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

TELEVISION

‘Jesus’ Beats Regis: It took a higher power for CBS to beat “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” as the opening of the network’s four-hour production “Jesus” drew an estimated 24 million viewers Sunday, finishing just ahead of ABC’s hit Regis Philbin quiz show, which was held to its lowest Sunday night rating yet. Starring Jeremy Sisto, “Jesus,” which concludes Wednesday, ranks as the most-watched miniseries of the season.

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Third Hour for ‘Today’: Beginning this fall, the “Today” show will run three hours, instead of two, 7-10 a.m., NBC News President Andrew Lack told the network’s annual affiliates meeting in New York Monday. Co-anchors Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, news anchor Ann Curry and weatherman Al Roker will be part of the third hour, which will be formatted similarly to the second hour of the existing program. To accommodate the expansion, “Later Today,” hosted by Jodi Applegate, Florence Henderson and Asha Blake, will move to 10 a.m. on the 13 stations NBC owns, including KNBC in Los Angeles.

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Back to PBS: The “National Geographic Specials” will return to PBS next fall. National Geographic Television said Monday it has entered into a two-year agreement with the public television network to air six one-hour prime-time specials--the first of which will be “Return of the Wolf,” the intimate story of a Yellowstone wolf pack and the scientists who watch over them. The specials were broadcast on PBS from 1974 to 1994, then went to NBC for a five-year run.

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‘SoCal Summer’ for MTV: MTV says its programming will return to the West Coast this summer, after a two-year hiatus. The tapings for the network will kick off Memorial Day weekend. Home base for the “SoCal Summer” programming will be a specially fitted studio on the grounds of Belmont Park on Mission Beach in San Diego. The park’s famed roller coaster will also be featured on MTV shows.

PEOPLE

Ain’t Nothing Like a Dame: Elizabeth Taylor formally becomes Dame Elizabeth Taylor today. “This is the highest, the peak of my life. I’m so thrilled,” Taylor, 68, said this weekend as she arrived in London to prepare for the ceremony during which Queen Elizabeth II will bestow the title. Recipient of two Academy Awards for best actress and of the movie academy’s 1992 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, Taylor added, “When I first heard, I thought, ‘No, that’s got to be a joke.’ ” More honors follow. On May 24, Taylor will receive a British Film Institute fellowship. On May 26, a celebration of her life and work will be staged at the Royal Albert Hall. And an exhibition devoted to Taylor opens at the National Portrait Gallery in London on Thursday and continues through June 16. Taylor was designated a dame on the queen’s New Year’s Day list of titles and awards.

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Honors for Dylan and Stern: Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and violinist Isaac Stern collected the Nordic region’s biggest music prize Monday in Stockholm. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden conferred the ninth annual Polar Music Prize, including $110,400 each, on the two artists at a concert hall. Stern was honored for his “consummate artistry distinguished by a personal musicianship without compare” and “his uncompromising attitude concerning the humanistic power of music,” while Dylan was cited for his “indisputable influence” on the development of 20th century music over almost four decades. “He has demonstrated an impressive ability to question the most determined political forces, to fight all forms of prejudice, and to offer unflinching support for the less fortunate,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Music said.

THEATER

Pay What You Can: The Ahmanson Theatre has designated the 8 p.m. show of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” on May 30 as a “pay what you can” performance. The program allows audience members to name their own price for admission. However, the tickets can only be purchased at the theater’s box office on the day of the performance, beginning at noon, and are limited to two per person.

QUICK TAKES

Disney’s California Adventure--Walt Disney Attractions’ newest theme park in Anaheim, located adjacent to Disneyland--said Monday it will open to guests on Feb. 8. . . . Andy Richter’s last show as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick on NBC’s late-night show will be May 26. . . . Tennis great Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon singles champion, has signed a multiyear agreement with Turner Sports as an analyst for Wimbledon coverage on Turner Network Television and CNN/Sports Illustrated. . . . Pat Boone hosts the 16th annual spring luncheon of P.A.T.H. (People Assisting the Homeless) today in Century City, honoring producer Marc Neufeld for contributions to help the homeless and actress Deidre Hall for her support of a single mother and her 10 children for the last year. . . . The American Film Institute has appointed Christian Gaines as director of the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival, replacing Jon Fitzgerald, who left to join iFilm. Gaines, a native of Brussels, previously headed the Hawaii International Film Festival and also has been associated with the Sundance Film Festival. . . . AFI Associates presents a special screening of “Love Story” (1970) tonight, followed by dinner with its star, Ryan O’Neal, and director, Arthur Hiller, at Morton’s in Beverly Hills. Tickets are $100; information at (323) 856-7665.