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

TELEVISION

Maher Apologizes: Bill Maher, host of ABC’s late-night talk show “Politically Incorrect,” agreed to apologize on his show Thursday night for comments he made last week comparing “retarded children” to dogs. In the rant, which was part of “PI’s” Jan. 11 broadcast, Maher said, in comparing the two: “They’re sweet. They’re kind. But they don’t mentally advance at all.” The comments prompted complaints to ABC, which said Wednesday that Maher had gone over the line. Maher, whose social commentary often chafes at what is considered acceptable, evidently agreed, apologizing for the first time in the history of his show, a spokesperson said.

‘Island’ Fever: Criticized by a Federal Communications Commission member for promoting its new “reality” series “Temptation Island” in kid-friendly fare, Fox said it will “immediately and permanently” withdraw ads for the program from such shows as “The Simpsons” and “Malcolm in the Middle.” In a letter to Commissioner Gloria Tristani, Fox distribution president Robert Quicksilver said the decision was “in the spirit of” the network’s recently adopted policy not to run ads for R-rated movies during family-oriented shows. Meanwhile, “Temptation Island” further established its hit credentials in its second outing Wednesday night, capitalizing on a rerun of NBC’s “The West Wing” to easily win its time slot and attract an estimated 17.6 million viewers--a 10% increase over its first telecast.

THEATER

Townshend to Perform in La Jolla: The La Jolla Playhouse has confirmed that singer and composer Pete Townshend has agreed to perform at an April benefit for the theater. Proceeds will go to a new building program, said Playhouse interim artistic director Des McAnuff. McAnuff and Townshend collaborated on “The Who’s Tommy” at the Playhouse in 1992. The Playhouse will provide more information, including ticket prices, when a date is confirmed. There will be a priority purchase period for La Jolla Playhouse donors and subscribers.

Actors’ Equity Gets Tough: Barry Williams, the 1970s television icon who portrayed Greg Brady on “The Brady Bunch,” has been fined $50,000 by Actors’ Equity for appearing in a nonunion touring production of “The Sound of Music,” which is still traveling around the country. The fine is the largest ever to be imposed by the stage actors’ union against a performer. Meanwhile, Theatre.com reports that Actors’ Equity has also filed charges against Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, two former “Laverne & Shirley” stars who are appearing in a nonunion tour of “Grease.”

Paying Tribute: Wayne Brady of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” will host an evening of music, dance and the spoken word on Feb. 5 in memory of actor Anthony Lee, who was killed by police gunfire at a Halloween party in Benedict Canyon on Oct. 28. Proceeds from the show at the El Portal Center for the Arts in North Hollywood will go to the Anthony Lee Student Matinee Series at the Sacramento Theatre Company in Sacramento, where he was raised.

FILM

Miramax to Release Film on the Internet: In an experiment in making full-length feature films available on the Internet, Miramax will release its 1999 film “Guinevere,” starring Sarah Polley and Stephen Rea, for $3.49 at three Web sites beginning Monday. The 500-megabyte file will take about 30 minutes to download over a high-speed Internet connection and can be used for 24 hours. After its license expires, the downloaded file will be useless. The arrangement will test whether consumers will watch downloaded features on a pay-per-view basis.

THE ARTS

Met to Honor Domingo: The Metropolitan Opera will celebrate the 60th birthday of Los Angeles Opera artistic director Placido Domingo with a gala concert Sunday in New York. James Levine will conduct the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in a program of overtures, arias and ensembles, featuring solo artists Deborah Voight, Frederica von Stade, Luciano Pavarotti, Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey, among others. Domingo, who has performed 41 roles at the Met, also will perform.

QUICK TAKES

Glenn Close will play Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the National Theatre, according to Theatre.com. Trevor Nunn, who directed Close in “Sunset Boulevard,” will direct the production, scheduled for the fall of 2002. . . . The Fox series “Boston Public” will hold an open casting call, searching for teens of all races and ethnicities, able to play teenage students at an urban high school, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the USC Physical Education Building. . . . David Poland, who hosts KABC-AM’s (790) “The Movie Show,” will report live from the Sundance Film Festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 27. . . . New Orleans singer and pianist Dr. John lent his voice and music to an episode of National Geographic Explorer’s “Snakes in the U.S.A.,” premiering at 8 p.m. Sunday on CNBC. . . . Jacyln Smith will make a second guest appearance as Ted Danson’s former flame on the CBS comedy series “Becker.” The episode will air during February sweeps. . . . “The West Wing’s” Martin Sheen, John Spencer and Aaron Sorkin will be honored by Phoenix House on Feb. 12 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The award recognizes their personal commitment to fighting substance abuse. . . . Garth Brooks and Whoopi Goldberg will star in “Call Me Claus,” a Christmas musical set to air on TNT in December. Tony Award winners Brian Stokes Mitchell and Victor Garber will also star.