Joyce Brothers

Miss Texas, Chelsi Smith, an education major from Houston, was crowned Miss USA 1995 before a home state crowd Friday night. The 21-year-old sophomore at San Jacinto Junior College, who gives motivational speeches to urban youth, won the swimsuit and interview rounds based on judges' scores. Miss USA 1994, Lu Parker of South Carolina, crowned her successor.

James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter" has lost most of its novelty over the years. But the right actors can still have some fun with it, as in the new version at the Knightsbridge Theatre in Pasadena. A thoroughly modern "family play" disguised as a historical drama, Goldman's text demonstrates that royal dysfunction existed long before Diana wed Prince Charles.

Time flies when you're having fun. It's hard to believe that another ratings sweeps month is about to end. And I think you'll agree that Los Angeles' stations deserve hearty applause for the way they've responded to this crucial audience-measuring period by taking the high road. If there has been one identifiable trend in November, it's been the increased tenacity of stations in boldly committing their news resources to promote their entertainment shows. Pretty darned impressive.

Sticking his head through a hole in a wall has worked out quite nicely for comedian and performance artist Marc Weiner. Now in its second season, Nickelodeon Weinerville continues to bring Weiner's half-man/half-puppet learning adventures to the cable network. Weiner, whose cartoonish sets have openings for a human head and a puppet body, has turned a onetime gag into skits that he says "entertain, while getting a message in there."

Welcome to Southern California Living, The Times' new lifestyle section. Each day we are committed to bringing you a timely and compelling look at the lives of Southern Californians. With stories, profiles and photographs, we'll cover the topics of family life, issues important to women, working, values and giving to the community. New to the section on Thursday is Home, the place to come to for features on interiors, gardening and remodeling. Fashion and beauty coverage moves to Friday.

Normally, Krista Wallach brings babies into the world as an obstetrical nurse. Thursday, she moonlighted as an inflation specialist, giving birth to a giant balloon in Macy's 62nd annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Today, I'm delivering a bird," said Wallach, whose authoritative, orange-gloved hands directed the handlers of Big Bird, a 67-foot tall, 29-foot wide helium-filled replica of the "Sesame Street" character.

What's new on cable TV this season is what's old on regular TV--first-run sitcoms. Breaking its tradition of airing only comedies that are antique network reruns, USA Network, for example, is premiering its first original sitcom (8 p.m. Wednesdays starting Oct. 2), with Don Adams starring as a supermarket manager in "Check It Out." It's based on the English series, "Tripper's Day."