Storyline Entertainment

TELEVISION KCET Cuts Jobs: KCET-TV President Al Jerome announced Friday that 16 positions are being eliminated immediately to save $1 million of a $1.7-million revenue shortfall at Los Angeles' flagship public television station. The cuts include 12 current staffers and four vacant positions. Barbara Goen, vice president of communications, declined to disclose which jobs were involved, saying it was "confidential personnel information," but she said that they cut "across many different areas."

There's a new Professor Harold Hill coming to town, to sell parents on the dubious virtues of 76-trombone marching bands, when ABC revives "The Music Man" in mid-February. A new Billy Flynn has just arrived too, and the scheming "Chicago" lawyer, embodied by Richard Gere, is hard at work concocting perfect story lines to win clients the attention of tabloid newspaper reporters and sympathy of gullible juries.

There's a new Professor Harold Hill coming to town, to sell parents on the dubious virtues of 76-trombone marching bands, when ABC revives "The Music Man" in mid-February. A new Billy Flynn has just arrived too, and the scheming "Chicago" lawyer, embodied by Richard Gere, is hard at work concocting perfect story lines to win clients the attention of tabloid newspaper reporters and sympathy of gullible juries.

TELEVISION KCET Cuts Jobs: KCET-TV President Al Jerome announced Friday that 16 positions are being eliminated immediately to save $1 million of a $1.7-million revenue shortfall at Los Angeles' flagship public television station. The cuts include 12 current staffers and four vacant positions. Barbara Goen, vice president of communications, declined to disclose which jobs were involved, saying it was "confidential personnel information," but she said that they cut "across many different areas."

Forget the tired talk about her perfectionism. Time to begin a new buzz about Barbra Streisand: She's patient. No, make that infinitely patient.

The critically praised Home Box Office series "The Sopranos" and NBC's new White House drama "The West Wing" captured Peabody Awards for broadcast or cable excellence Thursday. HBO won a total of five awards. Sheila Nevins, HBO's executive vice president of original programming, also received a personal award for overseeing the cable network's documentary and family programs. ABC, ESPN and National Public Radio were honored for their millennium programming.

Given that the entertainment industry operates on the theory that once might be a fluke and twice constitutes a trend, the made-for-TV musical looks destined for a comeback, as buoyant ratings for "Annie" may embolden ABC to turn the form into at least an annual event.

How's this for a classic Three Stooges moment: Curly's in the hospital, his body atrophied due to stroke. Moe's there, to deliver a letter. The letter informs Curly that he's being replaced in Stooges movies by brother Shemp Howard, and further asks that Curly renounce all rights to Stooges merchandise, Stooges recordings, Stooges anything. Curly, who would be the first of the Stooges to die, in 1952, breaks down in tears.