ARTPiper Pulls Out of MOCA Show: Per...

ART

Piper Pulls Out of MOCA Show: Per the artist’s request, the Museum of Contemporary Art plans to remove today 10 works by internationally known American artist Adrian Piper from the Temporary Contemporary’s exhibition “1965-1975: Reconsidering the Object of Art.” Piper said she “very regretfully” withdrew her work because of the exhibition’s sponsorship by tobacco company Philip Morris Inc. “I wanted very, very much to be in this . . . historically important exhibition, but there really is nothing in this world that I want so much that in order to get it I will knowingly help Philip Morris kill people,” Piper said, referring to the tobacco company’s involvement in public health controversies concerning smoking. Another noted artist, Hans Haacke, had earlier sent an open letter decrying the sponsorship to MOCA director Richard Koshalek. Haacke’s letter, as well as a subsequent notice signed by several artists including Douglas Huebler, Sol Lewitt and Dan Graham, have been posted at the exhibition; all of those artists’ works, however, have remained in the show, which opened Oct. 15. Piper said she just recently learned of Philip Morris’ sponsorship.

TELEVISION

Who’s on First?: NBC announced plans Tuesday to considerably shuffle its prime-time schedule, starting Dec. 12, when “The John Larroquette Show” moves to Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m., replacing “The Pursuit of Happiness,” which has been canceled. Then on Jan. 6, “Hope & Gloria” will move to “Larroquette’s” old Saturday 9 p.m. time slot, followed the next night by “NewsRadio,” which will move into “Hope’s” former Sunday 8:30 p.m. spot. A new show, “3rd Rock From the Sun,” featuring John Lithgow in his TV comedy series debut and co-starring Jane Curtin, will premiere Jan. 9, in “NewsRadio’s” former time period on Tuesday nights at 8:30. Meanwhile, the network has also canceled the Wednesday night drama “seaQuest 2032” and Sunday comedy “Minor Adjustments,” but will continue airing already-produced episodes of those shows into the near future.

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New Working-Class Hero?: Actor-singer Ruben Blades (“The Milagro Beanfield War,” “The Color of Night”) is set to star in a TV drama about a working-class family, created by Henry Bromell, producer of NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street.” The series, which has not yet been named, has a six-episode script commitment from NBC, and if picked up, could air during the 1996-97 season.

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Late-Night Alternative: Fox plans to counter-program Jay Leno and David Letterman with a new late-night soap opera in the vein of “Melrose Place” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” The as-yet-untitled hourlong program, set in New Orleans’ French Quarter, will air weeknights, starting in January, 1997. Linda Gottlieb (“Dirty Dancing,” “One Life to Live”) is the executive producer.

MUSIC

San Diego Symphony Cuts: The governing board of the financially distressed San Diego Symphony has decided to reduce the musical season from 36 weeks to 27 weeks, trim the size of the symphony from 79 members to 75, and ask musicians to accept a cut in pay. The board had earlier warned that the symphony would fold unless $2 million could be raised. A fund-raising effort fell $500,000 short of that goal, but board President Elsie Weston said the symphony can survive if cost cuts are made. “It’s always painful to have to go through these exercises,” Weston said, “but hopefully we’ll be able to put our house in order and keep the music playing.” The musicians, who already are paid less than their counterparts in San Francisco and Los Angeles, released a letter Tuesday saying they are willing to negotiate but they want an outside consultant to oversee such negotiations and examine the symphony’s books. “The board,” claims the letter, “has even less credibility with the musicians than it has with donors, the city or the public at large.”

DANCE

Anderson Quits National Ballet of Canada: After seven years, Reid Anderson, National Ballet of Canada artistic director, has resigned, citing “the continued lack of appreciation by government for art and artists” and, especially, “the recent cuts [in company support] from the Ontario Arts Council.” The first Canadian to lead the company, Anderson, 46, will remain in Toronto until November of next year while a successor is sought.

QUICK TAKES

Hole singer Courtney Love in the company of House Speaker Newt Gingrich? That’s right. Both are included on Barbara Walters’ Dec. 5 ABC special, “The 10 Most Fascinating People of 1995.” . . . Katie Couric will conduct a two-part interview with actor Christopher Reeve on NBC News’ “Today” show as part of next week’s weeklong series on spinal cord injuries. . . . A new “Peter and the Wolf” special with animated characters created by legendary Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones will air Dec. 8 on ABC. Kirstie Alley and Lloyd Bridges star in the latest incarnation of Sergei Prokofiev’s classical musical tale, which blends live-action with animation. . . . HBO’s “Tales From the Crypt” will have a new look when it returns for its seventh season, starting in April. After filming its first six seasons in the United States, production of the show is moving to London, starting Dec. 4. . . . Cast members Garry Shandling, Jeffrey Tambor and Penny Johnson will participate in “An Evening Inside ‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ ” on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at North Hollywood’s Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Members of the show’s creative staff will also take part. Tickets are $15.