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

TELEVISION

Rather Worries About Patriotic Self-Censorship

Veteran CBS News anchor Dan Rather says the post-Sept. 11 climate of patriotism has resulted in “self-censorship” among the news media when covering the war on terrorism.

Apologizing for the “obscene” analogy, Rather compared the situation to that in South Africa when dissenters had flaming tires put around their necks.

“In some ways, the fear is that you will be necklaced here, you will have a flaming tire of lack of patriotism put around your neck

Rather also complained about hurdles placed in the way of war correspondents “to cover the backsides of those who are in charge,” and the acceptance of such policies by the public. “There has never been an American war, small or large, in which [journalistic] access has been so limited as this one,” he said. “The belief runs so strong in both the political and military leadership ... that those who control the images will control public opinion.”

Rachel Delivers for ‘Friends’ and NBC

“Friends,” featuring the birth of Rachel’s baby, delivered its second-biggest audience ever Thursday and the largest ever for an episode of the show broadcast on Thursday night. The numbers were exceeded only by an airing of “Friends” on Super Bowl Sunday in 1998.

The estimated 34.9 million viewers who watched the program helped to lift the season finale of “Will & Grace” (23.7 million) to its second-highest rating--although that wasn’t enough to beat CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

“Friends” finished the year as TV’s most-watched program, while “CSI” emerged as the most-watched drama--a title “ER” had held each year since it premiered in 1994.

“Survivor” proved no match for “Friends,” averaging just more than 19 million viewers. CBS will repeat Thursday’s “Survivor” tonight in advance of the program’s finale Sunday.

THE ARTS

Southwest Museum OKs Pechanga Pact

Leaders of the Southwest Museum Friday embraced a pact that would send part of their collection on loan to the Pechanga Indians of Temecula in exchange for annual payments to stabilize the Southwest Museum’s long-shaky finances.

The Southwest’s end of the proposed deal, which has drawn fire from some supporters wary of letting thousands of artifacts leave the institution, fell into place with a 15-1 vote by the museum’s trustees, with one abstention. Museum officials said the other eight board members didn’t attend.

The 12-page pact now depends upon a Sunday vote among the Pechanga reservation’s roughly 800 enrolled adult members. Museum officials declined to disclose details of the deal until then. But sources close to the agreement say the contract covers more than 10 years and allows the Pechangas to house borrowed items in a new museum, larger than the Southwest.

The Southwest Museum holds more than 350,000 artifacts in its Mount Washington complex but has room to display fewer than 2% of them.

PEOPLE

Once-Shunned Berlin Honors Dietrich

Ten years after Marlene Dietrich’s death, her native Berlin named her an honorary citizen of the city she shunned for most of her life after turning her back on Nazi Germany.

The rare honor, awarded at City Hall on Thursday, was a late reconciliation with the husky-voiced diva who went to Hollywood and was viewed as a traitor by Germans for her support of the U.S. war effort.

Dietrich’s grandson Peter Riva, accepted the honor in her name, saying, “Marlene was angry with Berlin as only a true love can be.”

QUICK TAKES

Stanley Donen (“Singin’ in the Rain”) will make a rare foray into legitimate theater, directing the world premiere of Elaine May’s “Adult Entertainment,” a comedy about the porn industry opening off-Broadway in the fall.... Blair Underwood and Alfre Woodard will star in a one-night performance of “Love Letters” at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point on May 26. Proceeds go to the Amy Biehl Foundation and Artists for a New South Africa....ABC News Chairman Roone Arledge will be given a lifetime achievement award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at the annual News and Documentary Awards on Sept. 10.