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

TV & MOVIES

No More Chances: Actor Robert Downey Jr. was handcuffed and taken to county jail Tuesday after admitting during a probation hearing that he had refused a court-ordered drug test. “I am going to recover [from drug addiction] but I’m still finding that difficult,” Downey, 34, told L.A. Superior Court Judge Lawrence J. Mira. The admission came after a series of arrests, failed rehabilitation efforts and second chances. Mira ordered Downey to remain in the jail’s drug rehab unit until an Aug. 5 hearing and also ordered psychiatric tests. In a statement, Downey’s publicist said the actor “came to court today with his drug counselor and admitted he has a continuing drug problem. He asked the court for help and guidance.” Downey was recently replaced in the animated NBC midseason sitcom “God, the Devil and Bob,” after reportedly failing to show up for work and causing production delays.

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Sex Ed, Spy-Style?: A Georgia woman has filed an obscenity complaint against the Toys R Us chain over an “Austin Powers” doll that asks, “Do I make you horny, baby, do I?” Tamatha Brannon said that she had to explain the phrase’s meaning to her 11-year-old son after he picked up the talking doll at a Toys R Us store near Atlanta. The phrase--from the hit movie “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”--is also written on the outside of the doll’s package. A Toys R Us spokesman said the store where Brannon complained will switch to a “PG-rated” version of the doll that instead asks, “Would you fancy a shag?”

THE ARTS

MacArthur Fellows: New York-based artists Pepon Osorio, Fred Wilson and Elizabeth Murray were among the recipients of the prestigious 1999 MacArthur Fellowships announced Tuesday. Murray, 58, will receive $375,000, while Osorio and Wilson, both 44, get $315,000 each. Additional arts recipients include New York architects Elizabeth Diller, 45, and Ricardo Scofidio, 64, $375,000; New York artist Xu Bing, 44, $315,000; Chicago musician Ken Vandermark, 34, $265,000; and playwright Naomi Wallace, 38, who is based out of both England and Prospect, Ky., $285,000. (For a full list of recipients, see Southern California Living.)

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Family Activities: The L.A. County Museum of Art has launched LACMALab, a program aiming to engage children, teens and other family members with the museum’s permanent collection and exhibitions. The initiative will employ what LACMA director Graham W.J. Beal called a “think-tank process” involving artists, educators, computer experts and others in the development of experimental children’s programming and exhibitions. Robert L. Sain, formerly executive director of the award-winning Children’s Museum/Museo de los Nin~os in San Diego, will head the effort.

QUICK TAKES

Director Francis Ford Coppola and author Mario Puzo are in discussions to make a fourth “Godfather” film, with “Godfather III” star Andy Garcia and “Titanic” star Leonardo DiCaprio also reportedly involved in the talks. . . . NBC’s “Today” show is in final talks to have the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, join the show as a contributor, sources familiar with the situation said. A spokeswoman for the show declined to comment. . . . Stand-up comedian Hal Sparks has been named to replace John Henson (who has a development deal with ABC) as host of E! Entertainment Television’s “Talk Soup.” Sparks will be introduced by Henson on the latter’s final show, July 2, and will begin actual hosting duties on July 5. . . . The American Cinematheque will unveil its new 78-seat Steven Spielberg Theatre--part of the renovated Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre complex in Hollywood--on Saturday with the first of two performances (also July 3) of the stage show “Great Exploitations! An Audience With Martin Lewis.” Film and video programs will begin in the theater later this year. . . . Disneyland today opens its new “Tarzan’s Treehouse” attraction, inspired by the hit movie. . . . Lula Washington Dance Theatre, originally scheduled to perform Thursday through Sunday at Los Angeles Theatre Center, will now be there only Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.