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

TV/VIDEO

Open for Offers: With the warning “Watch Out Michael Jordan!,” 93-year-old entertainer Bob Hope will declare himself a “free agent” today in ads in the Los Angeles Times and Hollywood trade papers. Hope will close out his 60-year NBC contract with his final special airing on Nov. 23. Next month, Hope will earn his second listing in the Guinness Book of World Records, as the entertainer with “the longest-running contract with a single network” (the other is for “most honored entertainer”).

*

Baseball Dips ‘Ink’: Fox’s World Series coverage is striking out so far in the Nielsen ratings but still took considerable steam off CBS’ so-called “Big Comedy Monday” lineup and ABC’s “Monday Night Football.” Postponed until Monday by a weekend rain storm, the baseball championship dropped ABC’s Monday night football game (Oakland at San Diego) to its lowest numbers in a decade and pushed “Cosby” to season-low ratings, while also taking a bite out of premiere numbers for “Ink.” CBS’ new Ted Danson-Mary Steenburgen sitcom--delayed because of a much-publicized series retooling--romanced just 18% of the available audience, with the only good news being that its rating represented a slight improvement over lead-in Cosby’s 17% share. Meanwhile, unless the New York Yankees rally, Fox faces the possible distinction of televising the lowest-rated World Series ever. The first two games averaged a 24% audience share, well short of the record low of 29% established in 1989 by the earthquake-interrupted San Francisco-Oakland series.

*

Bambi’s Turning 55: Buena Vista Home Video will reissue its 1942 masterpiece “Bambi” on Feb. 4 for 55 days only in celebration of the movie’s 55th anniversary. The limited-edition video--restored and digitally remastered by THX--will carry a suggested retail price of $26.99.

MOVIES

Watching Whoopi: Whoopi Goldberg, not Demi Moore or Julia Roberts, should command the biggest salary among Hollywood women, according to a recent poll. Satellite DIRECT magazine asked 600 Americans (presumably satellite TV watchers) which actresses in starring roles would make them more likely to see a film, and Goldberg ranked No. 1, followed by Jodie Foster and Meryl Streep. Roberts placed fourth, while Moore--who commanded a record-setting $12.5-million salary for “Striptease”--ranked fifth out of 10 actresses included in the survey. The rest of the list, in order: Meg Ryan, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sharon Stone, Sandra Bullock and Helen Hunt.

RADIO

Dispute Resolved: Brotherhood Crusade President Danny J. Bakewell on Tuesday accepted an apology from radio station KKBT-FM (92.3), saying that a dispute over a skit called “Little Crackhead” had come to “a favorable conclusion.” Bakewell’s group had protested the skit, which aired on KKBT’s top-rated morning show before being pulled last week, as well as the station’s treatment of Compton Mayor Omar Bradley, who had called the show to voice his own opposition. “It has never been our intention to minimize, glorify or make light of the devastating pain and suffering caused by this dreadful drug,” KKBT General Manager Craig Wilbraham said in a statement, which was also scheduled to air on the station. In the statement, Wilbraham also apologized directly to Bradley, saying, “It was never our intention to harm anyone.”

ART

Taking On Lesbian Stereotypes: “Dyke Deck,” a deck of playing cards designed by Los Angeles-based photographer Cathy Opie to explore stereotypes about lesbians, is the latest attraction at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s gift shops. Published by MOCA and priced at $19.95, the cards investigate four views of lesbian identity. Diamonds represent “femmes,” clubs are “jocks,” spades are “butches” and hearts are “couples.” A portion of the proceeds from sales of the cards will be donated to the Audre Lorde Lesbian Health Care Clinic in Los Angeles.

*

Talk Time: Noted architect Frank Gehry, Mark Taper Forum Artistic Director Gordon Davidson and Andrea Van de Kamp, Los Angeles managing director of Sotheby’s and the new chair of the Music Center, on Nov. 7 will kick off “Conversations at Sotheby’s,” a new lecture series at the Beverly Hills auction house. Cultural and political commentator Anne Taylor Flemming will host the discussion, titled “The Art of Politics/The Politics of Art.” Tickets are $25 and benefit the Music Center.

QUICK TAKES

Rock star Bruce Springsteen is among those scheduled to perform on Sunday during a noon rally at the Westwood Federal Building to combat Proposition 209, the anti-affirmative action initiative. Meanwhile, leaders from two of Hollywood’s biggest unions, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, also denounced Prop. 209, during a joint news conference in Universal City Tuesday. . . . Marlon Brando has decided not to star in a CBS miniseries based on “The Godfather” writer Mario Puzo’s novel “The Last Don.” However, Joe Mantegna has been set for a supporting role, while the producers look for a new lead.