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

TELEVISION

Fernandez Tapped for Morning Duty at KTLA

Former “Access Hollywood” co-host Giselle Fernandez has been named co-anchor of “The KTLA Morning News” on KTLA-TV. Fernandez will join co-anchor Carlos Amezcua on Oct. 15. She replaces Barbara Beck, who departed the station last May.

Fernandez, who filled in on the anchor desk for a few days last summer, was selected following a nationwide search. She has worked at the station before, as a weekend co-anchor and reporter for “News at 10” from 1985 to 1987. KTLA is owned by the Tribune Co., which also owns the Los Angeles Times.

Fernandez will continue her co-hosting duties on “This Week in History” on the History Channel. She formerly anchored NBC’s weekend edition of the “Today” show and the Sunday edition of “NBC Nightly News.”

‘Law & Order’ Postpones Episode

NBC has postponed an installment of “Law & Order” scheduled for October, with plans to run it at a later date. Subtitled “Armed Forces,” the episode deals with the murder of a Vietnam veteran.

All the networks are examining their programming, in some instances seeking to revise completed episodes containing scenes that might be deemed inappropriate in light of last week’s terrorist attacks. And NBC previously pulled the plug on a planned five-hour “Law & Order” miniseries that would have incorporated all three editions of the show, focusing on an act of domestic terrorism. Ordered in March, the project was to have begun production shortly for broadcast in May.

Letterman Adds Guests to Fit the Times

David Letterman’s first guest when he returned to the air this week was newsman Dan Rather, and CBS’ “Late Show” host plans to continue to inject a serious note in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has been booked for Monday’s telecast, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will visit Letterman on Tuesday. Historian Stephen E. Ambrose is on tonight’s program, but he had been scheduled prior to Sept. 11 because of his involvement with the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

Judge: Forget About Suit Against ‘The Sopranos’

A federal court judge in Illinois has thrown out a lawsuit against HBO’s “The Sopranos,” saying the mob drama has a constitutional right to depict its characters as the creative team chooses.

The American Italian Defense Assn. brought the action against HBO’s parent, Time Warner Entertainment Co., on grounds that the series offends Italian Americans. An HBO spokeswoman expressed satisfaction Thursday that the judge had upheld the network’s position on the case.

MOVIES

Some Chains Shun ‘Omega Code’ Sequel

With a nation still reeling from last week’s terrorist attacks, several theater chains have canceled plans to show the apocalyptic religious thriller “Megiddo: The Omega Code 2,” which is scheduled to open nationwide today.

Chains that have backed out include Loews Cineplex, United Artists, General Cinema and Edwards, but other national chains such as Regal, AMC and Cinemark will go ahead and show the movie.

Seth Willenson, an official with distributor GoodTimes Entertainment, said that the cancellations will not have that big an impact on box office. He noted that the $22-million Christian-themed film, produced by the Trinity Broadcast Network, will be shown on about 313 screens, down from about 350.

The film, which stars Michael York and Michael Biehn, is the sequel to the 1999 hit “The Omega Code.”

While there are no terrorists in the film, one theater circuit executive told Inside.com that there was concern about a battle scene in which the Sphinx is blown up, and he questioned the film’s moral tone, which he described as “all the Muslims are bad, all the Christians are good.”

“This movie is not about terrorism,” producer Matthew Crouch said Thursday. “The Sphinx is destroyed in an earthquake [not a battle].”

THE ARTS

More Cancellations in Attack’s Aftermath

In the wake of the attacks on New York and Arlington, Va., the Korean cast of the touring production of “Cookin”’ has been asked to return home, so their Oct. 9-21 engagement at the Wadsworth Theater in Brentwood has been scratched. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

Also canceled due to meager ticket sales since Sept. 11: “From Broadway With Love,” a concert featuring Dale Kristien and Hugh Panaro that had been scheduled for Saturday night at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

And the Jose Limon Dance Company has canceled its Sept. 28-29 performances at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State L.A. The company plans to reschedule the performances in April.

QUICK TAKES

Production designer Ken Adam, who won Academy Awards for “Barry Lyndon” and “The Madness of King George,” will be honored for lifetime achievement at the Art Directors Guild’s annual awards ceremony Feb. 23