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

MOVIES

Box-Office Treat: “Halloween H20” scared up about $5.1 million on 2,454 screens on its opening day Wednesday, knocking “Saving Private Ryan” (with $3.1 million) out of first place by a wide margin, according to industry estimates. Miramax, which released the film through its Dimension label, said that “H20”--with Jamie Lee Curtis reviving her role in the franchise--set a Wednesday opening record for the company. Meanwhile, Paul Dergarabedian of the industry tracking firm Exhibitor Relations called the debut “extremely strong,” especially for an R-rated film. “H20’s” launch compared favorably to other midweek summer openings this year. Although it came in under the debut figures posted by “Armageddon” ($9.6 million) and “Godzilla” ($8.4 million), “H20” cost substantially less than those films--about $17 million, which it could recoup in its first week in theaters. Miramax competitors projected “H20’s” three-day weekend totals at between $16 million and $20 million, meaning it has a shot at being the No. 1 film if “Saving Private Ryan”--which is expected to surpass $100 million by Sunday--dips in its third weekend of release.

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Playing Favorites: “Jerome,” a drama about a blue-collar factory worker and aspiring sculptor, has been withdrawn by its makers from the Hollywood Film Festival, which had a screening scheduled for Saturday at Paramount Studios. David Elton said he and colleagues Thomas Johnston and Eric Tignini pulled the picture when they learned that the rival American Film Institute festival (taking place in October) would not accept the movie if it screened first at the Hollywood event. Hollywood Film Festival Executive Director Carlos de Abreu had no comment on the withdrawal, but said that he had replaced “Jerome” with the Australian feature “The Sugar Factory.”

TELEVISION

Will That Sell at the Kwik-E-Mart?: Hank Azaria will collect an Emmy for outstanding voice-over performance during the non-televised portion of the Emmy Awards, Aug. 29 in Pasadena. Azaria will be honored for his role as convenience store owner Apu on Fox’s “The Simpsons.” Meanwhile, production designer Eric Radomski will get an Emmy for outstanding individual achievement in animation for his work on HBO’s “Spawn.” Both winners were selected by a jury of animation professionals; there were no nominations for the awards.

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‘20/20’ Pairings: ABC has announced its anchor pairings for this season’s expansion of “20/20” to three nights a week. Former “PrimeTime Live” anchors Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson will stay together for “20/20’s” new 10 p.m. Wednesday edition (premiering Sept. 16); Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs will continue their teamwork on Fridays at 10 p.m., and Walters and Sawyer will co-anchor the new 9 p.m. Sunday show. Meanwhile, ABC said, Connie Chung and Charles Gibson have been tapped as substitute anchors and are in line to anchor an additional night when the broadcast expands further.

POP/ROCK

Pearl Jam Snafu: Fans who showed up at Best Buy stores this week expecting to pick up what was advertised as a free Pearl Jam live CD with the band’s new home video, “Single Video Theory,” went home disappointed. The recording, “Give Way,” never made it to the retail chain’s shelves because Sony Music raised “unforeseen copyright issues,” a Best Buy spokeswoman said. Instead, the store chain is offering any single-disc CD valued at less than $15 with the purchase of the video until Saturday, or until supplies of the video run out. Sony Music said it was “pleased that Best Buy has agreed to withdraw its plans to distribute a Pearl Jam concert recording, which was not authorized by Sony Music or the band.” Best Buy declined to say how it obtained the recording, which was made at a Pearl Jam show in Australia, but said it was still trying to resolve the issue with Sony.

QUICK TAKES

Pop singer Toni Braxton will be Broadway’s next Belle. She’s set to take over the “Beauty and the Beast” role beginning Sept. 9. . . . Anne Parsons, the former Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra general manager whose title was changed to cover only the orchestra when new L.A. Philharmonic Managing Director Willem Wijnbergen arrived in April, has left the organization to become general manager of New York City Ballet. . . . Luke Perry will return to “Beverly Hills, 90210” this season for at least 12 episodes. Perry, who left the Fox series in 1995, also has a 13-episode deal with Fox to develop and star in a new series.