MOVIESHead of the Class: Hollywood Pictures’ “Dangerous...

MOVIES

Head of the Class: Hollywood Pictures’ “Dangerous Minds,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer as an inner-city schoolteacher, took in $14.8 million to become the weekend’s No. 1 movie box-office attraction. Another newcomer, 20th Century Fox’s “A Walk in the Clouds,” with Keanu Reeves, came in second with $9.6 million, according to early industry estimates. Warner Bros.’ “Something to Talk About” tied with Universal’s “Waterworld” with $8.6 million each for third place. So far, “Waterworld” has taken in a disappointing total of $60.6 million in its third week of release. Universal’s “Babe” was next with $7 million.

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Jordan Swings Again: Thousands of people showed up in Long Beach last week to watch Michael Jordan take one more turn at bat, only this time the fans were unpaid extras for the baseball scenes in Jordan’s upcoming movie “Space Jam.” Jordan’s brief minor-league baseball career ended earlier this year when he returned to the Chicago Bulls to play basketball. Jordan also plays basketball in the Warner Bros. movie that pairs him with such cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam.

TELEVISION

By George, It’s John Jr.: Bob Dole, Alan Simpson, Walter Cronkite, Katie Couric and other notables have done cameos on CBS’ “Murphy Brown.” The latest special guest to visit Murphy will be none other than John F. Kennedy Jr., who will appear on the show’s Sept. 18 season premiere. JFK Jr.’s guest spot, taped at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank on Friday, will coincide with the Sept. 26 launch of his political magazine, George. In the episode, Kennedy, playing himself on assignment for George, will drop by the FYI newsroom to give Murphy a wedding gift. Although her wedding is off, Murphy pretends that it’s on so she can accept what she expects will be a great gift. Kennedy admitted he was looking for a little plug with his appearance: “I hope the show will introduce George to an audience of potential readers who clearly enjoy politically related entertainment,” he said.

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Late-Night Sex Talk: Cable’s Lifetime Television will give its 12:30 a.m. weeknight slot to sex psychologist Sari Locker for a half-hour late-night talk show. Locker, whose show premieres in October, previously hosted a weekly radio program on sexuality on New York’s WBAI-FM.

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Top O’ the Infomercial Heap: Nominees for the infomercial of the year (you haven’t seen them?) are Barbara DeAngelis’ “Making Love Work II,” Richard Simmons’ “Farewell to Fat,” Bruce Jenner’s “Power Trainer,” Body by Jake’s “Ab & Back Plus” and “E-Force.” The winner will be named at the fourth annual National Infomercial Marketing Assn. Awards, Sept. 20 at Las Vegas’ Mirage Hotel. Joining DeAngelis with nods for best female infomercial presenter are former gymnast Cathy Rigby (“FasTrak Fitness Presents the Fast Track”), Jane Fonda (“Fitness Breakthroughs for the ‘90s), Priscilla Presley (“Priscilla Presley Presents Luxurious Hair”) and Victoria Principal (“Principal Secret IV”). In the male presenter category, the nominees are Jenner, Simmons, Tony Little (“Ab-Isolator”), Jake Steinfeld (“Body by Jake Ab & Back Plus”), Jim Caldwell (“Dura Shine”) and Mike Levey (“Amazing Discoveries--Mathemagics”).

LEGAL FILE

Case Closed: A federal jury in Los Angeles has rejected claims by actor Joseph Brance of TV’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation” that two Los Angeles police officers violated his civil rights by assaulting him in a parking garage two years ago. Jurors deliberated two hours Friday before finding that the officers were not liable in the civil suit filed by Brance. The actor, whose real name is Joseph Baumann, played Security Officer Garvey on the “Star Trek” spinoff. He claimed the officers, without justification, threw him to the ground in his apartment building’s garage.

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Drummer Charged: The former drummer for the rock band KISS was arrested after a handgun was found in his luggage at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Peter Criss, 50, checked his luggage Friday for a Los Angeles-bound flight, and a security X-ray showed a .38-caliber handgun and ammunition. Criss was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison.