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

POP/ROCK

‘N Sync Rules the Roost at MTV Video Awards

“Lady Marmalade,” a lavish, funky slice of disco and eye candy from the film “Moulin Rouge,” was named best video Thursday at the 18th annual MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.

The video, which reflected the musical’s vivid visuals, featured the hit-song squad of Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. The remake of the 1975 LaBelle song also won best video from film.

‘N Sync took home the most trophies with wins for best group video, best dance video and best pop video. Gwen Stefani, meanwhile, proved a valuable sidekick: The No Doubt singer was a guest on the best male video (Moby’s “Southside”) and best female video (Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind”).

The video “Fallin”’ earned Alicia Keys the best new artist honor. Other winners included Destiny’s Child (best R&B; video for “Survivor”), Limp Bizkit (best rock video, “Rollin”’) and Nelly (best rap video, “Ride Wit Me”).

Carey Film, Album Still Set for September

Mariah Carey’s camp will not comment on reports that the troubled singer has been hospitalized again--this time, at UCLA Medical Center. Her aides do confirm, however, that Carey’s film and album, both titled “Glitter,” are still on track for release this month. The album is due in stores Tuesday, and the film, her screen debut, will open Sept. 21.

The two projects had been pushed back several weeks after Carey was admitted to a clinic to seek care for exhaustion and emotional distress. This week, she postponed her highly publicized Sept. 12 interview with Barbara Walters for “20/20,” sparking speculation that the singer’s personal woes are ongoing.

Rimes’ Bodyguard Charged with Extortion

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted LeAnn Rimes’ former bodyguard and personal trainer on an extortion charge.

According to court documents, Robert Lavetta Iadevaia Jr., allegedly called a co-manager of Rimes in May and threatened to sell videotapes and photographs, taken from the singer’s safe, to the tabloids if he wasn’t paid off.

Lavetta, as he is known, was fired June 8 and was indicted by a grand jury in July. His trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday. If convicted, Lavetta faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $25,000 bail.

MOVIES

New Producer for 2002 Oscar Telecast

The Oscar show has a new boss. The Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences announced Thursday that Laura Ziskin, a producer and former studio executive, will be producing the 2001 Academy Awards telecast on March 24.

Ziskin will be the first female producing the Oscars on her own. (Lili Fini Zanuck and her husband, Richard, produced the 72nd Academy Awards). The producer of films such as “No Way Out” and the upcoming “Spider-Man,” Ziskin started her own banner in 1999 after five years at the helm of Fox 2000, a division of 20th Century Fox.

“This is a tough assignment,” she told The Times. “It’s a live theatrical production, as well a TV show, that’s very highly scrutinized. The live aspect is the scariest--and the most exciting. People tune in to see the unexpected.”

Ziskin says she won’t reinvent the show, of which she’s a fan, “warts and all.” Still, her preliminary plan is to play up emotion (“make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry”) and incorporate lots of film clips.

Leveling the Playing Field in the Oscar Race

As the studios gear up for the Oscar race, the academy has tightened promotional guidelines and increased the penalties for violations.

No post-screening receptions or Q&A; sessions are allowed and no critical raves can be included with screening invitations. E-mail is now bound by the same rules as regular mail. Studio Web sites are free to say anything they want but members can’t be directed to them.

“We’re trying to make the playing field as level as possible--letting the films speak for themselves,” said John Pavlik, the group’s communications director. “Studios violating these guidelines used to lose one or two pairs of tickets to the event. Now they can lose up to half, which is more of a hand slap.”

TELEVISION

Brokaw: Reports of Retirement Exaggerated

Tom Brokaw, longtime anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” kept his future plans vague in an interview with The Times this week. The newscaster’s contract with the Peacock network expires in May and, in the wake of his long summer vacation, there had been speculation that he’s on his way out.

“I’m here for 35 years, and I expect to stay here in one form or another for a long time,” Brokaw said from New York. “But at this stage in my career, it’s not unusual for me to try to figure out what to do next.”

In any case, he added, it’s a case of much ado about nothing: “There are no alarms or bells going off. I think it got more attention this summer than it deserved.”

QUICK TAKES

Bono, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Destiny’s Child, Wyclef Jean, Lil’ Kim, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, ‘N Sync and Britney Spears are among the musicians heading into a New York studio this week to record an updated version of Marvin Gaye’s 1974 hit “What’s Going On” to focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. The CD’s release is planned for World AIDS Day, Dec. 1 .... The father of hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has died after he was pinned between his garage door and one of his son’s cars in what investigators believe was a bizarre accident, police said. The Rev. Gesner Jean, 60, a Newark minister, suffered severe chest injuries and died at a New Jersey hospital Monday night. ....