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

TELEVISION

‘Millionaire’ Producer: Less Is Definitely More

With the television networks set to announce their fall plans next week, Michael Davies, executive producer of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” finds himself in the unusual position of trying to keep his show off the schedule.

Davies says he’s lobbying ABC to return the show to its roots as a periodic special, airing several nights in a row. The program, hosted by Regis Philbin, now airs twice a week.

The goal, Davies says, is to focus viewer attention on the half-hour syndicated “Millionaire,” hosted by Meredith Vieira, premiering in September. “We’re just going to confuse the audience if you have a regular prime-time show and a syndicated show,” he reasons.

Implementing his wish may be difficult for ABC, which has lost about a quarter of its prime-time audience this season. “Millionaire” represents an easy, inexpensive alternative in a schedule likely to be full of holes.

Kevin Brockman, an ABC spokesman, said that executives were too busy screening potential new series to comment on Davies’ proposal.

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THEATER

Anyone Interested in Hosting the Tonys?

With less than a month to go before the Tony Awards, the June 2 telecast is still minus a master of ceremonies, the New York Post reports. “We’re scrambling to line someone up, but so far, we’re stuck,” one Tony source conceded.

If no one’s yet in place, it’s not for lack of trying. An offer was made last Friday to Nathan Lane, who co-hosted the awards last year with Matthew Broderick. Lane, however, will be busy shooting the movie version of “Nicholas Nickleby” in London. Steve Martin and Angela Lansbury also passed.

What about Whoopi Goldberg, one of the producers of the multi-nominated “Thoroughly Modern Millie”? Insiders say she was rejected by some Tony officials because she just hosted the Oscars.

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POP/ROCK

Staley Overdosed, Autopsy Concludes

The autopsy results are in, and suspicions are confirmed: Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose, a cocktail of heroin and cocaine, E Online reports.

The substance is referred to as a “speedball” or a “Belushi”--a reference to actor John Belushi, who overdosed after injecting it into his system in 1982. Staley, 34, apparently did the same on April 5 and died soon after, the coroner in the King County, Wash., Medical Examiner’s Office said.

Staley’s badly decomposed body was discovered two weeks later--slumped on a couch next to what police described as a heroin kit. The revelation came as no surprise: He documented his substance-abuse problems in his lyrics and discussed his heroin habit in interviews.

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QUICK TAKES

NBC has renewed its drama series “Third Watch” for a fourth season.... NBC has bought the rights to Andrew Kirtzman’s “Emperor of the City,” a book about Rudolph W. Giuliani’s tenure as mayor of New York City. Another Giuliani project is in the works at USA Networks....Jamie Foxx will star in “Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story,” according to the Hollywood Reporter....Robin Williams will return to TV on July 14 in HBO’s “Robin Williams: Live on Broadway”.... Paul McCartney will participate in what is billed as his first live online chat with fans at 5 today at https://chat.msn.com/.