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

MOVIES

MPAA Nixes ‘American Pie 2’ Condom Ads

A plan to advertise Lifestyle condoms in TV ads for Universal Pictures’ college sex comedy “American Pie 2” has been shot down by the Motion Picture Assn. of America.

The group has jurisdiction over rating theatrical films as well as advertising material, MPAA Chairman Jack Valenti explained.

“We have a long-standing policy of prohibiting condoms in a trailer or advertisements aimed at a general audience,” he told The Times. “There is no compromise. Unsuspecting parents with young children should not have this kind of material brought on them by surprise.”

A spokeswoman for Ansell Healthcare, parent company of Lifestyle Condoms, told The Times that she is upset and confused by the decision.

“The movie is ostensibly about losing virginity, guys running around trying to have sex,” said Carol Carrozza, Ansell’s vice president of marketing. “This was an opportunity for the MPAA to send out a responsible message.”

Universal is also at fault for the mix-up, Carrozza said. “They should have known the rules and gotten clearance before we embarked on an extensive promotional campaign.” ,

Universal’s executive vice president of publicity, Terry Curtin, said that the studio executives negotiating the deal were unaware of MPAA guidelines. When things soured, however, the studio tried to work out a compromise.

“We asked the MPAA whether we could make the ad a public service announcement or an informational campaign,” she told The Times. “But, as a signatory of the MPAA, Universal had no alternative but to respect the MPAA’s ruling. And we’re still partnering with Lifestyle on an Internet promotion, joint sweepstakes and product placement in the film.”

Wait-and-See Policy Adopted by Fox

“Planet of the Apes” fans who purchase the novelization of the film (published by HarperCollins) or the making-of/screenplay movie book “Planet of the Apes Reimagined by Tim Burton” (published by Newmarket Press) have been shocked to find that the last page is blank.

“The scene doesn’t end here, but the final scenes of ‘Planet of the Apes’ were kept secret at the time this book went to press,” readers were advised. “Future editions will contain the final ending.” Julia Moberg, a publicity and marketing assistant for Newmarket, said this is the first time the company has encountered a situation like this.

Jeffrey Godsick, executive vice president of publicity and promotion for 20th Century Fox, said it’s the studio’s first time down this path.

“So much talk has centered around the ending--a provocative one that can be interpreted in a number of ways,” he told The Times. “We wanted people to see it, rather than read it or hear about it before the film was released.”

POP/ROCK

Backstreet Boys Shelve Show at the Forum

The Backstreet Boys, juggling their tour schedule to accommodate member A.J. McLean’s ongoing stint in a rehab center, have now canceled their Aug. 16 show at the Forum in Inglewood. The group had previously planned to postpone its upcoming slate of shows but a “scheduling conflict” will eliminate the Forum show. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

The quintet has also moved its Aug. 18 show at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore to Oct. 13. Tickets will be honored from the original show.