’s announcement that it may relocate somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area, which drew more than 80 responses. Out of that came the Palm Desert suggestion, which would be next to Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort. A second site will not alter the museum’s proposal to relocate in the Los Angeles area.

*

Art for AIDS: The “TransEND AIDS” arts series sponsored by the City of Los Angeles this month as a means of marking “AIDS Awareness Month” continues this weekend with two events: Tonight, performance artist Ron Athey presents “Leather Daddy Boot Shine” at 8 p.m. at Los Angeles Theatre Center downtown; on Sunday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., a reception marks the opening of “Installation/Installations” at the William Grant Still Arts Center, 2520 West View St. near La Brea and Addams Boulevard. The exhibit, which runs through Nov. 20, features two room installations and five salon-style works.

MUSIC

Searching for ‘Europeras’: When the folks at Long Beach Opera recently held an auction of what were presumed to be discardables, they thought they were lucky to sell off their dozens of 78 rpm recordings. But then company director Michael Milenski signed on to produce John Cage’s “Europeras 3 & 4” in November, assuming that the records, necessary for the performances, were still in hand. The company is now seeking the purchaser of the recordings, and asking that anyone who knows their whereabouts call (310) 596-5556.