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

POP/ROCK

Jackson Testifies: Pop star Michael Jackson testified for about 75 minutes Tuesday in a courtroom in Rome, defending himself against criminal charges of plagiarism. Jackson--who has been cleared of previous allegations of plagiarism in the United States--said that because he doesn’t speak Italian, he “couldn’t have” copied “Will You Be There” from “I Cigni di Balaka” (The Swans of Balaka) by popular Italian singer Al Bano. “There is some similarity, but it’s completely coincidental,” Jackson said. He added that he had never met Bano nor heard of the song prior to the lawsuit. In 1994, an Italian civil court found that Jackson did copy the song and banned sale of his “Dangerous” album in the country. The related criminal charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, but Bano’s lawyer, who wants Jackson to pay damages, said he would not ask for imprisonment. In other Jackson news, Smith-Hemion Productions has dropped its claims that Jackson’s parents and six other family members defrauded the company in conjunction with the ill-fated “Jackson Family Honors” TV special. However, a federal judge still has to decide whether Jackson broke a promise to perform on the show and whether the family members should be held financially liable.

KUDOS

Nosotros Honorees: Actress-singer-dancer Rita Moreno--who already has won virtually every major performing award including an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy--will pick up another trophy for her mantle on Friday when she receives the life achievement honors at the Nosotros Golden Eagle Awards for Latino entertainers. Other honorees at the event, at the Los Angeles Bonaventure hotel, will include Maria Conchita Alonso (performer of the year), Andy Garcia (outstanding film performer), singer Juan Gabriel (humanitarian award), Carlos Santana (music legend), Liz Torres (television actress, for the canceled “The John Larroquette Show”) and Robert Beltran (TV actor, for “Star Trek: Voyager).” The show will include a tribute to slain tejano singer Selena.

TELEVISION

Spielberg Takes on Frankenstein: “Igor,” an animated series created by Steven Spielberg, is among seven new shows to be added to the Fox Kids Network this fall. “Igor,” from DreamWorks Television Animation, focuses on the classic Frankenstein story but with a “modern-day comedic twist.” Also being added to Fox’s Saturday morning schedule: the live-action adventures “Mowgli: The New Adventures of the Jungle Book” and “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation”; the animated shows “Sam & Max” and “Silver Surfer,” both based on comic books; and “Home to Rent,” an animated tale of five monsters from a distant galaxy who live in an abandoned house. Coming to the network’s weekday schedule in the fall: a new “Power Rangers” series called “Turbo.”

Mid-Season Premieres: “Pauly,” Fox’s new half-hour sitcom starring comedian Pauly Shore, will premiere March 3 in the Monday 9:30 p.m. time slot. “Married . . . With Children,” which has been airing in that spot, will move to 9 p.m., replacing “Ned and Stacey.” . . . NBC will premiere “Just Shoot Me,” a comedy series starring Laura San Giacomo, George Segal and “Saturday Night Live’s” David Spade, on March 5 in the Wednesday 9:30 p.m. time slot. The series--which gets a “preview” airing March 4 at 9:30 p.m.--will air in the Wednesday slot for five weeks, replacing “Men Behaving Badly” for those weeks only.

Channel 2 Changes: Veteran entertainment reporter David Sheehan will be taking a lower profile at KCBS-TV Channel 2--but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s leaving the station, as has been rumored. Sheehan is negotiating to do more entertainment-related specials, which would cut down on some of his features for the newscast. Sheehan said he would still review movies for the station. Meanwhile, the future of the station’s consumer reporter, “Trouble Shooter” Judd McIlvain, is up in the air. KCBS has made an offer to McIlvain, whose contract expires in March, but he has yet to accept it. McIlvain could not be reached for comment.

QUICK TAKES

Orange County’s No Doubt is among the first acts--along with the multi-nominated Smashing Pumpkins, French Canadian songstress Celine Dion and country crooner Vince Gill--set to perform on the 39th Annual Grammy Awards Feb. 26 on CBS. . . . Walt Disney Studios will try to build anticipation for its animated movie “Hercules” with a nationwide traveling show called “Disney’s Hercules Mega Mall Tour.” The show, which kicks off Thursday in Atlanta, emphasizes the art of animation through demonstrations, a live stage show and games. The tour ends June 20 in Los Angeles--not at the mall, but at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre, where the movie opens June 27. . . . Martha Stewart, the queen of “how to” living, has bought out most of Time Inc.’s 20% stake in Martha Stewart Living magazine, her syndicated TV show and some book publishing operations. Along with the economic advantages, Stewart said the move will grant her greater autonomy. The purchase price was not disclosed . . . The family of impresario James A. Doolittle, who was found dead Saturday, is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations by sent to the James A. Doolittle Dance Fund, the Music Center Foundation, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90012. Doolittle created the dance fund with a $425,000 endowment just before his death.