MOVIESRedford Pulls Out of Race: Oscar-winning actor-director...

MOVIES

Redford Pulls Out of Race: Oscar-winning actor-director Robert Redford has dropped out of Castle Rock Entertainment’s “An American President” because of “creative differences” with director Rob Reiner. The story concerns a widowed President who regains his sense of decency and compassion after he falls in love. Redford, though, may continue with the project as the film’s producer. Michael Douglas is now a leading candidate for the role.

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Howard’s Beginning: Casting director Avy Kaufman will be conducting auditions for shock jock Howard Stern’s upcoming movie, “Private Parts,” starting today in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Cleveland. Kaufman is looking for three boys to play Stern at ages 6-9, 10-14 and 15-17. Auditions for the movie, based on Stern’s best-selling book, will take place locally from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Off Burbank Studios, 5514 Satsuma Ave., Burbank. TELEVISION

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Hasselhoff, P.I.: David Hasselhoff, star of the hit syndicated series “Baywatch,” is set to star in a new series beginning in September. Hasselhoff’s launching a spinoff called “Baywatch Nights,” in which his lifeguard and single dad character, Lt. Mitch Buchannon, moonlights as a private eye. But don’t expect bikinis and the glossy music interludes that are “Baywatch” trademarks. Producers say “Baywatch Nights” will explore “a world rife with glamour and money, hot music and steamy sensuality.” Most of the action will occur at night, since both Buchannon and Hasselhoff will be keeping their day jobs.

PEOPLE WATCH

Kudos: Liza Minnelli will be honored with the “Ms. Wonderful” Award tonight at the 39th Anniversary Thalian’s Ball at the Century Plaza Hotel. Goldie Hawn will present the award. . . . John Larroquette today will receive an Inspiration Award from the Weingart Center, a Los Angeles homeless service organization. The award, to be presented at a fund-raising event at Universal Studios, recognizes the actor’s series, NBC’s “The John Larroquette Show,” for “expanding the television landscape to include those people living outside the American dream.” . . . Actress Angela Lansbury will receive the 1994 Gabriel Personal Achievement Award for artistic achievement and commitment to public service in the broadcast industry. Past recipients of the award, to be presented Nov. 11 at the Universal Sheraton Hotel, include Helen Hayes, Walter Cronkite, Charles Kuralt, Bob Keeshan and Steve Allen.

MUSIC

Music to His Ears: The Los Angeles Master Chorale has named Morten Lauridsen as composer-in-residence as part of the 1994-95 National Endowment for the Arts Composer in Residence program. Lauridsen, a 25-year professor at USC, currently chairs the university’s Composition Department. He’s most noted for his large choral works and song cycles. The Master Chorale has previously presented Lauridsen’s “Mid-Winter Songs” on poems by Robert Graves for chorus and orchestra, conducted by both Roger Wagner and John Currie. The orchestra will also premiere a new Lauridsen work in December, perform his fifth vocal cycle, “Les Chansons des Roses” during the 1995-96 season, followed by another premiere the next season.

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The Band Up and Struck: The 95 musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis went on strike Friday in a contract dispute, canceling performances for the coming week. The musicians’ contract expired Sept. 30, and efforts to write a new multiyear pact failed to produce an agreement after a week of negotiations. The cancellation, beginning with a performance that had been scheduled Friday night, affected two concerts with singer Tony Bennett and one with violinist Kyung Wha Chung. The association said negotiations will continue.

POP/ROCK

Takin’ It Easy: Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey, 45, was in fair condition Thursday after undergoing surgery to treat diverticulitis--an inflammation of the colon. “His surgeon said it went as smoothly as it could have gone,” said Cedars-Sinai Medical Center spokesman Ron Wise. Frey’s operation forced postponement of the Eagles’ concert tour, including their Rose Bowl engagement originally scheduled for today. That concert has been rescheduled for Jan. 21.

QUICK TAKES

The Los Angeles Alliance for Survival and the “Come Together” Beatles Fan Club of San Diego will host a “John Lennon Birthday Celebration and Remembrance” on Sunday at 1 p.m. in front of the Capitol Records building on Vine Street. The event, featuring live entertainment and guest speakers, will celebrate what would have been the late Beatle’s 54th birthday. . . . Director Wes Craven will discuss his upcoming New Line horror flick “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare,” as well as his 22-year career, with CompuServe subscribers during a live, interactive cyber-space interview tonight at 7. . . . Moctesuma Esparza, the founder of Buenavision Cable TV, producer of TNT’s “Gettysburg” and executive producer of TNT’s “The Cisco Kid,” has been appointed to the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission.