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

VITAL STATISTICS

It’s a Boy!: Jodie Foster is a mother. The Oscar-winning actress gave birth to a boy just before 6 a.m. Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, her publicist, Pat Kingsley, said Tuesday. The baby, whom the actress named Charles Foster, weighed 7 1/2 pounds and was 20 1/2 inches long. Mother and baby left the hospital Tuesday for Foster’s Los Angeles-area home. “She couldn’t be happier; she’s happy as a lark,” Kingsley said. Foster, 35, has not revealed whom the baby’s father is and said she plans to be a single mom.

STAGE

‘Cats’ Finally Due on Video: “Cats” may be the longest-running musical in Broadway history, but it’s never been released on home video--until now. It will be out on Polygram Video on Oct. 27, in a production staged specifically for home video and personally reviewed and executive produced by the hit show’s composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, on a custom-designed set at London’s Adelphi Theater. Original “Cats” star Elaine Paige returns as Grizabella, while Sir John Mills plays Gus the theater cat. The tape will sell for a suggested $25.

TELEVISION

Bad Timing for Story Line: It was a case of bad timing for producer Aaron Spelling’s so-called “Shock Wave” story line that featured an earthquake and tsunami hitting NBC’s daytime soap “Sunset Beach” on Friday--the same day that a similar catastrophe occurred in Papua New Guinea. In a statement released late Monday, Spelling’s office said the timing was pure coincidence, and that he and his staff “were appalled to read about the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in New Guinea.” Spelling, who has also created such nighttime hits as “Melrose Place,” “Fantasy Island” and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” continued: “Our shooting of these episodes occurred weeks before the New Guinea catastrophe. We sincerely hope that our fans and the press realize that.” The death toll from the Papua New Guinea disaster is expected to reach into the thousands.

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FX Series for L.A.’s Groundlings: Cable’s FX network has begun production on “Instant Comedy With the Groundlings,” a 65-episode series showcasing the L.A. comedy troupe that launched the careers of stars including Lisa Kudrow, Paul “Pee-wee Herman” Reubens, Julia Sweeney, Jon Lovitz, Will Ferrell, Kathy Griffin and the late Phil Hartman. The prime-time series, set to premiere in the fall, will feature current Groundlings members, plus alumni guests. The show will consist of a series of improvised comedy skits or songs based on the audience’s suggestions. . . . Meanwhile, the previously announced new FX series, “Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular,” a Las Vegas-based variety show featuring the magicians in Las Vegas, will premiere Aug. 10, and will be seen Monday nights at 9.

MOVIES

Remembering D.W. Griffith: The 50th anniversary of D.W. Griffith’s death will be marked Thursday with an 8:30 p.m. screening of his silent classic “Broken Blossoms”--along with a live piano accompaniment--at Hollywood’s Vine Theater (6321 Hollywood Blvd.; tickets are $5). In addition, the city of Los Angeles will erect a plaque honoring the legendary filmmaker during a 7:30 p.m. ceremony Thursday outside the site of his death, the former Knickerboker Hotel in Hollywood (1414 N. Ivar St.), which is now a retirement home.

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‘Small Soldiers’ Toy Pulled in Oregon: Burger King restaurants in Springfield, Ore., have pulled one of the chain’s “Small Soldiers” promotional toys because the action figure’s name--Kip Killigan--is similar to that of Kip Kinkel, the teenager accused of a deadly high school shooting spree in the city last May. One local Target store has reportedly pulled its Kip Killigan figures--based on the movie’s computer-generated commando elite soldier--for the same reason.

QUICK TAKES

Double Oscar winner Tom Hanks will place his hand and footprints in the cement at Mann’s Chinese Theatre on Thursday during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony. His new movie, the Steven Spielberg-directed World War II drama “Saving Private Ryan,” opens in theaters Friday. . . . The artist formerly known as Prince is expected to perform with his band, the New Power Generation, when it plays a benefit concert Saturday at the Key Club in West Hollywood. Tickets, priced at $40 each, go on sale Saturday at 8 p.m., with the show scheduled to begin at midnight. . . . The coming-of-age story “Edge of Seventeen” won three grand jury awards at the just concluded “Outfest ‘98: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival”--outstanding feature film, best screenwriting (Todd Stephens) and best actor (Chris Stafford). “Dakan” took the award for outstanding foreign feature, “Party Monster” was named best documentary, and Angelina Jolie (“Gia”) was named best actress. . . . “The Beltway Boys,” a new weekly Washington political show hosted by journalists Fred Barnes and Morton Kondracke, premieres Saturday from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on cable’s Fox News Channel. . . . Prosecutors in Chicago have dropped charges against Grammy-winning singer R. Kelly (“I Believe I Can Fly”) for playing his car stereo too loudly back in April. Kelly was arrested after he allegedly refused a police officer’s request to turn the music down. A city spokeswoman declined to give the prosecutor’s reasons for dropping the charges.