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

TV & MOVIES

Muppet Plans: EM.TV, the German media group that recently bought out the Jim Henson Co. and rights to its Muppet creations, plans to revive TV’s “The Muppet Show,” with new episodes to be filmed as early as next year. EM.TV--which said that Jim Henson’s heir Brian Henson was among those to come up with the idea for the revival and that one of the show’s original creators, Frank Oz, was expected to be part of the new team--said the show is expected to keep the same musical format as the ‘70s and ‘80s series, along with celebrity guests and popular characters including Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo. Executives said that the shows, intended for a worldwide audience, would probably be produced in English first and then in other languages.

Garbo’s Love Secrets?: Secret love letters from screen goddess Greta Garbo to her reported lover, female playwright and poet Mercedes de Acosta, are to be shown publicly for the first time at a Philadelphia museum next month. De Acosta donated 55 intimate letters she received from Garbo to the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia on condition that no one read them until 10 years after the death of both women. Swedish screen icon Garbo died in 1990; De Acosta died in 1968.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Philharmonic Post: The Los Angeles Philharmonic has named Welz Kauffman director of artistic planning, a new post that will include coordinating programming at the orchestra’s concerts and at the Hollywood Bowl. Kauffman, who takes the post on July 1, has been artistic administrator for the New York Philharmonic for the past five years. His previous posts include general manager of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra.

KUDOS

Readers’ ‘Favorites’: NBC’s “ER” was again named as favorite drama and CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” took the favorite comedy award in the second annual TV Guide Awards on Sunday. Other winners--voted by some 1.6 million through ballots in TV Guide and on the Internet--included CBS’ “Judging Amy,” which was named favorite new series and whose star, Amy Brenneman, won for favorite actress in a new series; “Dharma & Greg’s” Jenna Elfman and “Frasier’s” David Hyde Pierce, named favorite actress and actor in a comedy; “JAG’s” David James Elliott and Melina Kanakaredes of “Providence,” who garnered the actor and actress honors for a drama series; and Martin Sheen, named favorite actor in a new series for his portrayal as the president in NBC’s “West Wing.”

Brit Awards: Macy Gray, Travis and Robbie Williams were the big winners at the 2000 Brit Awards, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys. American singer Gray--who lost the best new artist Grammy Award to Christina Aguilera--took the statues for best international newcomer and international female solo artist, while Scottish rock quartet Travis took home awards for best British group and British album (for “The Man Who”). Williams, a former member of boy band Take That, won for best British video and British song (both for “She’s the One”), and took the opportunity on stage to challenge Noel Gallagher of Oasis to a televised boxing match. That was only one of the raucous moments during Friday night’s show: Rolling Stone guitarist Ron Wood also threw a drink at a DJ who rushed the stage.

QUICK TAKES

The Museum of Tolerance today hosts a 7 p.m. screening of best picture Oscar nominee “The Cider House Rules,” followed by a Q&A; with director Lasse Hallstrom. . . . Infamous groom Rick Rockwell began his show business life after the Fox fiasco “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?” by performing Saturday night at the Comedy Store and the Improv. Rockwell, a former stand-up comic, plans to do more such performances across the country, his publicist said. . . . Director David Lynch has won the seventh annual Beatrice Wood Film Award--honoring the late visual artist’s indomitable spirit--for “The Straight Story.” The honoree is chosen annually by the past winners, who now include Hubert Cornfield, Robert Allan Ackerman, Henry Jaglom, Billy Bob Thornton, James Cameron and Sam Raimi. . . . A public memorial for television pioneer Leonard H. Goldenson, who died in December at age 94, will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood. Dick Clark, John Ritter and Henry Winkler are among those scheduled to speak. . . . News stations KFWB-AM (980) and KNX-AM (1070) begin their continuous coverage of the California primary election tonight at 8.