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

TELEVISION

No ‘Morals’ Charge: After much ado and hand-wringing by TV critics, Steven Bochco’s new CBS comedy “Public Morals” will air without a viewer-discretion advisory. That’s partly because the pilot episode, which prompted the controversy because of its bawdy language, has been edited and now may not air at all; instead, CBS will introduce the show Oct. 30 with its second episode. “Public Morals” focuses on the NYPD vice squad, representing the comedic side of the police department that Bochco chronicles dramatically in ABC’s “NYPD Blue.” Though he’s somewhat dismayed by the pilot’s uncertain status, Bochco--who was surprised by the critical backlash--expressed satisfaction that the label wasn’t necessary on subsequent episodes, saying, “We never dialed anything back [in terms of content], and if they feel comfortable with it, I’m delighted.”

More on Bochco: The writer-producer will become the first person from the television world to receive the Writers Guild Foundation’s annual Career Achievement Award, during a nine-hour tribute Nov. 10 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The event will include screenings from Bochco shows including “Hill Street Blues,” “Cop Rock,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “L.A. Law,” “Columbo,” “NYPD Blue” and “Murder One.” Previous Writers Guild honorees--all from feature films--include Oliver Stone, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and Billy Wilder.

Ellen Opens Up, Some: During a Wednesday night tribute to ABC’s “Ellen” at the Museum of Television & Radio’s annual festival, star Ellen DeGeneres joked, deflected but didn’t dodge questions about whether her sitcom character, Ellen Morgan, will come out as a lesbian this season. “It is a risk,” she said. “But it is a risk that I would be willing to take.” DeGeneres also told the audience, which was vocal in its support of developing her character into a lesbian, that she planned before the TV season’s end to do “something great for a big group of people.”

MOVIES

Casting Call: 20th Century Fox continues its search for Macaulay Culkin’s replacement with an open casting call for a “talented 8-year-old boy to be left ‘Home Alone.’ ” The open auditions, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica, will also seek young actors to play the still-to-be-chosen “Home Alone 3” star’s 10-year-old sister and 12-year-old brother. Acting experience is not required, but candidates must bring a current photograph.

STAGE

DreamWorks Aids CTG: DreamWorks SKG--the film and TV partnership of Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen--is giving $340,000 over the next two years to play development at the Center Theatre Group. The money will support such programs as the Mark Taper Forum’s New Work Festival, Blacksmyths, Asian Theatre Workshop, Latino Theatre Initiative, Writers’ Workshop and Other Voices. . . . The Taper and South Coast Repertory also are receiving just-announced grants from the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays. The Taper will receive $40,000 for a production of “The Street of the Sun,” which is now slated for next May as part of the Taper main-stage season. The play’s writer, Jose Rivera, will also receive $10,000. South Coast, meanwhile, gets $40,000 for “Golden Child,” opening in January, with playwright David Henry Hwang also receiving $10,000.

New Year’s With George: “Seinfeld” co-star Jason Alexander will make a rare live stage appearance in “Jason Alexander’s New Year’s Eve Celebration,” Dec. 31 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Alexander will be joined by a cappella singers the Bobs and the improvisational comedy group ComedySportz.

POP/ROCK

TAFKA ‘Slave’: With his bitter contractual battle with Warner Bros. Records finally over, the Artist Formerly Known as Prince wants the world to know that his self-described serfdom is over. Prince, who had taken to scrawling the word “slave” on his cheek in protest, has signed a deal with EMI to manufacture and distribute a three-disc CD set, to be titled “Emancipation.” The package will be released on Prince’s own NPG Records, and is due in stores Nov. 19.

QUICK TAKES

“Interview With the Vampire” co-star Kirsten Dunst has landed a recurring role on NBC’s “ER.” Dunst, who debuts Oct. 31 and will appear in at least five episodes, will play a “troubled teenager” who is helped by Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney). . . . “Real Radio” KLSX-FM (97.1) will host a free concert Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. Scheduled performers include Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons, Modern English and the Smithereens. . . . Steve Scott Springer, currently starring in the Blank Theatre Company’s “Sky’s End” in Hollywood, has landed one of seven principal roles in the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, “Whistle Down the Wind,” opening in December in Washington. In order to make rehearsals on Monday, he’ll leave “Sky’s End” after tonight’s performance. “Sky’s End,” scheduled to close Sunday, will complete the weekend with an understudy.