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

TELEVISION

Goodbye ‘Sacred’: The producers of TV’s controversial priest drama “Nothing Sacred” confirmed its demise in a two-page ad Thursday in the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety. “We’ve been blessed,” read the ad from 20th Century Fox, which went on to say that “though the ratings never matched the quality and integrity of this exceptional series, we are so proud to have been a part of its divine lifetime.” The ABC series, which won a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award earlier this month, was pulled off the air in March after low-rated runs in two difficult time slots. It had been boycotted by the conservative Catholic League, which believed that the principal character, a priest (played by Kevin Anderson) who questions some elements of his faith, to be anti-Catholic. However, the series received votes of confidence from other Catholic leaders, including numerous clergy members.

Departures and ‘Order’: Actress Carey Lowell is the latest “Law & Order” cast member to pass through the NBC series’ exit door. Lowell, who has played Assistant Dist. Atty. Jamie Ross for two seasons, will leave after the May 26 season finale, reportedly to spend more time with her 7-year-old daughter, Hannah. Lowell is already the third actor to play the assistant D.A. in the series’ eight-year run. The series’ creator, Dick Wolf, has said that he will seek another “strong” female as Lowell’s successor.

From Oscar to Tube: Cable’s TNT and TBS have acquired the eventual initial television broadcast rights to two recent Oscar winners: “L.A. Confidential” (best adapted screenplay and best actress, Kim Basinger) and “As Good as It Gets” (best actor, Jack Nicholson, and best actress, Helen Hunt). Other movies recently acquired by the Turner networks include “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Wag the Dog” and “The Wedding Singer.”

MOVIES

Legal Monster: The upcoming big-budget movie “Godzilla” is already winning court battles. A Los Angeles federal judge has barred William Morrow from publishing a book about the 1950s Japanese film character, saying that there is a “likelihood” that a Japanese company that granted the current film rights will win its copyright-infringement case against the book. Toho Co., which made the first “Godzilla” movie and published the 1956 tome “Godzilla, King of Monsters,” says it has given rights to Random House to publish books connected to the TriStar Pictures movie, which is due in theaters in May. Morrow’s 227-page “Godzilla!” had been set for release this month.

POP/ROCK

Standing by Their Woman: Country stars Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis and the Oak Ridge Boys were among those scheduled to sing at a Thursday memorial service for the “first lady of country music,” Tammy Wynette. The service, scheduled to run into the evening, was being held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry. Wynette, 55, died Monday from a blood clot in her lungs.

Friends in High Places: Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, the Spice Girls, Trisha Yearwood and Jon Bon Jovi are among those scheduled to join tenor Luciano Pavarotti at a June 9 benefit concert that also boasts filmmaker Spike Lee as an organizer. The concert, to be held in Pavarotti’s hometown of Modena, Italy, will help fund the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children’s Village, a planned refuge for children in the war-torn African nation of Liberia. An album and video of the concert (to be directed by Lee) will be released in the fall. Two previous “Pavarotti & Friends” concerts have raised more than $7 million for charity.

QUICK TAKES

“The Phantom of the Opera” will return to the Pantages Theatre for a 10-week run, Aug. 28 to Nov. 1. Although specific stars are not yet known, the touring company will be the same one that broke Pantages records last fall and winter, when it was seen by nearly 300,000 people and grossed more than $16.3 million. . . . Actress Lisa Nicole Carson will be doing triple duty April 27, appearing on all three shows on the Fox lineup. In addition to her regular gig on “Ally McBeal” as Ally’s roommate, Carson--also a recurring character on NBC’s “ER”--will guest-star on “Damon” and “Getting Personal.” . . . Actor Will Smith, jazzman Wynton Marsalis and singers Patti LaBelle and the Artist Formerly Known as Prince will be honored in New York tonight at the 1998 Essence Awards, which will be broadcast May 21 on Fox. The awards highlight contributions of outstanding African Americans. . . . Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood was among a dozen people rescued Wednesday from a disabled yacht that burned moments later in waters about 100 miles east of Rio de Janeiro. . . . Grammy-winning singer R. Kelly (“I Believe I Can Fly”) was arrested on disorderly conduct charges Monday in Chicago after he allegedly became verbally abusive with police who asked him to lower the volume on his car stereo. Kelly was also cited on charges of violating the city’s strict noise ordinance. . . . British tabloids were reporting Thursday that singer George Michael, who posted bail after being arrested at a Beverly Hills park Wednesday for allegedly committing a lewd act in a public restroom, was holed up at the Los Angeles mansion of David Geffen, who heads Michael’s label, DreamWorks Records.