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

TELEVISION

‘Survivor’ Wins Hotly Contested Sunday Night

CBS’ “Survivor: Marquesas” emerged victorious from what was billed as one of the most competitive nights in recent memory Sunday, going up against the “X-Files” finale, “The Cosby Show” reunion and a season-ending two-hour “The Practice.”

“Survivor’s” fourth edition, which saw Portland, Ore., office manager Vecepia Towery win the $1-million prize, averaged 25.4 million viewers from 8 to 10 p.m., according to preliminary Nielsen estimates, compared to an audience of 13 million for “The X-Files.” Both “The Practice” and “The Cosby Show” ran from 9 to 11 p.m., averaging roughly 13 million and 18 million viewers, respectively, with “Cosby” steadily building and beating “Survivor’s” post-show from Central Park in the final half-hour, after the winner was revealed.

All told, nearly 70 million people were watching the four major networks from 9 to 10 p.m., when all four programs were competing.

MOVIES

Bing Sues Kerkorian, Alleges Privacy Invasion

Hollywood producer Steve Bing, who’s fighting a paternity claim by model-actress Elizabeth Hurley, has filed a $1-billion-plus invasion of privacy and trespassing lawsuit against MGM studio mogul Kirk Kerkorian.

The Superior Court lawsuit claims the 84-year-old Kerkorian was behind an effort to dig through Bing’s trash for dental floss in an effort to avoid child support payments by proving--through DNA analysis--that Bing fathered the 4-year-old daughter of Kerkorian’s ex-wife.

“One of the richest men in the world ... schemed to steal someone’s DNA from the garbage and to have that DNA tested without consent in a disgusting effort to publicly smear and disparage his ex-wife,” said Bing, a former writer for the sitcom “Married ... With Children” and producer of the 2000 remake of “Get Carter.”

Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, 37, has asked the court to award her $320,000 a month to support daughter Kira. Kerkorian wants the amount no higher than the $50,000 a month he’s paying now.

Kerkorian attorney Terry Christensen said Friday that DNA tests on the dental floss proved with 99.993% certainty that Bing was Kira’s biological father. “Did we use a little self-help [in obtaining the sample]? Sure. But it was discarded and it belonged to waste management at that point,” he said.

Bing said in his lawsuit that he “always agreed that if it turned out that he was in fact the child’s biological father, he would act appropriately--just in a private fashion.”

THE ARTS

Arts Education Boosts Academics, Study Shows

Arts education, an endangered species in the nation’s strapped public school systems, has far-reaching benefits, a new study concludes.

According to the Arts Education Partnership--whose research was coordinated by UCLA--students exposed to drama, music and dance find that those courses also improve their performance in academic subjects. Studying music improves math achievement, cognitive development and boosts SAT verbal scores, while the visual arts improve a child’s reading and writing skills--especially among poor students or those requiring remedial instruction.

“Notions that the arts are frivolous add-ons to a serious curriculum couldn’t be further from the truth,” said James Catterall, a UCLA education professor who coordinated the study, the first to compare the impact on other academic disciplines.

Though President Bush has requested $11 million to support arts education projects, teachers often complain that those are the courses first cut in schools with budget deficits.

The Arts Education Partnership is a coalition of more than 100 arts, education, governmental and philanthropic groups nationwide.

POP/ROCK

‘Poisoned Pellet’ Discourages CD Piracy

Copycats beware! Sony Music has planted a “poisoned pellet” of software in the European version of Celine Dion’s latest CD, “A New Day Has Come.”

Those who attempt to make copies of the disc risk having the optical drives of personal computers crash and, in some cases, permanently freeze. Warnings that the discs don’t play in computers are on the CD case and on the discs themselves.

In Europe, fans have found that they can’t always eject the discs, and Apple Computer has issued a warning on its Internet support site offering tips on dealing with the situation.

A spokeswoman for Sony Music Entertainment told the New York Times that the discs do no permanent damage to PCs and are part of a continuing drive in the industry to discourage unauthorized copying.

Though these discs have been distributed only in Europe, she added, the first tests in the U.S. will begin shortly--starting with promo discs sent to critics.

QUICK TAKES

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” was named best musical Sunday at the 47th Drama Desk Awards. “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia” and “Metamorphosis” were co-winners of the best play honors.... The influential ‘70s R&B; band Earth, Wind & Fire will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 17. The band is also being honored at the BET Awards on June 25.