MOVIESSaying Goodby: A private funeral service Wednesday...

MOVIES

Saying Goodby: A private funeral service Wednesday for comedian John Candy was attended by about 200 mourners, including such top comedy stars as Tom Hanks, Jim Belushi, Rick Moranis, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and several alumni of Chicago’s “Second City” comedy troupe, where Candy got his start. Among the other celebrities at Brentwood’s St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church were actors Mariel Hemingway and Ed Harris, Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall and hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky. Candy, 43, died in his trailer Friday while on location in Durango, Mexico. . . . Also on Wednesday, Fox-TV announced that it will premiere Candy’s directorial debut, the TV movie “Hostage for a Day,” on April 18 at 8 p.m. The film stars George Wendt, and Candy appears in a cameo role.

*

Korean Release Canceled: Responding to threats of boycotts and picket lines, Warner Bros. Korea has canceled its scheduled release in Seoul next week of “Falling Down,” starring Michael Douglas. The film, which also prompted controversy when it opened in the United States last year, includes a scene in which a Korean American grocer, accused of overcharging for a can of soda, is beaten and his store destroyed by an assailant with a baseball bat. Korean critics say that the film is racist and promotes racial violence.

*

Lawrence Release Postponed: The release of raunchy comedian Martin Lawrence’s much-publicized concert film “You So Crazy,” scheduled for March 18, has been postponed indefinitely. The move will allow distributor Miramax to “figure out their options” in light of a restrictive NC-17 rating, which makes the film difficult to book into theaters.

TELEVISION

‘Shift’-ing to HBO: HBO Pictures has optioned film and television production rights to “The Late Shift,” the best-selling book about Jay Leno and David Letterman’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering to succeed Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.” Written by New York Times television reporter Bill Carter, the book is the nonfiction account of the late-night world already depicted on HBO through Garry Shandling’s satire “The Larry Sanders Show.” “This is perfect for HBO,” said Robert Cooper, senior president of HBO Pictures. “It is a unique, outrageous and often hilarious look at the wheeling and dealing in the world of television. It’s a ‘Barbarians at the Gate,’ but this time in our own back yard. It’s going to be a challenge to make, and that is exactly why we want to make it.” HBO has not yet set a writer, director or producer for the project.

*

Conangla Leaves KCBS: Chris Conangla quietly left KCBS-TV Channel 2 as anchor of the 5 p.m. newscast last Thursday when his contract with the station ended. “The newscast is in third or fourth place in the ratings,” said general manager Bill Applegate. “He’s been anchor for a long time. The newscast is not succeeding. That means it’s time for change.” Michael Tuck has been anchoring both the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts to fill in for Conangla. Applegate said he does not yet know whether that situation will be permanent. Conangla said that he is in negotiations with several stations in other markets and will probably leave Los Angeles.

*

Moyers on the Mend: Emmy-winning PBS newscaster Bill Moyers, 59, is recovering at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City after being hospitalized with chest pains and having a blockage removed from one artery Monday. He’s scheduled to be released from the hospital later this week, and a spokeswoman said he should return to work soon.

POP/ROCK

All in the Family: The illegitimate son of the late rocker Jimi Hendrix sued his grandfather in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday, claiming he is the musician’s sole heir and entitled to his estate. James Henrik Daniel Sundquist, 24, says a Swedish court legally designated him the rocker’s son in 1975, despite the objections of his grandfather, James (Al) Hendrix, whom Sundquist contends has actively concealed his right to a share of Jimi Hendrix’s estate. Also named as defendants are Hendrix’s longtime attorney, Hendrix estate executors and a handful of companies believed to hold the rights to Jimi Hendrix’s works. Sundquist says he is the product of a 1969 union between Jimi Hendrix and Eva Sundquist that took place in Stockholm while the guitarist was on tour with his band. Hendrix died in 1970 of a drug overdose.

QUICK TAKES

Soul diva Toni Braxton’s smash showing at the Grammys helped catapult her 9-month-old, self-titled debut album to the top of the nation’s pop chart, selling more than 104,000 units last week. Pop rapper Hammer’s “The Funky Headhunter” entered the chart at No. 12 with sales of about 62,000 units, and alternative folk-rock singer Beck’s “Mellow Gold” captured the No. 15 spot, selling an estimated 59,000 units in its first week. . . . Although there’s still no official word on casting to replace star Michael Moriarty, NBC has proclaimed its faith in the drama “Law & Order” by announcing the show will return for a fifth season in the fall. So far, the actor most often mentioned to replace the disgruntled Moriarty is former “I’ll Fly Away” star Sam Waterston.