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

MOVIES

Let the Oscar Race Begin: “Shine,” the much acclaimed film about Australian pianist David Helfgott and his battle with madness, was named the year’s best picture Tuesday by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures in New York, while “Fargo,” the black comedy about a kidnapping plot gone awry, took best actress honors for Frances McDormand and best director kudos for Joel Coen. Among other awards, the critics’ group picked Tom Cruise as best actor for his turn in the upcoming “Jerry Maguire,” France’s “Ridicule” as best foreign film and “Paradise Lost” as best documentary. Runners-up to “Shine” in the best picture balloting were “The English Patient,” “Fargo,” “Secrets & Lies” and “Everyone Says I Love You.”

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Cry for the Furs, Argentina: Madonna may have more than the press to contend with at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday during the premiere of her much-anticipated turn as Eva Peron in “Evita.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have announced plans to protest outside the hall because Madonna’s Evita wears a number of real furs--specially designed by Italy’s Fendi sisters--when, in PETA’s words “fake furs would have done the trick.” The protest, to be led by a “towering cavewoman” and with signs reading “Don’t Let Hollywood Go Back to the Stone Age,” is part of PETA’s “Reel People Wear Fake Fur” campaign, which begins today with a full-page ad in the Hollywood Reporter signed by directors Oliver Stone, Rob Reiner, Norman Lear and Richard Donner.

TELEVISION

Moving to Fox: Veteran broadcaster Brit Hume is leaving ABC News, his home for 23 years, to join the fledgling Fox News as its chief Washington correspondent and managing editor. Hume, currently ABC’s chief White House correspondent, will switch networks in January. He will cover major political stories and contribute analysis to Fox’s news programs, as well as cable’s Fox News Channel and Fox News Edge, a news service for affiliates. “Brit Hume is known for his fair and balanced reporting,” said Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, “and we are pleased to add someone whose knowledge of Washington and politics is perhaps only rivaled by David Brinkley.” ABC announced Tuesday that John Donvan, a veteran foreign correspondent for ABC News, will take over Hume’s White House beat.

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Oh, Ellen: Ellen DeGeneres continues the “is she or isn’t she” debate about her TV character’s sexual orientation when she guest stars on HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show” tonight. The actress has made several clever quips on real talk shows about her character possibly “coming out” on her ABC series, and when she guests on the fictional “Larry Sanders Show,” the host (Garry Shandling) tries to get DeGeneres the actress to “come out” on the air. Meanwhile, tonight ABC will replay “Ellen’s” season opener in which she decides to buy a house. That episode helped fuel the “is she or isn’t she” speculation when a real estate agent held up figurines of a woman joined by a man at a house’s front door, to which Ellen responded: “I think that puppet’s in the wrong show.”

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More Labeling: In the midst of the current TV industry focus on age-based ratings that would judge a program by its levels of violence, nudity and foul language, several networks have announced a separate plan to give special designation to children’s programs that are “educational and informational.” In information supplied to program listing services, the fare would be denoted with the symbol “E/I.” But while NBC, CBS, Fox and UPN announced Tuesday that they would take part in the effort, which is supported by the National Assn. of Broadcasters and the Assn. of Local Television Stations, it remains to be seen which listing services actually will carry the notations.

PEOPLE WATCH

No Reunion: One week after her publicist said the couple had “definitely reconciled,” “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson Lee went on NBC’s “Tonight Show” Monday and told host Jay Leno that she has moved out of the house she used to share with husband Tommy Lee and that the rocker “is in recovery for alcohol abuse.” With her voice breaking, she said: “I wish him the best, but I’m more concerned about our son.” In other couple news, Sylvester Stallone tells the “Leeza” show today that he plans to marry model Jennifer Flavin “probably around January or February” after their newborn daughter recovers from recent surgery to repair a hole in her heart.

QUICK TAKES

A memorial service for photographer Edmund Teske will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Art Park. The entrance to the house is at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Teske died at age 85 on Nov. 22 at his studio in Los Angeles. . . . “The Graduate,” one of 25 films selected by the Library of Congress last week for inclusion on the National Film Registry, will be re-released early next year in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The Mike Nichols film that made Dustin Hoffman a star will open in New York and San Francisco on Feb. 14 and be re-released nationwide in March. . . . The National Academy of Songwriters will present its 1996 Lifetime Achievement Awards to Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson and the duo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller tonight at 7:30 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. . . . Cable’s Court TV will air taped and live coverage of the courtroom battle in San Francisco over the late Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia’s estate, starting today. Deborah Koons Garcia, the guitarist’s third wife, is contesting a document granting $5 million of the estate to his second wife, Carolyn Adams Garcia. . . . Tickets go on sale tonight at 7 at all Tower Records, Blockbuster Music and Ritmo Latino stores for KROQ-FM’s (106.7) seventh annual “Almost Acoustic Christmas” concerts Friday and Saturday at the Universal Amphitheatre. Priority wristbands will be given out at 5 p.m.