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

TV & MOVIES

Marlow Stepping Down: Veteran KNBC anchor Jess Marlow has announced plans to retire from his weekday 6 p.m. anchor duties at the end of April. Marlow, who has been with KNBC for 25 years and in TV news for 40 years, will continue to host the station’s weekly public service show, “Channel 4 News Conference,” and will be involved in other KNBC projects.

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Imagen Winners: John Sayles’ “Lone Star” was honored as best feature film, ABC’s “NYPD Blue” was named best TV series, and PBS’ “The Puzzle Place” was named best daytime TV program Wednesday at the 1997 Imagen Awards honoring positive cultural portrayals of Latinos. In addition, 12 honorees were singled out for presenting “Lasting Images” of Latinos; among them were Cheech Marin, the late Desi Arnaz, Ruben Blades and the “Mi Familia” cast.

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Taking Liberty: CNN’s international news division has won the 1997 Philadelphia Liberty Medal, a $100,000 prize whose previous recipients include King Hussein of Jordan, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and South Africans Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk. The award recognizes the cable network’s growing world influence.

POP/ROCK

‘Antichrist Superstars’ Nixed: Saying that the shock-rock band’s music is “not consistent with our community standards,” officials in Richmond, Va., have canceled a scheduled May 10 concert by Marilyn Manson, whose latest album, “Antichrist Superstar,” has sold more than 1 million copies. Earlier this month, a show in Columbia, S.C., was axed after state legislators introduced a resolution banning the group’s performance. Protesters have also criticized shows in Florida and Oklahoma.

QUICK TAKES

ABC--in need of some good ratings news--received a little Tuesday: the premiere of Dan Aykroyd’s new comedy series, “Soul Man,” was watched by 18.3 million people, more than the special episode of “Home Improvement” that preceded it. “NYPD Blue” also returned to the schedule Tuesday, winning its time period with an audience of 17.8 million. . . . Starting April 28, former O.J. Simpson attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. will go it alone on his Court TV show, which must now be retitled from its current “Cochran & Grace.” Co-host Nancy Grace, meanwhile, is reportedly being considered for a daytime anchor spot. . . . The correct date for Tiger Woods’ appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is April 24. . . . The Discovery Channel’s broadcast Sunday of “Titanic: Anatomy of a Disaster” scored the best ratings in the cable network’s history.