POP/ROCKACLU to Sue Over Rap Ad Ban:...

POP/ROCK

ACLU to Sue Over Rap Ad Ban: The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California plans to file today a U.S. Federal Court lawsuit against the city of Inglewood protesting its ban of advertisements for the rap group Watts Gangstas on three bus benches in the city. Inglewood officials in August had banned the ad, which features the album cover for “The Real” and shows a scale with white powder on it and the band members turning their backs to the scale. The ACLU, which maintains the ban violates constitutional free speech protections, called the ad, which is on 27 bus benches elsewhere throughout the L.A. area, a “strong anti-drug message.” “We find it ironic that not only is the city of Inglewood violating free speech, but it is preventing a very popular group from persuading their fans to turn from drugs,” an ACLU spokeswoman said Thursday. The suit seeks an immediate injunction requiring the city to allow the ads as well as future protections against free speech violations.

MOVIES

Making New Friends: “Friends” star David Schwimmer will make his directorial debut this summer in a feature film in which he will also star and most likely co-write. The yet-to-be determined project is part of an overall deal between Schwimmer and Miramax Films that was announced Thursday. The agreement, described by Miramax as “extremely lucrative,” will include movie projects coordinated around Schwimmer’s “Friends” schedule and will also allow him to pursue other acting projects. The actor makes his feature film debut in Miramax’s “The Pallbearer,” set for release next year.

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Anspach vs. Nicholson: Actress Susan Anspach, who claims Jack Nicholson fathered her 25-year-old son, Caleb, during an affair the two had in 1969 while filming “Five Easy Pieces,” has filed a $1-million lawsuit in Santa Monica Superior Court alleging the actor gave her hundreds of thousands of dollars, then demanded it back with interest. Anspach also alleges that Nicholson’s business manager, Robert Colbert, used the “loans,” which she says were never intended to be repaid, to threaten and sexually harass her. Anspach also seeks a court order preventing Nicholson from foreclosing on her and Caleb’s Santa Monica home.

TELEVISION

Practicing Patience: The Fox network gave a big vote of confidence to four of its new comedies Thursday by picking them up for a full season despite low ratings. The series include “Too Something,” which ranks 90th out of 118 network prime-time programs and had already been pulled from the network’s November “sweeps” schedule but is now expected to return with a new title at a later date. Also extended to full-season runs were Thursday night’s “The Crew,” the most successful show of the bunch at 80th place in season-to-date ratings, and the Monday comedies “Partners” and “Ned and Stacey,” which are tied for 98th. “Fox’s long-term goal is to have more comedies on our prime-time schedule,” said Fox Entertainment President John Matoian. “The best way to do that is to stick with the work of quality producers, writers and talent, and give their shows the time they need to attract the audience they deserve.” . . . Meanwhile, NBC has picked up full-season orders for three of its new series, the successful Thursday comedies “Caroline in the City” and “The Single Guy,” rated No. 4 and 6 , respectively, and the Saturday night action-adventure show “JAG,” rated 63rd.

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Women Top Network News: For the first time since the annual studies began 12 years ago, two women led the national network news corps in on-air appearances in 1994, according to a study released Wednesday by the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell came in first with 184 stories, followed by CBS’ Rita Braver with 178; both had the White House beat for most of the year. Completing the top five were NBC designated hitter Bob Hager (159 stories), CBS Pentagon/State Department correspondent David Martin (128) and ABC White House correspondent Brit Hume (127). The study also showed an increase of work for minority reporters: Although none broke into the top 10, 22 placed among the 96 correspondents with at least five 1994 on-air appearances. The most-seen minority reporter was CBS’ Bill Whitaker, who finished No. 11 with 100 stories, followed by NBC’s Larry Carroll, who was 17th with 84.

QUICK TAKES

Dogstar, the rock band that features actor Keanu Reeves on bass guitar, has been signed by Zoo Records, which hopes to release an album early next year. Dogstar, which formed in 1991, recently completed a U.S. club tour and opened for Bon Jovi at the Forum Sept. 29.. . . “Four Dogs and a Bone,” the Geffen Playhouse hit comedy starring Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Perkins, Parker Posey and Martin Short, has been extended through Dec. 10. . . . “Showgirls” star Elizabeth Berkley will go online today during a noon-1 p.m. chat on the World Wide Web. The log-on is https://Rocktropolis.com/detour. . . . Robert De Niro and ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith are the parents of twin boys, born last month with the help of a surrogate mother. Though their romance ended several years ago, De Niro, 52, and Smith, 43, will share parenting duties, the actor’s spokesman said.