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

TV & RADIO

Big Mac Flap: Drew Carey has sued A&W;, claiming the hamburger and root beer chain is reneging on his endorsement deal because he appeared in a McDonald’s restaurant on his ABC show. According to the suit, Carey’s A&W; deal calls for him to provide an exclusive endorsement in the U.S. and Canada; in a November “Drew Carey Show” episode, Carey’s character was “shanghaied” to China and later shown eating at a McDonald’s there. Carey says A&W; paid him $450,000 in February, and signed a $600,000 contract extension prior to the episode’s broadcast. But he claims that A&W; has since accused him of breach of contract, has not paid the $600,000 fee, and is asking him to refund some of the original $450,000. An A&W; representative could not be reached for immediate comment.

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‘60 Minutes II’ Simulcast: Radio station KNX-AM (1070) will simulcast CBS’ weekly “60 Minutes II” starting with the TV newsmagazine’s premiere tonight. The 9 p.m. simulcast will push KNX’s nightly 9 p.m. “Drama Hour” presentation back to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays only.

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More ‘Today’: NBC News announced plans Tuesday for a new hourlong morning program to follow the popular “Today” show. Tentatively titled “Later Today,” the 9 a.m. program, scheduled to premiere in September, will be hosted by Jodi Applegate, who currently anchors “Weekend Today.” “Leeza,” the NBC program that currently airs at 9 a.m., is going into syndication.

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‘PJs’ Protest Update: A coalition of African American groups on Tuesday officially launched a national viewer boycott of the new animated Fox series “The PJs,” despite the comedy’s strong ratings for its “sneak preview” Sunday. Najee Ali, head of Project Islamic H.O.P.E., and leaders of other groups such as the Coalition Against Media Exploitation, said the series--which revolves around an inner-city housing project--contains offensive stereotypes and makes fun of drug and alcohol abuse. Ali said he was starting a national e-mail and letter-writing campaign against the show. Fox declined comment. Meanwhile, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume announced he does not support Ali, his group or the “PJs” boycott. Mfume added that the NAACP at this time “takes no position on the television show.”

MOVIES

Back in Sight: After having its Oscar hopes pumped up by a handful of year-end critics’ prizes, Universal Pictures will reopen its George Clooney-Jennifer Lopez crime caper “Out of Sight” in Los Angeles and New York on Friday. The film, based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, was a surprise winner of the best picture, best director and best screenplay prizes from the National Society of Film Critics; picked up best picture and screenplay awards from the Boston Society of Film Critics; and was named best screenplay by the Online Film Critics Society. In Los Angeles, it will play exclusively at Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinemas.

POP/ROCK

Blame Shared: Rap stars Sean “Puffy” Combs and Heavy D are 50% responsible for a stampede at a party that left nine people dead in 1991, a New York state judge has ruled. The judge found that the City College of New York, where the party was held in a gymnasium, was also 50% responsible. The tragedy occurred when fans rushed a celebrity basketball event sponsored by Combs. One of those injured, Nicole Levy, 25, filed the lawsuit. The judge found that school officials knew the event was oversold and failed to provide adequate supervision of the crowd, in part by abandoning security responsibility to Combs. Combs’ lawyer said that the ruling has no practical effect on Combs and Heavy D, since the state judge’s jurisdiction only covers public agencies and institutions. However, the plaintiff’s attorney said settlement talks with Combs and Heavy D were ongoing, though Combs’ attorney had no comment on those talks.

QUICK TAKES

One stuntman died of an apparent heart attack and another was injured in Cedar Hill, Texas, on Tuesday, when a sport utility vehicle being used in a stunt jump for CBS’ “Walker, Texas Ranger” apparently overshot its landing spot and struck trees. Neither man was identified, but the show’s star, Chuck Norris, was not involved in the crash. In a statement, Norris and the show’s producer said they were “grief-stricken” over the incident. . . . CBS has finally come to terms with Jane Seymour for a movie continuation of the actress’ former hit series, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Series creator Beth Sullivan is writing the script; the earliest possible airdate would be in May. . . . Steven Zaillian’s screen adaptation of Jonathan Harr’s novel “A Civil Action” has won USC’s annual Scripter Award honoring the year’s best film adaptation of a book. Previous honorees have included Oscar winners “The English Patient,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Schindler’s List.” . . . Two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field will receive the new Ruby Award--honoring an actor “whose body of work has influenced American cinema”--at the 14th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival in March. . . . Green Day has been added as the opening act for the Rolling Stones’ sold-out shows Feb. 9 and 11 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. . . . Milton Berle’s 90th birthday celebration concert, scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, has been rescheduled for May 22. Berle suffered a mild stroke on Dec. 5 and is recuperating at home.