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

TELEVISION

Magic Looks to Davidson for Assist: Comedian Tommy Davidson (“In Living Color”) has joined “The Magic Hour,” the syndicated talk show hosted by basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Davidson will be a regular on the series, and will also write and produce comedy pieces. His first scheduled appearance was to have been Monday night. Davidson starred in last season’s failed Fox sitcom, “Between Brothers,” and also has been featured in films such as “Woo” and “Booty Call.” “The Magic Hour,” which debuted last month, has been struggling in the ratings, and Johnson’s lack of show business experience, as well as other aspects of the show, have attracted a torrent of criticism. Johnson and his fellow executive producers have attempted to retool the show in the last few weeks. The show’s original sidekick, Craig Shoemaker, was recently fired when he criticized producers for reducing his on-screen role. The show’s honchos had said Shoemaker did not have chemistry with Johnson. In other “Magic Show”-related news, shock jock Howard Stern, a frequent critic of the show who made a highly rated guest appearance in early July, continued to blast Johnson on Monday during his morning radio show.

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‘Homicide’ Lauded Again: NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” was honored for outstanding achievement in drama for the third year in a row by the Television Critics Assn. during the group’s 14th annual awards ceremony Saturday in Pasadena. The award for outstanding achievement in comedy went to HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show,” while HBO’s “From the Earth to the Moon” was honored as program of the year and for outstanding achievement in movies, miniseries and specials. Fox’s “Ally McBeal” was named new program of the year. Individual achievement in drama went to “Homicide’s” Andre Braugher; the same award for comedy went to “Frasier’s” David Hyde Pierce.

COMEDY

Seinfeld Storms the Beach: Jerry Seinfeld’s seven shows this month at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach sold out quickly--at $35 per ticket--though they were neither advertised nor publicized. The comedian did three stand-up shows last week and has four more scheduled--Thursday and July 28-30. The shows in the 225-seat club are a warmup for Seinfeld’s HBO special, “I’m Telling You for the Last Time,” planned for next month. Fans learned about the shows through word of mouth or by an announcement in the club ticket window. . . . Meanwhile, Seinfeld launched a U.S. tour over the weekend with four sold-out shows in San Antonio. Said Iris Koeller, 27, of Houston, who attended one of two performances Saturday night: “His stand-up routine is much funnier than the final episode of ‘Seinfeld.’ ”

MOVIES

Festival Honors Freeman, Allen: Denzel Washington made a surprise appearance at the second annual Black Film Festival in Acapulco over the weekend to present career achievement awards to Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and actress-director-choreographer Debbie Allen. Other award winners included Samuel L. Jackson, who was named best actor for “Eve’s Bayou,” and Vivica A. Fox, who was honored as best actress for “Soul Food.” “Eve’s Bayou” and “Soul Food” tied for best film, with Kasi Lemons being honored as best director for “Eve’s Bayou.”

DANCE

It Takes Duvall to Tango?: Actor Robert Duvall, a tango lover, has accepted an invitation to head a U.S. tango academy that will promote the Argentine dance in the United States, according to the Argentine embassy. Duvall, 67, has made several trips to Argentina to gather research for a film he hopes to write and direct about his new dance passion. The actor and his Argentine girlfriend, Lucianna Pedrazza, attended a barbecue hosted by Argentine ambassador Diego Guelar last week in Washington, D.C., where he listened to a tango trio but declined to dance.

QUICK TAKES

Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg will present L.A. City Council Resolutions of Commendation tonight to performance artist Michael Kearns and to Silver Lake’s Glaxa Studios. The council is recognizing Kearns for his activism on behalf of those with AIDS, as well as in fighting racism, ageism, sexism and homophobia. Glaxa is being named L.A.’s “best community performance space.” . . . This year’s four-hour Emmy Awards telecast will not feature a single host. “We wanted to feel like the entire television industry has come together for this night,” said executive producer Don Mischer. The awards air Sept. 13 on NBC. . . . Jerry Springer will sign autographs at the Wherehouse-Beverly Connection in Beverly Hills on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to promote the retail launch of his home video series, “Jerry Springer: Too Hot for TV!” . . . Yes will make an in-store appearance at the WOW! store in Glendale on Thursday at 7 p.m.