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

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LEGAL FILE

Carvey Settles: The multimillion-dollar malpractice lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court by comedian-actor Dana Carvey was settled out of court Friday for an undisclosed sum, his publicist announced. At Carvey’s request, the monetary reward will be divided among several charities, with the majority going to cardiac research. Carvey had sued surgeon Elias Hanna for allegedly operating on the wrong artery when he underwent a double bypass in 1998. Hanna’s lawyer had contended that Carvey had an “unusual anatomy” with blood vessels in atypical positions. Carvey said, “This lawsuit, from the beginning, was about accountability and doing everything I could to make sure that it wouldn’t happen to someone else.” Carvey has been given a clean bill of health, his publicist said.

MOVIES

Guns In, Guns Out: Has 20th Century Fox suddenly had an attack of anti-gun political correctness? All over Los Angeles, the studio has been plastering billboards and municipal buses with advertisements for its new Martin Lawrence comedy, “Big Momma’s House,” that feature the well-known comedian in drag holding an FBI badge in one hand and a gun in the other. But in newspaper ads, Lawrence has exchanged the gun for a rolling pin. “The gun issue is not the reason [for the change],” said a Fox spokesman. “The outdoor ads still have the gun. Basically, for the outdoor ad, because it is a moving medium, we used the gun to shortcut to the fact that he is an FBI agent. In the newspaper ad, the rolling pin gives us the opportunity to play up another joke in the film which takes place in the kitchen. That’s because a newspaper ad is a medium where you can spend time and look at it.” Lawrence plays FBI agent Malcolm Turner, who sets up a stakeout in a small Southern town, disguising himself as a cantankerous Southern granny.

PEOPLE

Now Marley Drops Austria: Reggae star Ziggy Marley has canceled a planned performance in Austria to show his opposition to a far-right party in the federal government. Marley, son of Bob Marley, was to have performed June 17 at the annual Spring Vibration Festival in Wiesen. Festival spokesman Alexander Swoboda said Marley’s agents informed organizers of his cancellation. Marley “does not want to play in a country with a Nazi in the government,” Swoboda said, citing a statement from the agents. He was apparently referring to Joerg Haider, the former leader of the Freedom Party, whose past comments in praise of the Nazi era contributed to a decision by 14 European Union countries to impose sanctions against Austria. Dozens of musicians and other performers have also canceled their participation in Austrian events.

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Together With Larry King: In their first joint interview in more than 10 years, former television evangelists Jim Bakker and ex-wife Tammy Faye Messner will be the guests on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Monday at 6 p.m. to answer the host’s questions and take viewer calls. The pair had been married for 31 years, and were divorced in 1992. Tammy Faye married Roe Messner in 1993.

STAGE

South Coast Replacements: South Coast Repertory has replaced two plays previously announced for the 2000-01 season on its Second Stage. Instead of Harold Pinter’s “The Homecoming,” the Costa Mesa theater will offer Joe Orton’s “Entertaining Mr. Sloane.” Also deleted is “Modern Orthodox,” a new play about religious differences among American Jews by emerging playwright Daniel Goldfarb. Taking its slot is John Guare’s “Bosoms and Neglect.” Another new Goldfarb play, “Dulce de Leche,” is a contender for the open slot remaining on the Second Stage. Commissioned by SCR, it will have a staged reading next month during the theater’s Pacific Playwrights Festival. The Mainstage season remains unchanged, with five announced plays and one open slot.

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