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

TELEVISION

‘Trash TV’ Debate Heats Up France

Several hundred activists protesting France’s hit staged, unscripted TV show “Loft Story” stormed an industrial zone north of Paris over the weekend in an attempt to “liberate” the show’s 10 contestants, but were mostly pushed back by a contingent of riot police and security guards lobbing tear gas. Hours earlier, about 50 protesters dumped garbage in front of the headquarters of M6, the station that launched the titillating show, which has set ratings records for the station. Viewership for the program, which features 10 young contestants living on-camera in a loft north of Paris, soared after one couple enjoyed a naked romp in a pool. As happened with the American staged show “Temptation Island,” detractors--including France’s culture minister--have denounced the show as “trash TV” with no redeeming value. Saturday’s protesters--about 80 of whom managed to penetrate the heavily guarded compound despite the clouds of tear gas--were mainly young communists and green activists, according to media reports. They chanted “liberty, liberty,” and played loud music to attract the contestants’ attention, and brought books, such as George Orwell’s “1984,” in what they called an attempt to educate the “hostages.” The last couple left standing on the vote-’em-off show--which began airing in late April--will jointly win a $400,000 dream house. M6 has previously said that far more viewers are happy with the program than are not, but did not immediately comment on the protest.

J.Lo Will Sing, Produce for NBC

Jennifer Lopez, who began her career as a dancing “fly girl” on Fox’s “In Living Color” before branching out to movies and pop music, is returning to TV with an NBC deal that will kick off with a music special airing this fall. The deal also includes three additional music and entertainment specials, plus a half-hour sitcom, “loosely based on Lopez’s family and the neighborhood in which they lived.” Lopez, who will produce the programs through her company, Nuyorican Productions, is expected to perform only on the initial music special.

Networks Make Summer Plans

ABC will premiere “The Beast,” an hourlong drama about the staff of a 24-hour broadcast news outlet, on June 13, airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Frank Langella stars as a media mogul. . . . Fox is bringing back “FreakyLinks,” the hourlong science-fiction drama series from “Blair Witch Project” producer Gregg Hale, for a four-week run starting June 1. The series will air Friday nights at 9. . . . “Fear Factor,” a series in which contestants attempt scary stunts in pursuit of a $50,000 prize, premieres on NBC on June 11, airing Mondays at 8 p.m. . . . Meanwhile, HBO’s “Sex and the City” kicks off its fourth season June 3, with two new episodes airing back-to-back from 9 to 10 p.m.

POP / ROCK

Rap Summit to Seek Reforms

Rap mogul Russell Simmons is calling on hip-hop’s power brokers to attend a summit that will focus on the lyrics, content and advertising of the music. The summit, set for June 12-13 in New York, is sponsored by Simmons, head of Rush Communications, and other top executives in the music business, including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Master P. Among those scheduled to participate are rappers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, KRS-One, Q-Tip and Common. Simmons said the goal of the conference is to enact positive reforms in the industry.

Stipe Declares Himself ‘Queer Artist’

REM front man Michael Stipe confirms long-held rumors in the upcoming Time magazine, describing himself as a “queer artist.” “I was being made to be a coward about it,” Stipe says of his reluctance to discuss his sexuality, “rather than someone who felt like it was a private thing.” He adds that he’s been “in a relationship with an amazing man” for about three years. He doesn’t name that man, but he says he is not a celebrity.

QUICK TAKES

California multimillionaire Dennis Tito, in his first TV interview since returning from space, guests on tonight’s “Larry King Live,” at 6 p.m. on CNN. . . . Cable’s Nick at Nite announced plans Monday to add the long-running NBC series “Cheers” to its fall lineup, beginning with a weeklong marathon starting Sept. 30. Two other former NBC series will also join the Nick at Nite lineup in coming months: “Family Ties,” with Michael J. Fox, will begin airing Sept. 23, and “The Cosby Show,” with Bill Cosby, will start its Nick run in March, 2002. . . . Clint Black, 39, and Lisa Hartman Black, 44, have added a baby girl to their family. Lily Pearl Black, the couple’s first child, was born last Tuesday night.