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

ENTERTAINMENT

Slaying Put: “I’m not going anywhere, and I can’t stress that enough,” a contrite “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar told The Times on Wednesday, adding that she was “humiliated” over the reaction to comments that she made to a Web site saying she’d leave the series if it moves from the WB to another network. “I just said it in passing, and it was only meant to show my appreciation and support for the WB. But Fox [the show’s producer] has been very good to me too. I intend to stay with ‘Buffy’ no matter what.” Gellar, who has at least one more year on her contract after this season, added that she “absolutely” hopes to continue doing the show even after that. Reports have been circulating for weeks that Fox could move “Buffy” to its own network if the WB--which has an exclusive negotiations window through early March--doesn’t offer a high enough price.

Denials, Denials: Jennifer Lopez’s spokesman denied Wednesday a swirl of press reports about a breakup between Lopez and her high-profile boyfriend, Sean “Puffy” Combs. He said that Lopez--in the midst of a publicity blitz for her new movie, “The Wedding Planner,” and album, “J.Lo”--taped interviews Tuesday with “Entertainment Tonight” and “Live With Regis” (with the latter to air this morning) declaring that the two “are very much still together.” In a comment on the weird world of celebrity-dom, meanwhile, the publicist, Alan Nierob, noted that in addition to having to deny the breakup reports Wednesday--which originated in the New York Daily News--he was also forced to respond to a separate report published Wednesday--in the rival New York Post--claiming the couple were getting married in England. “There’s also been no confirmation on that,” Nierob said with a chuckle.

Honorary Oscar: Producer Dino De Laurentiis will receive the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award during the March 25 Oscar ceremonies. “De Laurentiis’ body of work speaks for itself,” academy President Robert Rehme said in announcing the honor. “His love of, passion for and dedication to making motion pictures has suffused through his career. He has always had the courage to make the films that he believes in.” De Laurentiis, whose “Hannibal” opens Feb. 9, received a foreign language film Oscar in 1956 for “La Strada.” Last year’s Thalberg winner was Warren Beatty.

‘Survivor’ Watch: An Internet betting site, Intertops.com, is giving odds on who will win “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” which kicks off Sunday on CBS. Keith, 40, a Michigan chef, is the early favorite at 4-1. Meanwhile, CBS has already scheduled the initial “Survivor” castoff to appear Monday on “The Late Show With David Letterman” and Wednesday on “The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn.” And lest he be forgotten, the original “Survivor” victor, Richard Hatch, will do a weekly column for Us Weekly, “The Hatch Report,” on the scheming in the show’s second round.

Quick Takes: TNT’s Louis L’Amour Western “Crossfire Trail,” starring Tom Selleck, drew more than 7.7 million households in its premiere Sunday to become basic cable’s highest-rated and most-watched movie, even beating theatrical releases, TNT said. . . . Robert Downey Jr.’s estranged wife, Deborah Falconer, filed for divorce from the legally troubled actor on Tuesday, seeking custody of their 7-year-old son and supervised visits for Downey. The couple married in 1992 but separated in 1996.