ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

RADIO

Change of Beat: Hip-hop/R&B; station KKBT-FM (92.7), Los Angeles’ top-rated English-language music outlet--known as “The Beat”--is getting a major make-over. Longtime morning man John London and his House Party team will move over to sister station KMGA-FM (100.1) on Monday. The Beat is expected to debut a new lineup of hosts on the same day, reportedly to be anchored by the morning team of Dr. Dre and Ed Lover (coming from New York), with the afternoon drive slot filled by the Baka Boyz, who recently left cross-town rival KPWR-FM (105.9). Station management would not confirm or deny the new additions, but for this week the station will have no deejays, with announcements instead airing saying that the station is “under construction.”

TV & MOVIES

Montel’s Medical Woes: Talk-show host Montel Williams announced Monday that he’s been diagnosed with the neurological disease multiple sclerosis, but said that he will continue with his talk show and other activities. “This disease is not going to stop me,” Williams, 43, said at a New York press conference. “We don’t know how long I’ve had it for, but I’ve been misdiagnosed for 10 years.” Williams, whose doctor called the TV host’s current symptoms “mild,” said he is reviewing a variety of treatment options, including several recently approved drugs that slow progress of the disease. In addition, he has established a new research center, called the Montel Williams MS Research Fund, through the Massachusetts-based Foundation for Neurological Diseases. Williams begins production today on the ninth season of his nationally syndicated talk show. Other celebrities living with the same disease include Richard Pryor and Annette Funicello.

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A Stern Settlement: Howard Stern has reached an out-of-court settlement with a Los Angeles film company in a battle over a movie that was never made, a court clerk said Monday. Jury selection for Stern’s trial against Ministry of Film Inc. was to have started Monday. The radio shock jock, who starred in the 1997 autobiographical film “Private Parts,” had claimed in his 1997 lawsuit that he had signed to co-star in the movie “Jane,” with Melanie Griffith, but the production company failed to come up with enough money to carry out the project. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and the attorneys involved in the case were unavailable for comment.

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Fox News Promotion: Cable’s Fox News Channel has named Shepard Smith anchor of its 4 p.m. newscast, “The Fox Report,” effective Sept. 13. He will replace Paula Zahn, who is taking over the channel’s 7 p.m. time slot being vacated by Catherine Crier on Sept. 3. Smith will continue to anchor portions of FNC’s daytime “Fox News Now” lineup, where he has covered breaking events including the recent office shootings in Atlanta and the president’s impeachment trial.

COMEDY

Funny Women: The Marshalls’ Women in Comedy Festival, an event began in New York last year to “honor women’s historic and important role in comedy,” goes bicoastal this year with events in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 through 10 and in New York Nov. 10 through 14. The festival kickoff on Oct. 7 is “An Evening With Paula Poundstone With Special Guest Caroline Rhea” at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Additional events--including an Oct. 8 appearance by Phyllis Diller at LunaPark and a “Women in Comedy Film Series” at the Directors Guild of America--will take place at comedy clubs throughout the L.A. area. A complete listing of performances is available at (800) 444-0559. Proceeds from the festival, sponsored by the Marshalls clothing chain, will go toward the prevention of domestic violence.

POP/ROCK

MusiCares to Honor Les Brown: The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ MusiCares Foundation will honor big band-era musician Les Brown for his “outstanding contributions to the music industry” with a tribute dinner Sept. 28 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Brown was a founding father of the recording academy, serving as the L.A. chapter’s first president. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Diana Krall, the Manhattan Transfer, Melissa Manchester and Jack Jones will perform at the tribute event, and Steve Allen will emcee. Previous MusiCares honorees include Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Quincy Jones and Tony Bennett.

QUICK TAKES

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone is due in Beverly Hills Municipal Court today on charges stemming from a June 9 drunken-driving arrest. On Friday, a prosecutor said a “tentative settlement” was being finalized in preparation for today’s hearing. . . . Britney Spears, Eminem and Moby have joined the list of performers for MTV’s 1999 Video Music Awards on Sept. 9. . . .Cable’s E! Entertainment Television will present “Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall: The E! True Hollywood Story” on Sept. 5 at 9 p.m.