TELEVISION - Jan. 22, 1994

Few Shake-Ups: Monday’s temblor may have shaken up TV schedules early in the week, but there were few plans by networks or affiliates to replay episodes of series that were bumped by the continuous news coverage. Officials at most stations said the episodes that were not shown in Los Angeles would be televised at a later date. ABC soap operas that were preempted Monday and Tuesday were shown during the early morning hours both days. “The Vernon Johns Story,” a TV movie that was preempted by KTLA on Monday, will air Feb. 7. . . . On Wednesday, “48 Hours” posted its highest rating of the season with a report on Monday’s temblor. The CBS program attracted 22% of the available viewing audience at 10 p.m.

* ‘Donahue’ Dropped in Dallas: An ABC affiliate that refused to air an episode of “Donahue” last year because it featured shock jock Howard Stern is now dropping the show for good. Dallas’ WFAA-TV, which also refuses to show “NYPD Blue,” is canceling “Donahue” even though the program finished first in its morning time slot during the November sweeps. Part of the reason is an advertising boycott launched by a Fort Worth dentist, Dr. Richard Neill, who objects to the show’s sometimes risque subject matter. “We did have some advertisers drop out over the past couple of years,” said Cathy Creany, the station’s vice president and general manager. “And it has become less profitable for us than other programs.”

THE ARTS

Olympics Caldron: For the first time ever, a renowned sculptor has been commissioned to design the monumental caldron housing the flame that marks the Olympic Games. Tehran-born American artist Siah Armajani, 54, who is based in St. Paul, Minn., received the commission for the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympics. “We were looking for an artist of exceptional talent who had wide-ranging experience with projects of this scope,” said Annette Carlozzi, visual arts producer of the games’ Cultural Olympiad. “(Armajani) works from a social philosophy that espouses unity and democracy, which we felt was particularly appropriate to the Olympic Games.” Among the acclaimed artist’s more than 20 public projects is “The Poetry Garden,” completed in West Los Angeles in 1992 for the Lannan Foundation. The Olympic caldron will be a permanent Atlanta landmark.

* Money Matters: The Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa ended 1993 in the black, but missed its fund-raising goal by nearly 20% and wound up with the lowest operating surplus in its eight-year history. Center expenses in 1993 totaled $19.9 million while revenue totaled $15.5 million, officials announced Thursday. To offset the difference, which had been anticipated at the nonprofit center, a fund-raising goal of $5 million had been established and budgeted. However, only $4.1 million was raised. Center officials nevertheless were able to avoid red ink by taking $510,000 from a “programming subsidy” established two years ago. Executive director Tom Tomlinson acknowledged that the surplus--reported at $205,284--is the center’s smallest ever. Tomlinson maintained that “this institution has remained strong, and over eight years, developed a very strong financial figure. . . . Our (total) attendance (for center-presented events) was up by 12%, which is a phenomenal feat.”

QUAKE AFTERMATH

Closed for Repairs: The Lula Washington Contemporary Dance Foundation building in South Central L.A. has shut down temporarily due to a gaping hole in a second-story wall left by Monday’s quake. Damage to the facility, which houses the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance company as well as community workshops, is estimated at nearly $100,000. The nonprofit center is asking for donations and hopes to reopen by the end of February. Information: (213) 678-6250.

MOVIES

The Price Is Right: Moviegoing may not be a high priority on the minds of earthquake victims in the San Fernando Valley. Nonetheless, those in search of escapism can turn to Pacific Theatres. In a cooperative effort with Buena Vista, Paramount and Universal Pictures, the theater chain is temporarily reducing the admission price to $3.50 for all films now playing at the Northridge Cinemas. After being closed for four days, the theater reopened Friday with “In the Name of the Father,” “Iron Will,” “Tombstone” and “Intersection.”

* Video Fare: The American Film Institute National Video Festival will celebrate its 13th year from Feb. 3-6 at the AFI campus in Los Angeles. Dedicated to the late video artist Juan Downey, this year’s festival will showcase more than 150 videos from around the world, with many of the artists in attendance to introduce and discuss their work. Among the programs, which are free to the public, is the world premiere of “Working With Orson Welles,” a documentary from the legendary filmmaker’s cinematographer and longtime collaborator Gary Graver. The campus is located at 2021 N. Western Ave.