TELEVISION - May 7, 1994

Talk-Show Extremes: The North Carolina Supreme Court has been called in to decide whether Phil Donahue will be allowed to tape and televise the planned June 15 execution of David Lawson, who was convicted in 1980 of killing a man while burglarizing his home near Concord, N.C. Opposing the taping: the North Carolina attorney general’s office, which this week asked the state Supreme Court to issue a permanent stay of the videotaping. But Lawson wants the execution televised. In an early court hearing, he said he wants “his life’s story to serve as an example to others of the effects of child abuse, clinical depression and the dangers inherent in a life of crime.” A decision is expected next week.

*

Cable Comeback: Young Indiana Jones will ride again on the Family Channel. George Lucas is executive-producing four original cable movies, based on the ABC series “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles,” which was canceled last year because of low ratings. The first movie, “Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies,” will air in November and will star series lead Sean Patrick Flanery. The ABC series was known for shooting around the globe and focusing on historical characters. Lucas, who is also planning a fourth feature film starring Harrison Ford, hopes to create enough footage to turn Indiana Jones into an educational multimedia program for children.

ART

Dandy Andy: Four paintings from the “Skull” series (1976), each showing a skull in different colors, are among the 15 Andy Warhol paintings and three drawings worth more than $1 million, purchased this week by the Baltimore Museum of Art. The new works will join 23 other Warhol pieces at the museum, including his famous “Campbell’s Soup Cans.” That gives the Baltimore Museum the second-largest holding of Warhol paintings of any museum in the world, officials said. Only the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, slated to open May 16, will have a larger collection. Baltimore officials declined to reveal how much they paid for the works. The works span from 1975 to 1986, a year before Warhol died.

POP/ROCK

Merchandising Streisand: Barbra Streisand has teamed with Sony Signatures--Sony’s recently created merchandising division--to develop a line of fashion apparel, gifts and memorabilia. Streisand personally designed the collection, which will be offered at concerts on Streisand’s current tour and through a special catalogue of the Barbra Collection. The merchandise, which includes tour programs for those who can’t make the concert, will also be available at Barbra Boutiques in major department stores.

*

Soul Awards: A&M; Records co-founder Herb Alpert, “Soul Train” producer Don Cornelius and pop star Prince will receive special awards tonight during the fourth annual “Celebrate the Soul of American Music” awards show, taping at CBS Television Studios. The program, scheduled to air July 3 on KCAL Channel 9, is hosted by Charles S. Dutton (“Roc”) and Victoria Rowell (“The Young and the Restless”). Other honorees include the songwriting duo of Ashford & Simpson, The Four Tops, the Pointer Sisters and Della Reese. Some tickets are still available for $250, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., by calling 213-386-8014. Proceeds go to Cities in School, a program to prevent high school dropouts.

MUSIC

Classic Memories: Do you have a favorite memory of a Los Angeles Philharmonic concert at the Music Center, the Hollywood Bowl or the Philharmonic Auditorium? If so, the Philharmonic wants to know for its 75th anniversary. Memories may be printed in the Hollywood Bowl program book and a grand prize winner will receive two box seats at the Bowl. Memories should be written and sent to “The Audience Remembers,” in care of Hollywood Bowl Museum, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90078. Deadline is May 31.

PEOPLE WATCH

The Last Crusade: Steven Spielberg, who dropped out of Cal State University Long Beach, to follow his film dreams, received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree Friday from the University of Southern California, where he and George Lucas delivered commencement speeches.

QUICK TAKES

This summer HBO Pictures will film the life story of jailed boxing champion Mike Tyson, based in part on the biography “Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson,” by Jose Torres. . . .KFI-AM (640) talk-show host Laura Schlessinger will syndicate her popular advice program nationally beginning in June. . . .”Entertainment Tonight’s” John Tesh has signed a new agreement to continue hosting the show’s daily and weekend editions through 1998. . . .Lindsay Wagner and Lee Majors will return to their 1970s TV roles in “Bionic Breakdown: Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman III,” a TV movie filming this summer for CBS.