Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

TELEVISION

Improving the Planet: Beer-swigging Homer Simpson’s kid an environmentalist? She sure is, according to the sixth annual Environmental Media Awards, which were to be handed out Monday night at the Beverly Hilton. “Lisa, the Vegetarian” took honors in the TV episodic comedy category for a segment of “The Simpsons.” Other top awards went to writer-director Rob Reiner for his continuing environmental activism--well, you might expect that from clean-cut Carl Reiner’s kid--and to actor Ted Danson for his efforts to protect the oceans. TV’s “Home Improvement” writers Rosalind Moore and Howard Morris were given the $10,000 Turner Prize for “The Vasectomy One,” which dealt with population growth. Among other TV winners: “X-Files” (episodic drama), “Rocko’s Modern Life” (children, animated), “Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy” (children, live) and “Network Earth” (TV newsmagazine). In the feature film category, the kudos went to “Free Willy 2.” Bill Maher, host of “Politically Incorrect,” was the scheduled host, with singer Joni Mitchell set to top the entertainment. Sponsor was the Italian clothing firm Ermenegildo Zegna.

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Urich Weighs Anchor: Veteran actor Robert Urich, whose syndicated TV series “The Lazarus Man” was canceled this summer after he announced he was undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer, has landed a new job. Urich, 49, a boating enthusiast, will host “Boatworks,” a series that will premiere early next year on PBS. Maryland Public Television and Rising Tide Productions are producing the 13-part series, which will explore life on the water.

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Sick Call: The star of “Xena: Warrior Princess” is expected to leave the hospital today after fracturing her pelvis last week while taping a skit on horseback for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” Lucy Lawless, the 28-year-old New Zealander who stars in the popular syndicated show, was in the NBC parking lot when her horse lost its footing and fell. The horse was fine, but not Lawless. “She’s doing great; she’s just going to need rest and recuperation time,” said Jim Benson, spokesman for show distributor MCA Inc. . . . Merv Griffin, entertainment mogul and former talk-show host, has prostate cancer, but doctors expect him to make a full recovery, his publicist said Monday. The 71-year-old entertainer will start four weeks of radiation treatment later this week as an outpatient, Warren Cowan said. Griffin, who was host of talk shows on NBC and CBS and in syndication from 1962 to 1986, is the creator and executive producer of game shows including “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.” He also is a casino owner in Atlantic City, N.J.

POP/ROCK

The Big Payback: James Brown has a choice: Give it up or turn it loose. That 1970s song title from the Godfather of Soul’s career could easily apply today. Under an agreement with federal prosecutors, the 68-year-old Brown must forfeit $120,000--nearly half the money seized at Boston’s airport last year when his lawyer returned with proceeds from Brown’s European tour. Brown gets to keep $140,743 of the $260,743 the Customs Service seized, under the deal announced last week. Authorities said the lawyer reported that he was carrying only $100,000 from Paris. A federal law aimed at preventing tax evasion and money laundering requires the filing of written reports when more than $10,000 in currency is brought into the country.

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‘Unforgettable . . . in Every Way’: Four decades ago, Nat King Cole was attacked during a show in Alabama, and he never performed there again. Now the late singer is being used to draw visitors to his home state. Cole’s song “Unforgettable” will be used as part of the state of Alabama’s new tourism campaign. The new slogan will be unveiled Nov. 4. It will replace the old theme, “Stars Fell on Alabama,” to identify the state with one of America’s favorite songs, said state Tourism Director Aubrey Miller. Quite a switch from 1956, when the Montgomery-born singer was attacked by racists during a performance at Birmingham’s municipal auditorium.

QUICK TAKES

Singer Eddie Fisher, who has been crooning to audiences for half a century, returns to Carnegie Hall in New York on Nov. 29, when he will introduce material from his forthcoming recording, “Love’s Been Good to Me.” Fisher, 68, will be joined by daughters Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher and a 34-piece orchestra, says his personal manager, Tino Barzie. . . . The Farm Aid ’96 benefit concert lasted well into the night in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday. More than 40,000 people packed a stadium to hear stars including hometown talent Hootie & the Blowfish. Farm Aid veterans Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young also performed in the ninth benefit concert to raise funds and public awareness of the problems facing U.S. farmers. Since the first concert was held in 1985, Farm Aid has granted nearly $13 million in assistance to farm-related causes. . . . Cuba is gearing up for a celebration of the once-banned Beatles. Starting today, Cuba’s Writers’ and Artists’ Guild will devote three days to honoring the British rock superstars, discussing them, playing their music and viewing their films. The Beatles were banned by Cuba’s communist government through the mid-1970s, but Cuban fans defied the ban by tuning into to radio broadcasts from Florida in the 1960s. . . . “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” star Jane Seymour today will take over a post previously held by Audrey Hepburn when she is named an official spokeswoman for UNICEF during ceremonies at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills.