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

TELEVISION

Following in Andy Rooney’s Footsteps: Jimmy Tingle, a social and political humorist who has worked for cable’s MSNBC and has appeared on NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and CBS’ “Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” has been named a commentator for CBS’ “60 Minutes II,” joining the previously announced Dan Rather, Bob Simon, Vicki Mabrey and Charlie Rose. “Jimmy’s brand of commentary is just what we’ve been looking for,” said the show’s executive producer, Jeff Fager. “It’s sharp, it’s humorous and it’s unpredictable. He has a unique way of looking at our times, and he has a rare talent for making us laugh at ourselves.” “60 Minutes II” premieres Jan. 13, airing at 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

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TV Guide Nominations: ABC’s “NYPD Blue” leads the nominations for the new TV Guide Awards with four nods, including best drama, favorite actress in a drama (Kim Delaney) and favorite actors in a drama (Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits). In the network tally, CBS got 15 nominations, followed by 14 for NBC, 11 for ABC and eight for Fox. Other best drama nominees are NBC’s “ER,” CBS’ “Touched By an Angel” and Fox’s “The X-Files”; comedy series nominees are NBC’s “Frasier” and “Friends,” CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Fox’s “Ally McBeal.” The awards, voted by the magazine’s readers, will be announced on a Feb. 1 Fox TV special.

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Setting an Oscar Record: Gilbert Cates has signed on for his ninth turn as producer of the Academy Awards telecast. When he completes his duties for the March 21 show, Cates will take over the record of most Oscar shows produced from Howard W. Koch, who presided over eight shows in a 12-year period. Cates, who is also artistic director of UCLA’s Geffen Playhouse and the former dean of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, won an Emmy in 1991 for producing the Oscar show.

STAGE

ASCAP Honor: Composer Stephen Sondheim will receive the ASCAP Founders Award on March 12, at the Ahmanson Theatre opening-night performance of “Sweeney Todd.” The award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers recognizes composers and lyricists who are leaders in their respective fields. Past recipients of the rarely given award include Paul McCartney, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, Stevie Wonder, and Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

MOVIES

Kaye Seeking Consideration: Although he attempted to take his name off the film’s directing credits and has filed a $200-million lawsuit against New Line Cinema over its editing of “American History X,” Tony Kaye is once again associating himself with the film, in what he calls his own bid to get an Oscar nomination--for his work as cinematographer. Kaye, whose battle with the studio went public in June when he took out several bizarre ads in the Hollywood trades criticizing New Line, is back to his old tricks, this time with a cryptic full-page ad in Monday’s Daily Variety featuring only two words in tiny print--”Best Cinematography”--with no mention of the film or Kaye himself. “I’m hoping that this visual vernacular that I’ve begun [will make readers understand what the ad is for],” Kaye told The Times, adding that promoting his cinematography work “doesn’t get in they way of my lawsuit since the cinematography is the thing they couldn’t ruin.”

POP/ROCK

Whisky Turns 35: Sunset Boulevard’s Whisky A Go-Go night spot will celebrate its 35th anniversary with an eight-day music festival showcasing some of the bands and deejays that have been part of the club’s history. The festivities kick off Jan. 16 with an invitation-only show with Nancy Sinatra, Johnny Rivers and others, followed by a week of public shows featuring performers including Martha Reeves, the Miracles, Canned Heat, Humble Pie, Jan and Dean, and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, with Dr. Demento and KROQ’s Rodney Bingenheimer among the emcees. Tickets are $35 a night, available through Ticketmaster.