all day: Movies

Madonna’s remake of Don McLean’s rock ‘n’ roll anthem “American Pie” is already in heavy rotation on Top 40 radio stations and the video is a favorite on MTV and VH1. Now the question: Will “The Next Best Thing,” the movie that she recorded the song for, prove as popular as the catchy tune? Madonna and Rupert Everett star as best friends who, after one crazy night, find themselves in a family way and, despite the fact that Everett’s character is gay, decide to raise the child together. The film, which co-stars Benjamin Bratt, Malcolm Stumpf, Neil Patrick Harris and Lynn Redgrave, is directed by John Schlesinger, whose films include “Midnight Cowboy,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Eye for an Eye.”

* “The Next Best Thing,” rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, partial nudity and language, opens Friday in general release.

all day: Movies

“What Planet Are You From?,” a romantic comedy with a cosmic twist, stars Garry Shandling as a bachelor who really is “out of this world.” Shandling’s character, Harold, is an alien who has been sent to Earth with instructions to court, and then impregnate, a female human (Annette Bening). The sex farce is directed by Mike Nichols (“The Graduate,” “Working Girl,” “The Birdcage”).

* “What Planet Are You From?” rated R for sexuality and language, opens Friday in general release.

8 pm: Pop Music

He may be weird, but Al Yankovic can cackle all the way to the bank; his latest album, “Running With Scissors,” has been a fixture on the sales chart since its release last summer. The parodist turns benefactor on Friday, playing a fund-raiser at the Sun Theatre for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

* Weird Al Yankovic, Sun Theatre, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 8 p.m. Sold out. (714) 712-2700.

8 pm: Theater

“Shopping and F------,” Mark Ravenhill’s controversial dark comedy about addiction, dependence and human need, has its Los Angeles premiere at the Celebration Theatre. Winner of the 1998 New York Outer Critics Circle Best Play Award, the production is directed by Michael Donald Edwards, who helmed the show at San Francisco’s Theatre Rhinoceros. Mature audiences only.

* “Shopping and F------,” Celebration Theatre, 7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends April 9. $20. (310) 289-2999.

8 pm: Dance

When you’ve been forced to spend your life on your knees, the command “bury me standing” represents a final act of defiance to the oppressive status quo. And that explains the title of Spanish choreographer Ramon Oller’s dramatic one-act creation, to be performed by the 20-year-old, New York-based Ballet Hispanico in its first engagement at UCLA. Founded and directed by Tina Ramirez, the vibrantly contemporary company will also showcase the work of one of its dancers, Pedro Ruiz (“Guajira”), and UCLA faculty member David Rousseve (“Somethin’ From Nothin’ ”), the latter a collaboration with Grammy-winning jazz pianist and composer Eddie Palmieri.

* Ballet Hispanico, Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Westwood, 8 p.m. Also Saturday, 8 p.m. $11 (students) to $35. (310) 825-2101.

8 pm: Theater

Carole Cook, Tyne Daly, Bonnie Franklin, Dale Kristien, Andrea Martin, Clifton Davis, Bill Hutton and a host of other celebrity performers will appear in the “16th Annual S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event).” This year, the annual AIDS fund-raising spectacular is celebrating the Broadway music of Charles Strouse, Arthur Schwartz and Stephen Schwartz. Proceeds will benefit Being Alive and Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinics.

* “16th Annual S.T.A.G.E.,” Luckman Theatre, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. $30 to $150. (323) 665-0857.

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FREEBIE: The Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge Adventure Tour at Universal CityWalk’s Palm Court, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, features ways to test balance, reaction time and climbing ability, based on the new endurance race, the Eco-Challenge. Digital footage of this year’s race in Argentina also will be shown. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (818) 622-4455.