MOVIESWhat a Kiss: It was a love...

MOVIES

What a Kiss: It was a love match at the box office during the weekend. “French Kiss,” the 20th Century Fox romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline, said bonjour to first place with $9.4 million its opening weekend, knocking the romantic comedy from Hollywood Pictures, “While You Were Sleeping,” to the No. 2 spot. But the latter film, starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, was a close second with $9.2 million. In third was New Line’s “Friday,” featuring rapper Ice Cube, with $4.2 million. Columbia’s “Bad Boys” took fourth place with $3 million. Gramercy Pictures’ “Panther,” the controversial movie about the Black Panther movement from Mario Van Peebles, opened in fifth with $2.4 million. A box-office note: New Line’s “My Family, Mi Familia” opened with $2 million on only 413 screens and performed particularly well in areas with large Latino populations.

GIVING AID

A Song for Oklahoma: California State University, Los Angeles psychology professor Bruce L. Theissen, who also happens to be a singer with his own band, wrote a song to sort out his intense emotions about the tragic bombing in Oklahoma City. On Wednesday, that bluesy folk song that has been playing on California radio stations will be released as a single. “Oklahoma,” an expression of support for the victims of the bombing, will be available in California record stores. Proceeds from the release will go to the United Way’s relief fund for Oklahoma City.

Stills’ Hot Line: Singer Stephen Stills is looking out for the futures of children who lost a parent--or both parents--in the Oklahoma City bombing. The Crosby, Stills and Nash band member has set up a hot line to take donations for a trust fund for the children’s education. He also is donating the proceeds from his concert with Graham Nash on Saturday night in Oklahoma City to the cause. The hot line number is (800) 896-1999.

Help for Kobe: Robert De Niro and Samuel Goldwyn Jr. will host the benefit premiere of the Japanese film “The Mystery of Rampo” at the Directors Guild in Hollywood on Tuesday night to raise money for the victims of January’s devastating earthquake in Kobe, Japan. The movie, from the Samuel Goldwyn Co. and Shochiku Co. Ltd., chronicles the life of Japanese author Edogawa Rampo. Kazuyoshi Okuyama, who directed and produced the film, and its star, Michiko Hada, are expected to attend the sold-out benefit for the Kobe Relief Fund, along with Andy Garcia, Joan Chen, Jeff Goldblum, Pauly Shore and other celebrities.

TELEVISION

Beach TV: MTV is going to the beach. The network’s summer headquarters will be a beach house in Malibu where programs including “MTV Prime Time,” “Most Wanted Jams,” “Alternative Nation” and “Top 20 Countdown” will be taped. MTV veejays will be stationed at the beach to host shows and interview stars. The Malibu pad is fully equipped with a pool, volleyball court, basketball court, tennis courts and hot tubs. Beach house programming will begin airing Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day.

LEGAL FILE

Private Messages: The phone messages actor Kelsey Grammer left for the teen-ager who alleged she had sex with him will remain secret. Lawyers for both sides have agreed to keep tapes of the 21 messages on her voice-mail system private, unless a lawsuit is brought against Grammer. A grand jury, which heard the tapes in February, decided not to indict Grammer on an allegation that he had sex with the girl when she was 15. Grammer, star of the TV series “Frasier,” has said that the allegations were an attempt to extort money from him.

QUICK TAKES

Actor Gary Busey was awake and eating during the weekend in Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center after an apparent cocaine overdose left him unconscious in his Malibu home. Busey’s condition, initially listed as serious, was upgraded to good on Sunday. The actor’s attorney requested that no other information be released. Busey, 50, was taken to the hospital Thursday night. . . . Singers James Taylor and Natalie Cole were given honorary degrees at the Berklee College of Music’s graduation ceremonies in Boston on Sunday. . . . Bob and Dolores Hope were honored with the SHARE Inc. Shining Spirit Award in recognition of their service during World War II at the organization’s 42nd annual Boomtown party Saturday at CBS Television City. . . . Radio broadcaster Gary Owens returns to KJOI (540 and 1260 AM) Monday through Friday from 7-10 a.m. beginning today.