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

POP/ROCK

Darkness on the Edge of Town: Loud cheers and scattered boos greeted Bruce Springsteen’s new song about the 1999 New York City Police killing of Amadou Diallo when he opened a 10-concert stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Monday. Members of his E Street Band approached microphones one by one during the song to repeat the words “41 shots,” referring to the number of times four white officers shot at Diallo, a black West African immigrant. One heckler was ousted after he approached the stage and flashed obscene hand gestures at Springsteen during the song. A police union had urged its members to boycott the concert in protest of the new song, “American Skin (41 Shots).” The unarmed Diallo was shot in the vestibule of his Bronx home in February 1999, and officers said they mistook the wallet in his hand for a weapon. The officers were acquitted of murder charges earlier this year. Diallo’s parents attended the concert Monday, Newsday reported, and lauded the song. “I want to thank [Springsteen] for the words about my son,” Saikou Diallo said. The song does not mention Diallo’s name, and Springsteen said nothing about the Diallo controversy before or after he sang the song. Robert Lucente, president of the New York State Fraternal Order of Police, issued an apology Monday for referring to Springsteen as “some type of [expletive] dirtbag” and using a vulgar term for homosexual. He said his remarks were made in anger after hearing about the song.

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Music Networks to Air EMP Concerts: Experience Music Project Seattle, a new interactive music museum, has announced a partnership with MTV and VH1 to air two concerts from the museum’s grand-opening activities set for June 23-25. MTV will broadcast the scheduled June 23 Memorial Stadium concert featuring Metallica, Dr. Dre with Eminem & Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock and Filter on June 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. VH1 will air the June 24 concert with Matchbox Twenty, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Beck and the Eurythmics at 9 p.m. on June 30. For full concert listings, visit http//www.emplive.com.

TELEVISION

Ford Flap: The Betty Ford Center is angry about a “20/20” special that aired June 7 exploring the issue of alcoholism, prompting the center’s president, John T. Schwarzlose, to fire off a letter to ABC News saying he felt “betrayed” by the program. Presented by Dr. Nancy Snyderman, the show questioned some long-accepted treatments for alcoholism. Schwarzlose contends misinformation was “sprinkled throughout” the show, which did “a great disservice” to men and women in recovery and may discourage some with drinking problems from seeking professional help. An ABC spokeswoman defended the broadcast, saying, “The intent of the program was to examine and challenge conventional wisdom about the condition of alcoholism and the effectiveness of popular treatment options. Our reporting was fair and accurate.”

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House Improvement: Bob House, a 36-year-old high school world history teacher from Gay, Ga., is the fourth $1-million winner on ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” On Tuesday’s episode, House used his two remaining “lifelines” to successfully answer the final question, “Which of the following men doesn’t have a chemical element named after him?” (Answer: Isaac Newton).

LEGAL FILE

Brown Behind Bars: A Florida judge sentenced singer Bobby Brown to 75 days in jail for violating his probation for a drunk driving conviction. “I just want to continue on with my sobriety and get back home to my family,” the singer told reporters after Monday’s sentencing. A prosecutor agreed to drop the most serious charge against Brown, that he failed a drug test by testing positive for cocaine. Brown agreed to plead guilty to refusing to take a second drug test and failing to return from a trip to Beverly Hills on time. Brown’s wife, singer Whitney Houston, did not attend the sentencing. Houston has been absent from her husband’s court proceedings, but Bruce Lyons, Brown’s attorney, said she has visited him since his arrest. “She wants to help him, not hurt him. If she showed up today it would have been a major zoo,” Lyons said. Brown has been in custody since May 10 and that time will be credited toward his sentence.

STAGE

Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson: Texas supermodel Jerry Hall will follow in the footsteps of Kathleen Turner and appear in the hit London stage version of “The Graduate.” The 43-year-old former wife of Mick Jagger will replace Turner at the end of July. The play, adapted from the 1967 film starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, has set box-office records despite lukewarm reviews and is expected to be extended until the end of the year. Turner’s performance as Mrs. Robinson caused a sensation on the West End when she dropped her towel in a seduction scene and briefly appeared nude. Hall is also expected to appear nude.

QUICK TAKES

KCBS’ investigative “I-Team” has been given the Edward R. Murrow Award for best news series in the television large-market division for its report “Meter Madness.” The series exposed how the L.A. Department of Transportation was issuing tickets based on faulty parking meters. . . . Los Angeles district attorney candidates Gil Garcetti and Stephen Cooley will debate at 10:30 tonight on KTTV. . . . The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will honor cultural leader Duane Ebata, who died May 11, at “Celebration! J-Town Beat Reunion Concert,” scheduled for Friday at the Japan America Theatre. The event will feature a memorial tribute and service for Ebata followed by performances by Lane Nishikawa, Dan Kuramoto and June Kuramoto, San Jose Taiko and others.