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

TV & MOVIES

‘GMA’ Boost: ABC News got at least a first-day boost when pinch-hitters Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson took over the “Good Morning America” anchor chairs on Monday. “GMA” increased its viewership by 34% over fourth-quarter 1998 numbers, according to Nielsen Media Research, putting it in a solid second place behind NBC’s “Today” and well ahead of CBS’ “This Morning.” A spokeswoman said ABC was encouraged by the results, but noted that ratings are just one measure of a program’s success.

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KCBS Changes?: KCBS-TV is pondering schedule changes to its daytime lineup, including the addition next month of a new afternoon newscast, sources say. In addition, “The Howie Mandel Show,” now airing on KCBS at 4 p.m., is preparing for a Feb. 1 move to 3 p.m., which would pit Mandel against talk-show biggies Rosie O’Donnell (on KNBC) and Oprah Winfrey (on KABC).

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Protecting the Oscar Name: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has sued the Belgian government for trademark infringement over the name of the European country’s annual export prizes: “Oscars for Export.” The Belgian state has been awarding the prizes for several years, but the academy’s lawyer said the group--which presents Hollywood’s annual Oscars--didn’t hear about them until 1997. Oscar was registered as a service mark in Belgium in 1987, with rights backdated to 1969, well before the Export Oscars were created. The Belgian state has claimed the word “oscar” also means “prize” in French.

HONORS

In the Name of Peace: The American Friends of the Hebrew University--which gives comedian Billy Crystal its National Scopus Award on Jan. 28--will honor him further by forming the Billy Crystal Endowment for Peace Through Performing Arts, a program to train educators to use theater, dance and music to teach Israeli and Palestinian children about tolerance, coexistence, pluralism and peace. Crystal called the program a “historic endeavor” and “my greatest reward,” adding: “It is my hope that we can personally impact the future of peace . . . and perhaps eventually, for the first time, listen to Palestinian and Israeli children laughing and playing together.” The endowment will be funded through proceeds from the Scopus Award gala.

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GLAAD Nominees: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced nominees for its 10th annual GLAAD Media Awards Tuesday, with CBS’ “Chicago Hope,” NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” and Showtime’s “Linc’s” vying for best drama while the now defunct “Ellen” goes up against fellow ABC series “The Drew Carey Show” and “Spin City” and NBC’s “Suddenly Susan” and “Will & Grace” for best comedy. Best film nominees are “Gods and Monsters,” “The Object of My Affection,” “The Opposite of Sex” and “Wilde”; nominees for best L.A. theater production are “Burning Blue” and “Thorn,” both presented at the Court Theatre; Hudson Avenue Theatre’s “A Gay Christmas Carol”; Tracy Roberts Theatre’s “Heaven and Home”; and “The Last Session,” presented at both Laguna Playhouse and Tiffany Theatre. The awards, honoring “balanced and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives,” take place in Los Angeles on April 17.

POP/ROCK

Throwing Stones: Rocker Mick Jagger has launched a surprise counterattack in his divorce battle with Texan supermodel Jerry Hall by alleging that the couple’s nine-year marriage was never made legal. Hall, 42, launched divorce proceedings last Friday amid reports that Brazilian model Luciana Morad, 29, was expecting Jagger’s child. But on Tuesday, a lawyer for Jagger, 55, said that Jagger would contest the divorce petition on grounds that the couple’s 1990 Hindu-style marriage ceremony in Bali was not legal because the correct papers were never filed. Hall, who is represented by the same law firm used by Princess Diana in her divorce from Prince Charles, is reportedly seeking a settlement of about $50 million--about a fifth of Jagger’s fortune. Legal experts said Jagger’s move might save him a lot of money if he could prove the couple had never been married, but could also backfire and end up reducing his access to the couple’s four children.

QUICK TAKES

Getty Grant Program Director Deborah Marrow has been named to the additional role of interim director of the Getty Research Institute. She replaces Salvatore Settis, who stepped down from the post last week. . . . Automobiles previously owned by Rat Packers Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. go on the block this week at the 1999 Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. The sale, running today through Saturday, includes a 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible that once belonged to Sinatra, Davis’ 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III and Martin’s 1962 Italian Ghia L6.4. . . . A Malibu judge has set a Feb. 4 hearing to investigate whether rocker Tommy Lee--on probation following a conviction for beating his now-estranged wife Pamela Anderson--violated a judge’s order by consuming alcohol. The investigation follows a New York Post report that the rocker was drinking with his Motley Crue bandmates at a Florida club. . . . Bruce Springsteen has yet to announce dates for his much anticipated concert tour with the E Street Band, but E Street drummer Max Weinberg, now the bandleader on NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” has announced that his leave of absence from that show will begin on March 1. . . . Pianist Andre Watts has canceled his Thursday recital at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, due to the flu. Ticket-holders will receive refunds.