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

GRAMMY WATCH

See the Rest of the Winners: For the first time, TV viewers will be able to watch the announcement of Grammy Awards not presented during the prime-time telecast, when Ellen DeGeneres hosts Wednesday’s pre-awards show “Live at the Grammys.” The special--also including red-carpet arrivals and a performance by Smash Mouth--airs on both KCBS-TV (4-5 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.) and on cable’s VH1 (6-8 p.m.).

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Moving Out of the Spotlight: One of the usual Grammy week highlights will be missing this year. The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, which has previously held its spirited awards dinner the day after the Grammy show, will this year mount its event--awarding cash grants to often-overlooked figures from R&B; history--in New York in September. Soul singer Jerry Butler, the foundation’s board chairman, says that while the event benefited from the presence of top artists and music executives in town for the Grammys, it was hampered by higher costs during the busy Grammy week. The Grammy hoopla also tended to overshadow the foundation’s fete, he said. “As much as the Grammys have been supportive and the young acts have been in town and come to our show, we were the little guy in bed with the big guy, and the big guy was crushing us,” Butler says. The foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million in its 10 years.

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Pre-Grammy Grooves: The Viper Room is tripping the light tonight with a pre-Grammy electronica party for those who like to shake their bonbons to vinyl. As part of a two-year anniversary celebration for its Tuesday night club Atmosphere--co-promoted by DJ Carbo (president of the Beastie Boys label Grand Royal)--the Viper is lending its equipment to Beastie Boys deejay Mix Master Mike. And don’t be surprised if a big-name surprise guest shows up. (When the Viper guys promise a big name, they mean it.) Tickets, for $10, are being sold through (323) 653-7065. . . . And Elton John, who was being honored Monday night by the Grammys’ MusiCares organization for his charity work, will reportedly join Moby for a show-closing performance at tonight’s annual Rock the Vote show at the House of Blues (Macy Gray also performs; tickets are $150). Sting and Bono will be honored for, respectively, environmental work and community activism.

STAGE

Final Curtain Call: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats,” the longest-running show in Broadway history, will close there on June 25, nearly two decades after its 1982 opening at the Winter Garden Theater. By its closing night, “Cats,” advertised as “Now and Forever,” will have mounted a record-breaking 7,397 New York performances, attended by more than 10 million theatergoers. Though the show’s Broadway grosses are estimated at more than $380 million, receipts have been dwindling for the past two years. “When we got the news, there were tears, sure, and hugs,” said Marlene Danielle, who has played the feline Bombalurina since the show’s start. “And believe it or not there was lots of laughter. Somehow, everybody knows in their heart that nothing goes forever.” Some fans--including one who said he’s seen the show 670 times--reportedly were in tears as they waited in line Sunday for tickets to the final shows.

TELEVISION

Details on Dave’s Return: David Letterman, on his first show back after quintuple bypass surgery, fought back tears as he brought his six doctors and two nurses onstage to thank them for saving his life. Otherwise, the 52-year-old “Late Show” host--looking thinner but otherwise healthy--proved on Monday night’s program that heart surgery hasn’t softened his cutting humor, as he took shots at CBS, NBC, ABC, Hillary Rodham Clinton, decaffeinated coffee and the Super Bowl halftime show. Letterman, who taped the CBS show on Friday, only five weeks after his operation, reached down twice and touched his toes before his monologue. He promised to show his scar but didn’t.

QUICK TAKES

Paul Thomas Anderson’s triple Oscar nominee, “Magnolia,” has won the Berlin Film Festival’s prestigious Golden Bear award for best film. . . . “American Beauty” has picked up another accolade, with the film’s Conrad Hall winning the American Society of Cinematographers’ top honor Sunday night.