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

TELEVISION

Ode to a ‘Country Boy’: Cable’s MSNBC will air live coverage of John Denver’s memorial service today in Aurora, Colo., starting at 9 a.m. And cable’s A&E; will rebroadcast the two-hour 1995 special “John Denver: The Wildlife Concert,” on Saturday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Denver’s family has asked that donations in the singer’s memory be made to four charitable organizations: the Windstar Land Conservancy in Snowmass, Colo.; the Hunger Project in New York, N.Y.; the Cousteau Society in Chesapeake, Va.; and Plant-It 2000 in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

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Mommy Kudrow: “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow, 33, is expecting her first child next spring. Warner Bros. TV, which produces the show, confirms that the pregnancy will be written into the show, although no plot specifics are available yet. Kudrow married advertising executive Michael Stern in 1995.

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‘Ellen’ Addendum: Despite the recent brouhaha over ABC adding parental discretion advisories to “Ellen,” ABC Entertainment President Jamie Tarses said the network “couldn’t feel better about the show,” while acknowledging that charting new territory by having a lesbian lead character can be “a bumpy road.” Star Ellen DeGeneres and gay-rights groups have criticized ABC for using the advisories on some episodes. Addressing university students via satellite Wednesday night, Tarses defended the policy, saying, “We’re catering to a large country here. Some people are less comfortable than the rest of us with the subject matter.” Wednesday’s episode did not carry an advisory.

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Soapy Gathering: The idea is simple: bring together producers and head writers of America’s daytime dramas along with network executives and discuss ways for soap opera story lines to more positively impact social issues. The third “Soap Summit”--focusing this year on violence against women--starts tonight at Century City’s Park Hyatt Hotel. Three prime-time shows are also included: “Melrose Place,” “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Party of Five.” The purpose of the summit, which is funded in part by the Ford Foundation, is to urge soap writers to “help” with “issues we are not dealing well with in this country,” said summit organizer Sonny Fox, a former NBC programming executive.

MOVIES

‘Summer’ Suit: Walt Disney Company’s Miramax unit has filed suit in New York to get Sony Pictures to change the marketing of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” alleging that it exploits Miramax’s hit “Scream.” According to Sony sources, Miramax is upset by the ad’s line: “from the creator of ‘Scream.’ ” “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was written by “Scream” screenwriter Kevin Williamson. Miramax executives could not be reached for comment. The two distributors fought over “Scream” once before--Sony complained that the Miramax film’s title was too similar to its own movie “Screamers”; that dispute was settled with Miramax agreeing to pay an undisclosed amount.

OPERA

Lone Tenor: Tickets go on sale Sunday for a Dec. 6 solo appearance by tenor Jose Carreras (accompanied by Lorenzo Bavaj on piano) at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. It will be Carreras’ first L.A. appearance since the 1994 “Three Tenors” concert at Dodger Stadium. Tickets are $35, $65, $95 and $150.

QUICK TAKES

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are nearing deals to reunite with their “Sleepless in Seattle” director Nora Ephron in Warner Bros.’ “You Have Mail,” a comedy about a couple who correspond anonymously through e-mail. . . . ABC will preempt its low-rated Thursday dramas “Cracker” and the controversial “Nothing Sacred” twice during the coming ratings sweeps, airing the Christopher Reeve movie “Village of the Damned” on Oct. 30 and the miniseries “Medusa’s Child” on Nov. 20.