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

TELEVISION

Stoltz Joining ‘Chicago Hope’: Actor Eric Stoltz, a mainstay on the indie film scene (“Pulp Fiction,” “Mr. Jealousy”), will be the latest doctor on call at CBS’ “Chicago Hope.” Stoltz will join the drama in the season’s third episode, playing a “brilliant and enigmatic surgeon whose background in Eastern medicine and philosophy runs counter to the hospital’s more technical-minded professionals.”

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An ‘ER’ Reunion of Sorts: Former “ER” star Sherry Stringfield--in her first TV acting job since leaving the top-rated drama in 1996 to take a break from show business--will reunite with current “ER” star Anthony Edwards when she stars in the two-hour NBC movie “Trade Off,” a legal thriller set to begin production in the fall. Edwards is producing (but not acting in) the project. The air date has not yet been set.

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Lamb Chop’s Sad Too: In response to calls from “hundreds of viewers” whose children are “distraught” over the recent death of puppeteer Shari Lewis, KCET-TV Channel 28 will collect kids’ letters of condolence to Lewis’ animal characters: Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy. “Writing the letter gives [kids] something proactive to do with their grief,” a Lewis family spokeswoman said. Letters can be sent to the characters care of KCET at 4401 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024.

LEGAL FILE

So Far, So Good: In a progress hearing Friday, Malibu judge Lawrence J. Mira said he would allow Robert Downey Jr. to finish a drug treatment program on an outpatient basis, but warned the troubled actor that violating his probation would put him back behind bars. Downey’s attorney, Ira Reiner, had asked for an assurance that Downey could finish any project he might be working on, even if he did violate his probation, to assuage the concerns of hesitant studio bosses. Mira refused, saying: “You violate, you’re going to prison. It’s that simple.” Downey, 33, was sentenced in December to 180 days’ confinement--half in county jail and the other half in a treatment center--for repeated offenses involving the use of drugs and alcohol. The director of the unnamed residential rehab program where Downey had been staying told the judge Friday that Downey is doing well. Another progress hearing was set for Dec. 7.

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Caddy Sues Douglas: A New York golf caddy has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Michael Douglas, alleging that the actor injured him in the testicles with a golf shot at Westchester County’s Elmwood Country Club last October. James Parker claims in his Manhattan federal court suit that Douglas fired his shot before the caddy could move out of the way. Parker said he underwent surgery to remove a testicle ruptured by the golf ball’s impact. Douglas’ publicist, however, said Douglas was “shocked” by the allegations and “categorically did not hit the ball that hit the guy,” although he was a member of a foursome who had used the caddy. The spokesman also maintained: “Michael was the one who got help for the guy. He can’t believe this.” However, Parker, who is black, alleges that Douglas did not attempt to assist him and instead stuffed $60 in his pocket and made a racist remark as he walked away.

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KCBS-TV Sued: The owner of an Olvera Street eatery shown on KCBS-TV Channel 2’s dirty restaurants expose last November has sued the station for libel and compensatory damages. Edward Flores alleges that his restaurant, Juanita’s Cafe, lost about $5,000 a month after KCBS reported that it received a 53.5 rating (out of 100) from the county Health Department over two inspection periods. Flores says, however, that his eatery actually received an 81 rating. The lower rating, Flores maintains, was from the county’s evaluation of its inspector who had conducted the restaurant ratings. (The county Health Department could not confirm.) Flores alleges that he asked KCBS to run a correction, but the station refused. His 54-year-old restaurant has since received an “A” rating. A Channel 2 spokeswoman said Friday that the station couldn’t comment because management and the legal staff had not yet seen a copy of the lawsuit.

STAGE

Korean Musical: “The Last Empress,” a musical based on the life of Empress Min, the powerful matriarch of Korea’s Lee Dynasty who was assassinated in 1895, will play at the Shubert Theater on Sept. 13-Oct. 4, with four preview performances beginning Sept. 11. The elaborate production--with a cast of 80 and 600 traditional Korean costumes--is mounted by the Seoul-based theater company A-Com and includes English supertitles.

QUICK TAKES

Ubiquitous rapper-record producer Sean “Puffy” Combs, 28, has landed a book deal for an autobiography to be written with Rolling Stone magazine reporter Mikal Gilmore. Ballantine Publishing Group has slated the release for the fall of 1999. . . . “Melrose Place” bad-girl Alyssa Milano will segue to a different Spelling series, the Shannon Doherty teen witch comedy “Charmed,” which premieres on the WB network Oct. 7. She replaces Lori Rom, who is said to have left the nascent series for “personal reasons.”