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

TELEVISION

‘Ally’ Goes to Court: Real-life lawyers are taking “Ally McBeal” star Calista Flockhart to court. The New York law firm Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein and Seltz claims that Flockhart agreed to pay them 5% of her earnings from the hit Fox show because they reviewed and negotiated her contracts with the network. The suit claims that, as of last week, she had earned at least $780,000 and owed the attorneys at least $39,000. “We’ve tried and tried and tried to resolve this amicably,” said attorney Maura Wogan. “We’ve been paid absolutely no money.” Meanwhile, Flockhart’s Los Angeles lawyer, Barry Tyerman, said: “I know nothing about this suit. It’s news to me.”

*

Fox Changes: Fox has its second casualty of the season, having canceled the Friday night sitcom “Getting Personal” just days after canning the Tuesday comedy “Costello.” Meanwhile, two other comedies--Friday night’s “Living in Captivity” and Sunday night’s “Holding the Baby”--will also go off the air, but may return at a later date. Meanwhile, “Brimstone,” a new action drama starring Peter Horton that had been scheduled to air Tuesday nights at 9, will now premiere Oct. 23, airing in the 8-9 p.m. Friday slot vacated by “Getting Personal” and “Captivity.”

*

‘Desmond Pfeiffer’ Screening: The city of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission will screen UPN’s controversial “The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer” on Friday at noon at the Writers Guild of America West in Beverly Hills. The commission is meeting on the orders of Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who said he felt the series--which he called an “irresponsible” and “embarrassing” depiction of a period in history that blacks still find painful--would promote racial discord within the city. “Desmond Pfeiffer” is about a black butler who serves as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. The commission is scheduled to screen the show’s pilot and other scenes to various groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union. A limited number of public seats will also be available. A report on the screening and subsequent discussion will be made next week to the City Council, which may take possible action against the show.

*

Burns Screening: The American Film Institute will screen Ken Burns’ forthcoming PBS documentary on the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright tonight at 8 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills. The free screening will be followed by a Q&A; with Burns, Lloyd Wright’s grandson Eric Lloyd Wright and the film’s co-director Lynn Novick. The film premieres Nov. 10 on KCET. Due to limited seating, those wishing to attend the screening are advised to arrive at the theater an hour early.

STAGE

Back Paying the ‘Rent’: Daphne Rubin-Vega, who originated the role of Mimi in “Rent” on Broadway, will return to the role for “Rent’s” Shubert Theatre engagement scheduled for Jan. 20-Feb. 28. Rubin-Vega earned both Tony and Drama Desk best actress nominations before leaving the Broadway production last year. It will be her first time back in the role.

RADIO

Out of the Groove: “Groove Radio’s” dance music on KACD-FM and KBCD-FM (both 103.1) is no more. On Monday, the stations began simulcasting with Jacor Communications-owned Top 40 station KIIS-FM (102.7). Next Monday, Jacor, which made a deal this week with KACD/KBCD’s President Ken Roberts to operate the stations, will change the format yet again. According to Roberts, 103.1 will broadcast adult album alternative music, much like the old KSCA-FM (101.9), which went Spanish in early 1997. “We felt that there’s an untapped market for this music,” Roberts explained. He also said that the music will be entirely pre-programmed at the outset, with deejays to be added next month.

QUICK TAKES

Singer P.J. Harvey will perform a free 30-minute set with her full band Thursday night at 7 at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard. Meanwhile, she performs tonight on NBC’s “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and Nov. 6 on CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman.” . . . Also visiting Letterman will be R.E.M., which makes its first network television appearances in three years by performing on the show on both Oct. 22 and 23. The band’s new album, “Up,” comes out Oct. 27. . . . “Scream” director Wes Craven has signed a deal with Miramax Films to make “Scream 3” and two other films; a Christmas 1999, release is planned. . . . The J. Paul Getty Museum has purchased Dorothea Lange’s well-known photograph “Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California” at a Sotheby’s auction, paying $244,500 for the work, a record for the artist. . . . Olympic silver medalist figure skater Nancy Kerrigan will star as Sandy in Feld Entertainment’s “Grease on Ice” tour, opening Nov. 20 in Philadelphia. Local stops are scheduled for the spring, with dates at the L.A. Sports Arena (March 16-17), Great Western Forum (March 19), Long Beach Arena (March 20-21) and Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim (March 23-24). . . . Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”) will speak at USC’s Bing Theatre on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.