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

TELEVISION

Kmart Bags Tabloid Trashing Stewart

Kmart Corp., depending heavily on Martha Stewart products to help it climb out of bankruptcy, pulled this week’s issue of the Globe off its shelves. The front-page headline in the tabloid paper reads, “Mean Martha Stewart Exposed.”

Stewart has an exclusive partnership with the discount retailer, selling a collection of bedsheets, kitchen accessories and closet organizers.

The Globe story quotes sources it claims had “sneak peeks” at the book “Martha Inc.,” a 350-page unauthorized biography that portrays Stewart as a ruthless businesswoman who often exploited the loyalty of her employees and family. The book, written by Christopher M. Byron and published by John Wiley & Sons, hits retailers’ shelves this week.

Nicole Dowswell, a Kmart spokeswoman, confirmed that the issue of the Globe was not available at Kmart stores but declined to say why.

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Brooks Makes Rio Offer Too Good to Refuse

James L. Brooks, an executive producer of “The Simpsons,” reacted quickly to news that Rio de Janeiro was threatening to sue the Fox network over what it perceived as a negative portrayal of the Brazilian city on a recent episode of the animated series.

“We apologize to the lovely city and people of Rio de Janeiro,” he said in a statement, “and if that doesn’t settle the issue, Homer Simpson offers to take on the president of Brazil on ‘Fox Celebrity Boxing.’”

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Drama ‘The Shield’ Loses More Sponsors

“The Shield,” FX’s gritty new police drama based in Los Angeles, has lost some advertisers. Anheuser-Busch and Tricon Global Restaurants have joined Burger King, Office Depot and New Balance, which pulled out last week.

The companies didn’t say why they withdrew, but the show, which premiered March 12, has been criticized in some circles for its tough language and violence.

An FX spokesman said the Tuesday night series is still 75% sold out for the first 13 weeks. “While a handful of advertisers have opted out of the show, new ones have come in to replace them,” he said.

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LEGAL FILE

Settlement Is Reached in Eminem Lawsuit

Rapper Eminem has agreed to pay $100,000 to a man who filed a civil lawsuit after the rap superstar allegedly pulled an unloaded gun and hit him in the head and face outside a Michigan bar.

The Grammy Award winner was said to be miffed because John Guerra, 28, had kissed Eminem’s then-wife, Kim Mathers, in public two days earlier.

The suit was filed shortly after the confrontation in June 2000.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and is serving two years’ probation on the criminal charge.

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Crawford Compensated for Injuries in Vegas

Michael Crawford has settled his lawsuit against the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas stemming from his appearance in the show “EFX” there. Terms were not disclosed.

The singer, who parlayed his fame from Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” into a $150,000-a-week role in the production, sued the resort in 1998, saying injuries suffered while working on the show led to him needing a hip replacement.