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

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Long Arm of ‘Law’: “Law & Order” appears destined to become one of TV’s longest-running dramas ever, with NBC extending its commitment on the Emmy-winning show and its spinoff, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” The original series--currently in its 10th season and airing Wednesday nights--has now been renewed for five more years, while NBC has committed to at least two additional seasons of the new program, which airs Friday nights. Enjoying a ratings increase this year, “Law & Order” is currently set to run through 2005, which would put it behind only “Gunsmoke” (20 seasons) in terms of longevity for prime-time dramas. Under the deal, second airings of “Special Victims” will also continue on the USA cable network.

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‘N Sync, the Movie: Chart-topping boy band ‘N Sync has signed a movie deal with Total Film Group and Phat Free Productions for a film scheduled to start shooting in early 2001. The band members are scheduled to appear at the Cannes Film Festival in France next month to promote the project.

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Bartoli Reschedules O.C. Date: Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli has scheduled a Feb. 26 recital at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Bartoli had been scheduled to perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in January, but canceled because of the flu. Ticket holders for Bartoli’s originally scheduled show will be contacted by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the event’s sponsor. Subscribers to the society’s 2000-01 Masterworks series will receive Bartoli tickets as a bonus; remaining seats, priced at $40 to $95, will go on sale July 18.

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The Ads Have It: In the there’s-an-award-for-everything department, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced plans for the West Hollywood Sunset Strip Billboard Awards, honoring “the artists involved in both the entertainment and advertising industries who conceive, design and produce . . . some of the most eye-catching, elaborate and often thought-provoking campaigns in the history of the medium.” Celebrity hosts for the July 13 event at Sunset Boulevard’s Hyatt Hotel will include Little Richard and “Downtown” Julie Brown.

QUICK TAKES

The L.A.-based Muslim Public Affairs Council honored Warner Bros. and the makers of the movie “Three Kings” on Wednesday for presenting “a positive image of the Iraqi people and their suffering at the hands of Saddam Hussein and faulty U.S. policy.” . . . ABC will bring back “Sports Night” for two weeks, giving the critically lauded series one more chance to catch on with viewers. “Sports Night” will air May 9 and 16 at 9:30 p.m., bumping “Talk to Me,” starring Kyra Sedgwick. . . . Oscar winner Kevin Spacey is in talks with MGM to play the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in a remake of the “Pink Panther” movies, the studio said. . . . Former “Good Morning America” host Joan Lunden will move her “Behind Closed Doors” specials from ABC to cable’s A&E; next season. A&E; has also signed filmmaker Sidney Lumet (“Serpico,” “Network”) to produce the network’s first weekly drama, a legal series called “100 Centre Street.” . . . Billy Wilder, 93, returned to his L.A. home Wednesday after being hospitalized for three weeks for a urinary condition.