TELEVISIONTaylor Loses First Round: A Los Angeles...

TELEVISION

Taylor Loses First Round: A Los Angeles judge on Monday tentatively threw out Elizabeth Taylor’s invasion of privacy lawsuit against NBC, paving the way for the network to air a TV miniseries based on her life. Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne said the actress, who also alleged trademark infringement in her complaint against the network and unauthorized biographer C. David Heymann, cannot legally block the TV broadcast or publication of a book about her. “The intended miniseries involves a biography which, even if defamatory, is permitted to be aired under (the law),” Wayne stated in a written ruling. “Any harm suffered by (Taylor) is actionable and she may recover damages. (But) she is not entitled to a prior injunctive restraint.” Wayne has given Taylor’s lawyer, Neil Papiano, a chance to argue the case on Sept. 28, but she told Papiano on Monday that she doubted he would be able to change her mind.

* Emmy Viewing Increases: ABC estimated Monday that 54 million people watched at least part of the Emmy Awards telecast Sunday night. Overnight ratings from 32 major markets were 15% higher than for last year’s Emmy broadcast and showed the three-hour program winning each half hour of competition. It averaged a 26% share of the audience, compared to 49% for the Academy Awards last March. National ratings for the Emmys will be available today.

MOVIES

Venice Honors: Movies by two young filmmakers bested Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers” to take top honors at the Venice Film Festival on Monday. Macedonian Milcho Manchevski’s “Before the Rain” and Taiwanese Tsai Ming-liang’s “Aiqing Wansui/Vive L’Amour” shared the Golden Lion award for best film. Three movies shared the second-place Silver Lion: Pete Jackson’s “Heavenly Creatures,” Carlo Mazzacurati’s “Il Toro” and James Gray’s “Little Odessa.” Among other honors, “Natural Born Killers” won a special prize recognizing the movie’s significance to the film industry, and actor Al Pacino received a lifetime award.

* A ‘Jurassic’ Return: Steven Spielberg appears to have overcome his disdain for sequels. The director, who once called sequels a “cheap carny trick,” plans to follow up his blockbuster “Jurassic Park” with a second installment in 1997, according to Forbes magazine. “It’s not so precious to me, and I’m not so personal about ‘Jurassic Park’ that I have any reason not to give the audience what they want,” Spielberg said. The original “Jurassic Park” grossed $900 million at the box office.

* Calling All Bond Fans: Film star Roger Moore, who played the debonair Agent 007 for 12 years, will be the special guest star of the Official James Bond 007 Convention, scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton. Planned as an annual event, the convention will feature Bond memorabilia and appearances by several actors from various Bond movies, as well as the presentation of the first Goldeneye Lifetime Achievement Award to producer Cubby Broccoli, who brought Ian Fleming’s James Bond character to cinematic life.

POP/ROCK

Jones Stable After Surgery: Country music singer George Jones was in critical but stable condition Monday after triple bypass surgery to correct a coronary artery blockage. Officials at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital said the performer, who turned 63 Monday, remained in intensive care. He is scheduled to undergo an eight-week cardiac rehabilitation program.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Deja Vu: The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and former Music Director Zubin Mehta, will re-create the program heard at the Philharmonic’s inaugural concert Oct. 24, 1919, during a special “75th Birthday Concert” held this coming Oct. 24 at the Music Center. The program features short works by Weber, Liszt and Chabrier, plus the “New World” symphony by Dvorak. Actor Gregory Peck will be master of ceremonies.

QUICK TAKES

NBC has chosen Oct. 31--Halloween night--to premiere “Roseanne & Tom: A Hollywood Marriage,” its “fact-based drama” about Roseanne and Tom Arnold and their tumultuous relationship. . . . Comedian Carol Burnett will join game show host Alex Trebek on the eighth annual “Live From the Hollywood Bowl” program, airing live at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on KCOP-TV Channel 13. The program, themed “Around the World in 80 Minutes,” will take viewers on a world tour--through the music of internationally flavored films including “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Out of Africa,” “The Lion King” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”