MOVIES - May 9, 1994

Honorable Showing: “With Honors” was the No. 1 draw during another slow weekend at the nation’s box offices. The Warner Bros. film starring Joe Pesci grossed $3.9 million, according to early industry estimates. Gramercy Pictures’ “Four Weddings and a Funeral” was in second place with $3.7 million. In third was a new release from TriStar, the martial-arts sequel “3 Ninjas Kick Back,” with $3.6 million. Another new film, Dana Carvey’s amnesia comedy, “Clean Slate,” from MGM, was fourth with $3.1 million. Savoy Pictures’ “No Escape” dropped to fifth place with $3 million.

POP/ROCK

Returned to Sender: Gospel singer Michael English returned the four gospel music Dove Awards he won last week, including one for artist of the year, as a top gospel official confirmed the singer had had an extramarital affair. Gospel Music Assn. president Bruce Koblish said Friday that English told him he was involved with another gospel singer, Marabeth Jordan. Both English and Jordan are married. Koblish said the group would consider giving the awards back to English next week since the Dove Awards have no morals or character clause. Jordan’s band, First Call, has replaced her, but hasn’t said why.

Shakur Faces New Charge: Rap star Tupac Shakur was charged Friday with violating probation stemming from his arrest last week in Hollywood for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and possessing marijuana. The 22-year-old rapper faces 18 months in jail and $3,000 in fines if he is found guilty of the latest allegations. A probation violation hearing is set for June 8. Soon, Shakur will start serving a 15-day jail sentence for misdemeanor assault and battery. He also faces a trial in New York on a sexual assault charge and one in Atlanta on an aggravated assault charge.

AWARDS

The Kids Choose: Kids love Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams. Goldberg was named favorite movie actress and Williams was named favorite movie actor at the seventh Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, which honor children’s favorites in the entertainment world. “Home Improvement” was named favorite TV show and its star, Tim Allen, was named favorite TV actor at the event Saturday at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Favorite movie honors went to “Jurassic Park.” The awards ceremony aired live on the cable network. Winners were chosen by 1,500 children ages 8-12 in a nationwide poll.

ASCAP Honors Henley, Frey: Songwriters Don Henley and Glenn Frey received special honors at the 11th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Dinner, which honored songwriters and publishers at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday. The two won ASCAP Founders Awards for being musical pioneers who have inspired fellow musicians. They were honored for their work as members of the Eagles, as well as for their solo careers. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were named songwriters of the year. “When She Cries” and “A Whole New World” shared the award for the ASCAP most-performed song of the year. The group, which licenses the public-performance rights of its members’ works, is made up of composers, lyricists and publishers.

Operatic Finalists: Spanish tenor Placido Domingo announced the finalists for the Operalia 94: Placido Domingo World Opera Contest at the competition’s semifinals on Sunday in Vienna. Among the 11 who will compete in the finals in Mexico City Sept. 17 are the United States’ Brian Asawa, a counter tenor, and Bruce Fowler, a tenor. The finals will be broadcast live to 150 countries. The production will be designed by artist David Hockney.

STAGE

Quake Drains Funds: Southern California’s Jan. 17 earthquake is rocking the New York City-based Actors’ Fund of America, which helps theater and entertainment industry folks. The unexpected cash drain threatens to surpass even the fund’s annual AIDS expenditures, which have mushroomed in recent years. So far, $7.6 million has been spent in earthquake relief, and nearly four months after the temblor, the fund is still deluged by requests from earthquake victims and is in danger of going over its $10.4-million budget. The fund, whose trustees include actress Lynn Redgrave and directors Harold Prince and Sidney Lumet, raises much of its revenue from Broadway benefit shows.

QUICK TAKE

Public radio station KCRW (89.9 FM) will air a speech by Nelson Mandela this morning at 9:06 a.m. On Tuesday, the station will provide coverage of Mandela’s inaugural address in South Africa beginning at 9:06 a.m.