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

POP/ROCK

Feeling Forever Old, Stewart Jumps Labels

Rod Stewart, who said he felt he was treated like “an old piece of furniture” at Warner Music Group labels, has a new home with celebrated record mogul Clive Davis and his upstart J Records, the singer’s manager said Thursday.

Stewart, whose last album sold a meager 233,000 copies, parted ways with Warner’s Atlantic Records late last year after more than two decades within the Warner family of labels.

Davis is the former chief of Arista Records, where he was a key architect of the revival of Carlos Santana’s career, and now helms J Records, which has a roster including Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and Busta Rhymes.

Stewart’s manager, Arnold Stiefel, says working with Davis will allow the singer to pursue a concept album project he has long hoped to record. It should be in stores by October.

TELEVISION

ABC to Profile GIs on War Series ‘Front Line’

In case you haven’t had your fill of footage on the war on terrorism, ABC has made a 13-episode commitment to “Profiles From the Front Line,” a one-hour, prime-time series devoted to the subject that will air later this year.

The show, which producers Jerry Bruckheimer (“Black Hawk Down”) and Bertram van Munster (“Cops”) are turning out for Warner Bros. Television, tracks American troops in such far-flung spots as Afghanistan, South America and the Philippines.

Though the focus will be on the personal stories of those in the U.S. military, others engaged in the antiterrorism effort will also be recognized. Footage will come from the show’s own team of filmmakers and from material provided by the Department of Defense, which is cooperating with the project.

‘Mystery!’ Visits Hillerman Country

PBS will start filming an adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s best-selling novel “Skinwalkers” outside Phoenix next week for its venerable “Mystery!” series. The production, the first in the series to be produced in the U.S., is part of the network’s attempt to broaden the focus beyond purely British fare.

Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises will help produce the two-hour film, which features Hillerman’s Native American detective characters Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, played by Adam Beach (“Smoke Signals”) and Wes Studi (“Dances With Wolves”).

A fall broadcast is planned. If audiences respond positively, the characters could return, said Coby Atlas, PBS’ co-chief program executive.

‘Survivor’ Challenge Not Immune to Errors

CBS’ “Survivor: Africa” was belatedly forced to declare three second-place winners because of an error made during an immunity challenge.

Contestants Lex van den Berghe of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Tom Buchanan of Rich Valley, Va., were bumped up in the standings, CBS said. They join the original runner-up, Kim Johnson of Oyster Bay, N.Y., all receiving a second-place prize of $100,000. Ethan Zohn of Lexington, Mass., remains the $1-million top winner.

The problem occurred during one of the final immunity challenges, in which contestants were asked to identify which of the female players did not have any body piercings. The producers later discovered there was more than one right answer.

UPN to Replay CBS’ ‘Amazing Race’ Series

UPN will launch a new unscripted programming block that will feature a repeat broadcast of CBS’ series “The Amazing Race.” It is the first time that CBS will replay programming on UPN, which recently came under its jurisdiction.

“The Amazing Race 2” will premiere on UPN on March 15, the same week it will have aired on CBS. The series follows 11 couples racing around the world for a $1-million prize.

Starting March 22, the “Race” reruns will be shown in tandem with “Under One Roof,” in which families compete for a luxurious beachfront house on a secluded Fijian island.

QUICK TAKES

Film critic Roger Ebert is due to undergo surgery today to remove a cancerous growth on his thyroid gland--a procedure he underwent previously in 1987. The tumor, he says, is “slow-growing” and the prognosis “excellent.” He hopes to return to work next week.... A&E; has canceled its series “100 Centre Street,” produced and directed by Sidney Lumet, after only 31 episodes, Variety reports.... CNN, which has been accused in some quarters of having a liberal bias, has hired noted conservative William Bennett as a regular contributor to “American Morning With Paula Zahn.” He’ll be commenting on social and cultural issues and taking part in coverage of major political events.... The Geffen Playhouse has extended the run of David Rambo’s “God’s Man in Texas” through March 23.... Fans can celebrate what would have been the 59th birthday of former Beatle George Harrison on Monday at the Beatles’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6 p.m. Capitol Records is providing the cake.... Alfre Woodard and Paul Winfield will narrate John Williams’ “An American Journey” at a Los Angeles Philharmonic-Yo-Yo Ma concert celebrating the composer’s 70th birthday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 1:30. p.m. Sunday.