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

TELEVISION

Only One More Year: Actor George Clooney told Howard Stern on Friday that he will be leaving “ER” at the end of next season. Appearing on Stern’s nationally syndicated radio show, Clooney said he planned to serve out the last year of his contract for the NBC medical drama and then move on, presumably to pursue his burgeoning film career. “ER” executive producer John Wells had said recently that he expected Clooney, who plays Dr. Doug Ross, to depart when the fifth season wrapped. Clooney, whose films have included “Batman & Robin” and “The Peacemaker,” said he would be open to returning occasionally as a guest star.

Happy Birthday, Israel: Kevin Costner and Michael Douglas will co-host “To Life! America Celebrates Israel’s 50th,” an April 15 music and variety special airing on CBS. The program will be taped simultaneously at L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium and at the Tower of David in Jerusalem. Marvin Hamlisch will serve as musical director; additional performers have not yet been announced. Co-chairs of the event include entertainment industry leaders Lew Wasserman, Steven Spielberg, Gerald Levin and Terry Semel.

OSCAR WATCH

Just Like Christmas: While the nominees hope to leave Monday’s awards with a coveted golden statuette, the ones who will really have their hands full on the way home are those presenting the awards. All Academy Award presenters--including the likes of Madonna, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ashley Judd--will receive gift baskets filled with some 21 chic items, including the new fragrance from Italian jeweler Bvlgari, a Montblanc Mozart fountain pen, a Baccarat crystal pendant and a sterling silver compass from Harry Winston. Other items include a Steiff teddy bear, an Elton John-designed candle, Ray-Ban sunglasses, a JBL Stereo CD system, Mumm champagne and two bottles of Absolut vodka. Of course some presenters, such as Helen Hunt and Matt Damon, could end up with Oscars and the gift baskets.

‘Mrs. Brown’ Portrait: The only known life-size oil portrait of Queen Victoria’s personal servant John Brown, portrayed in the film “Mrs. Brown,” is expected to fetch up to $250,000 when it is auctioned in London in May. The portrait’s auction was announced just days before British actress Judi Dench, the film’s Queen Victoria, vies for a best actress Oscar. “To be honest, the timing was purely coincidental, but it is a wonderful coincidence,” a spokeswoman at Christie’s auction house said. The painting, commissioned by Victoria two months after Brown’s death in 1883, is by German artist Carl Rudolph Sohn.

Nominees’ Other Awards: The American Lung Assn. has dubbed the movie “Titanic” a real disaster, giving the Oscar favorite for best picture a “Hackademy” award for a scene in which Kate Winslet’s character lights up at the dinner table as a symbol of rebellion. Another best picture Oscar nominee, “As Good as It Gets,” won the group’s President’s Award for an anti-tobacco scene in which Helen Hunt’s character tells her date not to smoke around her asthmatic son.

MOVIES

J.T. Walsh Memorial: A public memorial service for character actor J.T. Walsh will be held on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd. Walsh, who appeared in countless movies, including the recent “Breakdown,” and TV programs, including the short-lived NBC series “Dark Skies,” died of a heart attack last month at age 54. The DGA suggests that memorial attendees carpool, as only 375 parking spaces are available for the 584-seat theater.

More DiCaprio Mania: Thousands of squealing teenage fans turned out to see Leonardo DiCaprio and his co-stars at Thursday night’s London premiere of “The Man in the Iron Mask.” DiCaprio, 23, took his grandmother to the show in Leicester Square and introduced her to Prince Charles, whose charity, the Prince’s Trust, was the premiere’s beneficiary. DiCaprio gave Charles an iron mask, similar to the one used in his latest movie. About 5,000 fans, mainly teenage girls, waited for up to six hours pressed against crowd barriers outside the theater to see the star. “This publicity trip has been like doing a Rolling Stones tour,” said the film’s co-star, Gabriel Byrne. . . . Stateside, meanwhile: Chippewa Falls, Wis., the hometown of DiCaprio’s “Titanic” character, Jack Dawson, on Thursday named the actor an honorary citizen of the city. As such, DiCaprio will be sent a key to the city along with a sampling of local products.

QUICK TAKES

Eric Clapton will kick off a 35-city U.S. concert tour on March 30 in St. Paul, Minn., with local stops including May 26 at San Diego’s Cox Arena, May 27 at the Great Western Forum and May 29 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. Ticket sale information will be announced next week. . . . Producer Quincy Jones has launched a new Web site--https://www.Qradio.net--exploring world music, art and culture, with a specific focus on music from South Africa. Offerings will include 24-hour radio programming from the South African Broadcasting Corp. . . . Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland will make his first TV appearance with his solo band, on April 3 on CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman.” . . . Alisa Fishbach has been named the new executive director of Theatre LA, the organization that represents most of L.A.’s theater companies and producers. Fishbach has been theater operations manager at the Shubert Theatre since 1992.