MOVIES’Killers’ Under Fire: Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born...

MOVIES

‘Killers’ Under Fire: Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers” has been banned in Ireland and risks a similar fate in Britain. Irish film censor Sheamus Smith did not explain his reasons for the outright ban Wednesday, but the Irish media have emphasized alleged links between the film and 10 recent killings. The British Board of Film Classification on Thursday ordered a delay in release of the film, which had been expected to open Nov. 18. The board has the option of permitting the film to be shown as made, requiring cuts or restricting the age of the audience. It may also ban the film’s release on video. The film, which stars Woody Harrelson as a psychopath on a killing spree with his girlfriend, has been described by Stone as a satire on the media’s glorification of killers.

TELEVISION

No Laughing Matter: “ER” is the best new drama on TV, according to Viewers for Quality Television, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization that polled its 3,000 members around the country. Another medical show, “Chicago Hope,” tied for second place with “Under Suspicion.” But as for best new comedy, the organization drew a blank and quoted one member as saying: “I haven’t found one that has become an appointment show.”

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Money Matter: Money magazine found a new way to peer into the troubled lives of Roseanne and her estranged husband, Tom Arnold. The magazine hired an accountant to examine the couple’s finances, as spelled out in their divorce papers. The conclusion: They “may be America’s worst amateur money managers.” With an estimated $20 million to $30 million gross in 1993, they have net liquid assets of $633,607, the accountant found. But they do have 26 cars, including a ’91 Bentley Turbo and a ’93 Lincloln Continental limo, real estate from Brentwood to Iowa and more than $1 million in stocks and bonds.

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No Illusion: Illusionist Roy of Siegfried & Roy is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, reportedly damaged by the stress of 2,175 performances at the Mirage resort in Las Vegas. The act will be dark until Dec. 29, but the illusionists will materialize on their first TV special in more than a decade, Nov. 6 on ABC.

STAGE

Theater Awards: The first Artistic Director Achievement Awards for San Fernando Valley theatrical productions were announced Wednesday. “A Man’s a Man” at the Odessa Theatre won four honors--more than any other show--including best musical revival. The next highest total was three for Michael Holmes’ “Ryder” at Chandler Studio, including best original play. Winners of the other top production awards were “The Zoo Story” at Actors Workout, “Broadway Sings Out!” at West End Playhouse and “The Warm Up” at Richard Basehart Playhouse. The ceremony was at the TV Academy Plaza Theater.

POP/ROCK

Grohl’s Gig: Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl will sit in with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on Nov. 19 on NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” taking the place of Stan Lynch, who has left the band after 19 years to concentrate on producing and writing. Petty is looking for a new drummer for his 1995 tour.

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Insight on ‘Sgt. Pepper’: George Martin, who guided the Beatles’ landmark recordings, will discuss the making of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” on Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace in Hollywood as part of the UK/LA Festival. The evening, hosted by Quincy Jones, will culminate with performances of Beatles tunes.

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Lennon Drawings Shown: A series of eight erotic drawings by the late John Lennon, confiscated 24 years ago by Scotland Yard and not exhibited since, are on display in Budapest, Hungary. Lennon drew the “Bag One” series as a wedding gift to Yoko Ono in 1969. The erotic drawings were first shown at the London Art Gallery in 1970, but police closed the show, ruling it indecent. Charges were eventually dismissed after a lengthy trial. “No one has so much as complained” about the drawings, now on display in the Ludwig Museum, said curator Krisztina Szipoecs. She described the pictures as having a “whimsy and sense of freedom.”

QUICK TAKES

Actress Connie Stevens will hold a Halloween ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday night to benefit Windfeather Inc., a group she organized to help Native Americans. Information: (310) 657-5704 or 657-5549. . . . Jon Avnet’s “The War” will have its premiere showing Wednesday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with proceeds aiding the American Film Institute. Tickets from AFI, $250. . . . Louis Gossett Jr. was named grand marshal of the 63rd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade on Nov. 27. . . . Portions of a book that supposedly would have revealed the secrets of illusionist David Copperfield will not be published after all, largely because author Herbert Becker had signed a secrecy agreement when he was allowed backstage at a Copperfield performance, Lifetime Books announced.