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

TV/VIDEO

Honey, I Shrunk the Screen: Buena Vista Television plans to turn Disney’s big-screen franchise “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” into an hourlong syndicated TV series. Film director John Landis and his partner, Leslie Belzberg, will develop and produce the live-action show, which Buena Vista promises will have “plenty of special effects” to wow the kiddies, along with “comedy and wit” for adults. “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” released in 1989, grossed $130 million at movie theater box offices and also did well on home video. The TV version is expected to premiere next fall.

To Computers and Beyond!: “Toy Story” fans excited about Tuesday’s home video release of the movie might also want to check out two new “Toy Story” CD-ROMs for children that go on sale the same day. “Disney’s Activity Center, ‘Toy Story’ ” encourages children to aid Buzz Lightyear by solving perplexing logic puzzles and also offers kids a chance to mix their own sound effects, while “Disney’s Power Play, ‘Toy Story’ ” is a PC video game involving the film’s characters.

Katz, Katz, Everywhere: Jonathan Katz, whose voice stars in Comedy Central’s animated series “Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist,” can be seen in-the-flesh on CBS’ new comedy “Ink,” where he has landed a recurring role as Leo, a company executive referred to as “the angel of death” because he often bears bad news. Katz’s first appearance on the Ted Danson series is Monday.

‘Journey’ in Sign Language: MCA/Universal Home Video on Dec. 10 will release a special edition for hearing-impaired children of its new animated film “The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mist.” The latest straight-to-video sequel based on the 1988 hit film about a group of young dinosaurs will feature American Sign Language translation by “Sesame Street’s” Linda Bove. Every time the dinosaurs speak, Bove will be integrated into the frame in an oval bubble. Though Bove has signed on various “Sesame Street” videos and cartoons, this marks the first time MCA/Universal has released a film with American Sign Language translation. The video will sell for a suggested $19.98.

MOVIES

‘Children’ Revisited: A closed-captioned screening of the 1986 movie “Children of a Lesser God” will take place Sunday, followed by a discussion with actress Marlee Matlin, who won a best actress Oscar for her performance in the film. The movie’s director, Randa Haines, and former longtime Times arts editor Charles Champlin will also take part in the discussion, and two signing interpreters will be on hand. The screening begins at 5:15 p.m. at the Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park. Tickets are $12.

THE ARTS

Mr. Smithsonian Goes to Hollywood?: Washington’s venerable Smithsonian Institution has hired Hollywood talent reps Creative Artists Agency in a move designed to “increase recognition and awareness of the Smithsonian’s world-class exhibitions, research and education programs through film, television, music, new media and merchandising.” No word yet on any specific projects that might be spawned by the pairing.

La Jolla, Opera Pacific Scheduling: Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” to be staged by Les Waters, will open La Jolla Playhouse’s 50th anniversary season May 18-June 15. . . . Opera Pacific’s new executive director, Patrick L. Veitch, has canceled the company’s scheduled 1998 U.S. premiere of Lowell Leibermann’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” saying that presenting a new opera would require “greater financial strength than that of the current Opera Pacific.”

PEOPLE WATCH

Joe Klein’s New Post: The formerly “anonymous” “Primary Colors” author will leave his Newsweek columnist post to write the “Letter From Washington” column for the New Yorker magazine. Klein starts the new job in December, replacing Michael Kelly, who will become editor of the New Republic. “Joe Klein is a superb reporter and analyst, as he proved at Newsweek, and a real writer, as he proved with ‘Primary Colors,’ ” New Yorker Editor Tina Brown said. Klein, 50, who for months had emphatically denied authoring “True Colors,” resigned his consultant position with CBS News after confirming his authorship in July.

QUICK TAKES

Cable’s Home Shopping Network on Friday began taking advance orders for the “ID4: Independence Day” home video, which hits stores on Nov. 22. . . . The National Council on Crime & Delinquency has awarded KCAL-TV Channel 9 the PASS Award for furthering the understanding of crime issues, while naming the station’s news special “Chasing the Dragon: Drugs in L.A.” the year’s best TV special. . . . Actress Suzanne Somers takes over hosting duties on VH1’s “8-Track Flashback,” with episodes starting Monday. . . . District attorneys in New York have dropped gun possession charges filed a year ago against Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav, after a judge ruled the search that turned up the weapon was illegal. Police had searched the rapper after spotting a bulge in his clothing when a livery cab he was riding in got pulled over.