POP/ROCKFinancial Rescue: Is your savings account shattered?...

POP/ROCK

Financial Rescue: Is your savings account shattered? Time is on your side with the new Rolling Stones plastic. MasterCard and Visa cards bearing the band’s lips-and-tongue logo have been introduced by Maryland-based Chevy Chase Savings Bank. “We’re delighted to be affiliated with these legendary performers,” said Visa Vice President Barbara Hvasta. Legendary, indeed. The 30-year-old band actually predates modern credit cards by a few years. Users get discounts at participating music stores around the country and earn points good for discounts on Rolling Stones catalogue merchandise.

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‘S Wonderful: After numerous delays, “The Glory of Gershwin,” a CD collection of George Gershwin songs covered by contemporary pop and rock performers, will finally be available in stores Tuesday from Mercury Records. Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Sting, Oleta Adams, Cher, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor, Meat Loaf and Robert Palmer are among those who recorded songs in London’s Air Studios, accompanied by a full orchestra and Larry Adler on harmonica. The album is the inspiration of Adler, a renowned harmonica player who wanted to celebrate his 80th birthday by paying tribute to his late friend, Gerswhin, with an album of his best songs.

MOVIES

‘Speed’ Writer Scores: Ending an intense bidding war among rival studios, Columbia Pictures has paid $1.5 million for the screenplay “Afterlife,” a suspense thriller about a scientist whose brain is grafted into the body of a younger man by the government so that he can carry on his important DNA research--only to find the body belonged to a serial killer. The script was written by Joss Whedon, who has become a hot property in Hollywood since doing the celebrated rewrite on “Speed.” Whedon’s agent, Chris Harbert of United Talent Agency, said there were nine bids in the $1-million range for “Afterlife,” including bids from Sony’s two studios, Columbia and TriStar. Rather than have his studios submit competing bids, Sony’s Mark Canton ordered TriStar to halt its offer, sources said. The film will be produced by Denise Denovi with Ned Tanen as executive producer. No stars or director are yet attached.

TELEVISION

Prime-Time Trial?: O.J. Simpson’s series pilot “Frogmen” was sunk by NBC, but the trial of the former football great may inspire an ABC series from “NYPD Blue” creator Steven Bochco. Tentatively titled “Murder One,” the courtroom drama would follow a fictitious trial from beginning to end over the course of an entire season, reports Mediaweek in its current issue. Bochco, who co-created “L.A. Law,” cited the public’s fascination with law and its intricacies--as evidenced in the Simpson and Menendez brothers televised cases --as his motivation. “So for the first time we can roll the dice creatively. We (can) take on the case and really run,” he said. Most of the season would be concerned with pretrial events, and the actual trial would occur only during the last quarter of the season. ABC declined comment on the new show, being developed for next fall.

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Medical Duel: “ER” left “Chicago Hope” in need of life support after their first head-to-head showdown Thursday night in the battle of the network medical dramas. NBC’s “ER,” created by Michael Crichton, drew 27% of the audience Thursday at 10 p.m., compared to 18% for CBS’ “Chicago Hope,” from “Picket Fence” creator David E. Kelley. “Chicago Hope” finished third in the time period, with ratings that were 30% lower than its premiere last Sunday. NBC won every half hour of the prime-time lineup Thursday, including the premieres of “Friends” and “Madman of the People.”

QUICK TAKES

Barbra Streisand has agreed to give opening remarks at the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee Luncheon, with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire on Oct. 28. Funds raised will go to progressive House and Senate candidates. . . . Wilson Phillips singer Carnie Wilson, daughter of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, will chase the Ricki Lake phenomenon with her own daily syndicated talk show for young people. Warner Bros. Television will roll out the show next year. . . . Elton John’s four sold-out benefit performances at the Greek Theatre grossed $1.5 million for his AIDS foundation, which funds direct-care services and prevention education. . . . Charlie Sheen, whose new film “Terminal Velocity” just opened, received star No. 2,035 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday. . . . Model Cindy Crawford will star as an ambitious young attorney who becomes the target of an assassination in her first film, “Fair Game,” an action-adventure co-starring Billy Baldwin. . . .”Billy Ray Cyrus: A Year on the Road,” the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer’s second TV special, will air on ABC Oct. 6. . . . Violinist Zaven Melikian, who retired last month as concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, will be honored Saturday, when he receives the San Francisco Opera Medal. The medal is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding service to the company.