THE ARTSMore NEA Cuts Proposed: A Senate...

THE ARTS

More NEA Cuts Proposed: A Senate committee has voted to deepen National Endowment for the Arts cuts made last week by the House amid lawmakers’ continuing concerns about support for controversial artists. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would trim the endowment’s 1995 budget to $161.6 million, an $8.5-million reduction. Last week, the House voted to trim $3.4 million from the agency after rejecting an $8.5-million cut. The cuts in the Senate bill were proposed by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who two weeks ago warned the endowment that its budget would be jeopardized unless it stopped supporting “grossly improper activities.”

* Glendale’s Broadway: Two established 99-seat theaters, the Colony and A Noise Within, have each obtained $2.5-million grants from the Glendale Redevelopment Agency, designed to help them expand as part of the burgeoning Glendale theater district. A Noise Within is already in Glendale but hopes to create a 350- to 500-seat theater there. The 19-year-old Colony, currently in Silver Lake, is reviewing several sites in Glendale and intends to build a 299-seat theater and a 99-seat second stage.

TELEVISION

On Both Sides of the Camera: When the NBC-owned cable channel America’s Talking debuts July 4, its president will host one of the show’s programs. Roger Ailes, known to TV viewers after serving for five years as a commentator for NBC’s “Today” and appearing as a guest on numerous news shows, will host “Straight Forward,” featuring one-on-one interviews with celebrities, newsmakers and members of the media. Behind the scenes, Ailes has served as executive producer for several talk shows including the “Rush Limbaugh Show.” “Straight Forward” will air weeknights at 6.

* Not Eligible: “Home Improvement” co-star Patricia Richardson will join Academy of Television Arts & Sciences President Richard H. Frank on July 21 to announce nominations for the 46th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. But Richardson’s leading man, Tim Allen, won’t be eligible for the awards, due to what a spokeswoman called “an oversight” by members of Allen’s team. Representatives of Allen, the star of TV’s highest-rated series, never submitted his name for Emmy consideration, apparently because those involved all assumed somebody else would do the job. Other “Home Improvement” cast members were submitted, however, making them eligible for Emmy voting, as is the series. After discovering Allen’s omission, ABC and the show’s producers sought unsuccessfully to have a supplemental ballot issued.

* Royal Coverage: “Dateline NBC” will air excerpts tonight from the much-publicized British documentary in which England’s Prince Charles admits to being unfaithful to Princess Diana and says he wants to abolish the monarch’s role as head of the Church of England. Then on Aug. 24, cable’s A&E; will show the complete documentary, “Charles, the Private Man, the Public Role,” as part of a “Royals” theme week featuring a different royal each night. Diana gets her air time July 24, as the first subject of Lifetime’s documentary series “Intimate Portrait.”

MOVIES

Philippine Film Scandal: Seven people have been charged with fraud in a scandal in which best actor and actress awards in the Philippine equivalent of the Academy Awards went to the wrong people. The seven, including the false winners, conspired to read the wrong names at the Manila Film Festival on June 22, said Mayor Alfredo Lim. Ruffa Gutierrez and Gabby Concepcion, nominated for their roles in a film takeoff on the Lorena Bobbitt case, were named best actress and actor. But the real winners were actress Aiko Melendez and actor Edu Manzano. The scandal broke when a presenter said a talent agent asked her to read the wrong name for best actress in return for winning next year.

POP/ROCK

Motown vs. Power 106: Los Angeles radio station KPWR-FM (105.9) is one of five U.S. stations served with a cease and desist order from Motown Records charging it with airing poorly recorded copies of the new Boyz II Men album, “II,” which is due to be released in September. Also cited were stations in Houston, Orlando, Dallas and the group’s hometown of Philadelphia. . . . Meanwhile, Virgin Records, which earlier this week issued a similar order against a Wichita radio station for playing taped copies of the Rolling Stones’ new album, “Voodoo Lounge,” will send advance copies of the album via satellite to radio stations today, even though it won’t be released until July 12. The move was prompted by several stations airing unauthorized copies, a spokesman said.

QUICK TAKES

Turner Network Television’s Civil War epic “Gettysburg” drew an estimated 4.5 million homes for its Sunday premiere, posting the largest viewership ever for a movie on basic cable. . . . Diva Lena Horne premieres her first-ever music video, “We’ll Be Together Again,” on today’s “Entertainment Tonight.”