MOVIES’Timecop’ on Top: It’s “Timecop” time again....

MOVIES

‘Timecop’ on Top: It’s “Timecop” time again. The Universal release starring Jean-Claude Van Damme was the No. 1 movie at the nation’s box office for the second weekend in a row. The film grossed $8.2 million, according to early industry estimates. “Timecop’s” action movie competition, Hollywood Pictures’ “Terminal Velocity,” opened in second place with $5.5 million. In third, Paramount’s “Forrest Gump” took in $5.4 million, bringing its cumulative earnings to $263.6 million. “Gump” has passed “Jaws” to become the seventh all-time highest grossing film in the United States. Hollywood Pictures’ “Quiz Show,” still in limited release, with $3 million, took fourth place. In fifth was Paramount’s “Clear and Present Danger,” with $2.7 million. Columbia and Castle Rock’s “The Shawshank Redemption” had a very strong opening in limited release. The movie, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, took in $750,000 on 33 screens for a per-screen average of $22,727.

‘True’ Controversy: The Arnold Schwarzenegger movie “True Lies” opened in Indonesia last week, and Muslim leaders there aren’t happy about it. The leaders asked the government to ban the movie, which they say insults Islam. The Council of Muslim Scholars said in a statement that the film, about an Arab terrorist leader and an American secret agent, has raised unrest in the Muslim community. About 90% of Indonesia’s 190 million people are Muslims. The film also drew criticism from American Arab groups when it opened in the U.S. during the summer.

Rare Find: A rare color movie starring martial-arts legend Bruce Lee has been discovered by the Hong Kong Film Archive after gathering 30 years of dust on a British shelf. There are many black-and-white copies of “The Orphan,” the 1960 drama believed to be Bruce Lee’s last Cantonese movie before he moved to the United States, but no known color copies existed. The archive, which found the movie in excellent condition at the Rank Film Laboratory in London, said it wants to have the film copied for public showings.

TELEVISION

Harvey and the Lawsuit: Steve Harvey, a star of ABC’s new sitcom “Me and the Boys,” has sued two Texas residents for allegedly defaming him in a letter sent to ABC entertainment executives. The Los Angeles Superior Court complaint alleges that David N. Lumpkins and Donna R. Kyser wrote a letter stating that the actor “scammed investors” and “suckered hard-working residents” in Texas before launching his career in Hollywood. Harvey is seeking an injunction barring the plaintiffs from making defamatory statements about him. Harvey’s attorney declined to comment on the background of the lawsuit.

Comedically Able: Black, female and gay performers have all had their own TV comedy specials, but KCET will offer a new spin on Nov. 28 with disabled comedians in “Look Who’s Laughing.” Kathy Buckley is hearing-impaired, Brett Leake has muscular dystrophy, Alex Valdez is blind, J.D. England uses a wheelchair and Chris Fonseca and Geri Jewell have cerebral palsy. In the one-hour special, these six working comedians will share their humor and personal experiences to help viewers better understand the 40 million disabled people in America.

AUCTIONS

Falcon on the Block: Christie’s auction house says it has the genuine Maltese Falcon--really--and will put it up for sale Dec. 6. In May, 1993, Christie’s announced it had the genuine movie prop for sale, then had to pull it back when its authenticity was challenged. In the 1941 movie “The Maltese Falcon,” Sydney Greenstreet tells private eye Humphrey Bogart that there was no limit to the value of the falcon they sought. But Christie’s estimates that the lead falcon, one of two made for the film, will fetch $30,000 to $50,000.

Nureyev’s Collection: Old Master paintings, furniture, prints and sculptures from Rudolf Nureyev’s New York City apartment will by sold by Christie’s on Jan. 12-13. The eclectic collection should bring in $3 million to $4.5 million. It was kept in the landmark Dakota building, where John Lennon was shot. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation. Nureyev died in January, 1993, of complications from AIDS.

STAGE

‘Quiz Show’ on Stage: The hype surrounding the Robert Redford movie “Quiz Show” hasn’t upset plans for a play about the same subject--the TV quiz show scandals of the 1950s. “Night and Her Stars,” which opened at South Coast Repertory last spring, is scheduled to open in a Manhattan Theatre Club production in New York on April 19. Playwright Richard Greenberg said he won’t see the movie until after his play opens in New York, but “with any luck,” the movie “will arouse interest in the story.”

POP/ROCK

Saturday in the Park With Fleetwood Mac: Classic rock station KLSX-FM (97.1) will present a day of free music featuring Fleetwood Mac and former Byrds lead singer Roger McGuinn at Woodley Park in Van Nuys on Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. The fourth annual 97.1 Classic Jam is also sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.