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

ENTERTAINMENT

Toon Time: The Disney Channel will celebrate its 15th anniversary on April 18 by launching Toon Disney, a new 24-hour cable network featuring Disney’s vast library of TV animation. Programming will include “Timon & Pumbaa,” “New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” “Chip ‘N Dale” and a nightly four-hour “Magical World of Toons” prime-time block, featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and the rest of the Disney gang. Aimed at 2- to 11-year-olds and their families, Toon Disney will be seen initially mainly on satellite systems but will be available in coming months on local cable systems, including Marcus and Century.

Driven Off: Singer Meredith Brooks was driven from the stage Monday night after performing only two songs as the opening act for the Rolling Stones’ Argentina show. Brooks, who had dressed in an Argentine soccer jersey in an attempt to win over the crowd, left the stage after the crowd chanted, “Come on, Stones,” and tossed batteries, bottles and coins at her as she sang her hit “Bitch.”

‘Seinfeld’ Out of Times Square: The Big Apple has turned down a request from “Seinfeld” sponsor Fuji Photo Film to host a private bash in the heart of the theater district for the NBC series’ final episode May 14. “It would have created traffic problems of monumental proportions at the height of rush hour in one of the heaviest traveled areas of the city,” a spokeswoman for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said.

QUICK TAKES

KCBS-TV Channel 2 won five awards Wednesday from the Radio-Television News Directors Assn., including trophies for investigative reporting, news series and overall excellence. KTTV-TV Channel 11 won for best news documentary, and KTLA-TV won the spot news category. The awards covered stations in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. . . . CBS’ “Chicago Hope” was named best prime-time series Wednesday at the 1998 Imagen Awards honoring positive portrayals of Latinos. . . . Santa Monica’s Pan Pacific Park today launches a new virtual reality motion-simulator attraction, Action Ride Theater. The ride bumps along to two films, the sea voyage “Bottlenose” and “Volcano Mine Ride.” . . . A Santa Monica judge has thrown out a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Michael Jackson, citing lack of evidence. Lawyer Maureen Doherty had accused the entertainer and his MJJ Productions of tax fraud and discrimination when she was fired. . . . An in-studio, on-air “scuffle” Wednesday between Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke and KROQ-FM (106.7) deejays Kevin & Bean was an April Fool’s prank. Yorke was not there, the band’s publicist and record company said.