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

THEATER

Guthrie Bitter Over Ventura’s Arts Cuts

In the wake of Gov. Gray Davis’ decision to trim more than 50% from last year’s $31-million California arts budget, his Minnesota counterpart has initiated similar cuts in his state.

One of the institutions most affected by Gov. Jesse Ventura’s action is the renowned Guthrie Theatre of Minneapolis, which had hoped to use the $24 million in state bonds vetoed by Ventura to help build a $125-million complex designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

The governor is “destroying the infrastructure of the arts,” Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Wednesday, calling the veto a “shameful act” that dealt a “serious body blow to the project.”

A delay is almost certain, he said, and the project (for which $57 million has already been raised from private sources) may have to be shelved. The Guthrie’s board will meet Wednesday to consider its options.

“We’ve always said there’s no Plan B,” Dowling said. “For us to create a major public institution that has national and international significance, we must get the state of Minnesota involved.”

‘Sweet Smell’ Victim of Media Slam, Backers Say

Producers of “Sweet Smell of Success”--a musical about the power of the press--have sent a letter to those voting on the Tony Awards, berating members of the media for “going out of their way to undermine [the show] at every opportunity.”

Particularly galling to the producers, the New York Post reported, were stories minimizing the show’s chances of winning the best musical award, to be handed out June 2.

“For reasons we can’t fathom,” the producers continued, “these attacks have not abated since our previews and seem intended to undermine the show in the eyes of the audiences and now Tony voters. We, as producers, find ourselves in a place where many of you have been in your theatrical careers--on the wrong side of the press that covers our community.”

Though the New York Times declined to comment on the letter, Variety’s Charles Isherwood rose to the bait.

“I admire the producers’ ingenuity in trying to cast themselves as innocent victims of a cabal of would-be J.J. Hunseckers,” Isherwood said, referring to a conniving character in the play. “But the truth isn’t half that exciting. Neither, unfortunately, is the show.”

TELEVISION

Rosie’s Swan Song a Season High

Rosie O’Donnell got a great send-off on her 6-year-old “Rosie O’Donnell Show.” Wednesday’s program, her last live broadcast, scored a season-high rating and won its time period in 29 markets, beating out both “Regis & Kelly” and “Oprah.”

New taped episodes of the series will air through June 27, and comedian Caroline Rhea will take over the franchise in the fall with “The Caroline Rhea Show.”

In contrast, Fox’s “Celebrity Boxing” didn’t generate nearly as much heat in its latest go-round Wednesday night. Viewing of the expanded 90-minute special averaged 10.2 million viewers--a sizable drop from the 15.5 million who watched the first edition.

Part of that had to do with facing the season finale of “The West Wing,” having sparred with a rerun in March. This time around, the Aaron Sorkin show on NBC drew 16.6 million viewers.

ABC Rethinks Title of Canceled Show

From the “It’s a little late now, isn’t it?” department: ABC has changed the name of the sitcom “Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)” to “My Adventures in Television,” even though the show has been canceled.

Four new episodes of the series, about a fictional television network, will air (yes, Wednesdays at 9:30, 8:30 central), beginning Wednesday, as summer programming, said a network spokesperson, adding that ABC hopes the title change will draw more viewers. Given that the series didn’t make it onto ABC’s recently announced fall schedule, however, the new name isn’t expected to help its prospects.

QUICK TAKES

Norman Rockwell’s 1943 painting “Rosie the Riveter” sold for nearly $5 million at a Sotheby’s auction Wednesday, shattering the previous record for a Rockwell work ....Kelly Osbourne has been added to the list of performers at KIIS-FM’s All-American Wango Tango concert taking place June 15 at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.... Top tickets to Celine Dion’s new Las Vegas show are priced at $150, beating out the previous record of $120 charged by the Cirque du Soleil.... Barry Watson, former star of WB’s series “7th Heaven,” has begun treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. According to his publicist, doctors are optimistic about a full recovery.... Jerry Lewis, 76, is at home after undergoing a surgical procedure that implanted a device to block chronic back pain acquired during years of taking comedic pratfalls.... Comedian Paul Rodriguez will return to host the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 54th annual L.A. Area Emmy Awards on June 29.... NBC has acquired the rights to Christopher Byron’s controversial bestseller “Martha, Inc.: The Incredible Story of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.” The TV movie about the domestic guru is slated for the 2003-4 season.... USA Network is in pre-production on “Murder in Greenwich,” a two-hour original movie about the unsolved murder that led to the arrest of Kennedy family member Michael Skakel.