POP/ROCKShe Loves Me: Paul McCartney and Yoko...

POP/ROCK

She Loves Me: Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono ended a feud that lasted nearly three decades by making a secret joint musical recording at the former Beatle’s studio in southern England during the weekend. Ono, John Lennon’s widow, and McCartney recorded a song she wrote as a memorial to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan 50 years ago. McCartney’s wife Linda, three daughters and a son accompanied Ono and her son Sean on the recording of “Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue.” McCartney gave Ono the master tape to use as she liked, while in exchange she agreed to give him some of Lennon’s unfinished songs with permission to use them in new Beatles tracks that will be released at the end of this year.

DANCE

Meanwhile, Back at the Bolshoi: In another twist in the battle for control of Russia’s Bolshoi theater, the Russian government reappointed Vladimir Kokonin as general director. The move came Friday, a week after President Boris Yeltsin intervened to dismiss Kokonin. At that time, Yevgeni Sidorov, the culture minister, was quoted as saying that the longstanding director had destroyed the theater. Kokonin was dismissed after an unprecedented strike by leading performers over the forced resignation of his rival, Yuri Grigorovich, the artistic director.

OSCAR WATCH

And the Razzie Goes to: The Golden Raspberry Foundation announced its 15th annual Razzie Award “dis-honors,” the antithesis of the Oscars, on Sunday. “The Color of Night,” starring Bruce Willis, was named worst picture of 1994. The worst actor award went to Kevin Costner for his performance in “Wyatt Earp.” Sharon Stone won worst actress for her roles in both “The Specialist” and “Intersection.” Rosie O’Donnell was named worst supporting actress for “Car 54 Where Are You,” “Exit to Eden” and “The Flintstones”; worst supporting actor honors went to O.J. Simpson for “Naked Gun 33 1/3.” Steven Seagal was named worst director for “On Deadly Ground.” In the worst screen couple category, there was a tie between Sylvester Stallone/Sharon Stone in “The Specialist” and Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt in “Interview With the Vampire.” The Razzies are voted on by the 375 members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation.

Welcome Back, Vinnie: John Travolta may or may not be an Oscar winner tonight, but he’ll always be a sweat hog. “Welcome Back Kotter,” the ‘70s TV series starring Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino, will be added to the lineup on Nick at Night, the Classic TV Network, May 29. The show originally aired on ABC from 1975-79.

Dream Come True: Basketball player William Gates, who was featured in the documentary “Hoop Dreams,” will not be attending the Oscars tonight--but he will be living out a hoop dream in New York’s Madison Square Garden when his team, Marquette University, plays Penn State in the NIT tournament semifinals. If the team wins, they will go on to the finals Wednesday night.

MOVIES

National Release of ‘Priest’ Postponed: Saying it did not anticipate such an angry backlash, Miramax Films announced it would move the national release of the movie “Priest” from Good Friday, April 14, to five days later, a Wednesday. Antonia Bird’s film about a gay priest opened in Los Angeles on Friday to mixed reviews. Some Catholics have branded the film anti-Church propaganda and said opening the film nationally on the same day most Christians mark the crucifixion of Jesus was an added insult. Mark Gill, marketing chief for Miramax, said the company was responding to complaints from the Catholic League and several hundred callers from around the country. Miramax had planned a Good Friday release because religious sensibilities tend to be heightened during Holy Week, Gill said. But, he acknowledged, opponents’ “concerns were valid.” Catholic League President William Donohue called Gill’s announcement a “positive step” but said he stood by a vow to tarnish the image of Disney, Miramax’s parent, unless it publicly disassociated itself from the movie.

Virulent: “Outbreak” is proving to be potent at the box office. The Warner. Bros film about doctors battling a deadly virus has taken the No. 1 spot for the third weekend in a row with $8.2 million, according to early industry estimates. In second was Universal’s “Major Payne,” the new comedy starring Damon Wayans, with $7 million. Columbia’s “Dolores Claiborne” was third with $5.9 million for its opening weekend. In fourth was Disney’s “Man of the House” with $3.5 million, and in fifth, another Disney film, “Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill,” with $3 million its premiere weekend. The pre-Oscar weekend was a moderate one for moviegoing.

QUICK TAKES

There will be a new guy on the beach when “Baywatch” returns for the 1995-96 season. David Chokachi will join the cast as Cody Madison, a world-class Olympic swimming hopeful who supplements his training while working as a “Baywatch” lifeguard. . . . Larry King is getting married for the sixth time. No date is set, but King, 61, plans to wed actress Deanna Lund.