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

MOVIES

Farewell, Thailand: The latest effort to reconcile differences between filmmakers trying to remake “The King and I” and authorities in Thailand has failed. Fox officials confirmed Monday that “Anna and the King,” starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat, will be shot instead in neighboring Malaysia. Thai coordinators for the project and the screenwriter, who say they tried to make a fifth version of the script palatable to Thai officials, called the Thai Film Board “paranoid.” “There can be only one reason why the board didn’t approve the fifth script, and that is fear,” coordinator Malinee Chakraband told the Bangkok Post. The film board has said that 20th Century Fox has not done enough to ensure the monarchy would be respected. Chakraband and her sister, both royal family members, maintain that Fox had invited unprecedented participation by the authorities to get permission to film on location. “Fox has never before offered anyone to take part in its post-production,” screenwriter Stanley Harper said. “This was enormous for them.”

PEOPLE

The E!-lectronic Vote: More than 30,000 E! Online voters from more than 50 nations chose best and worst of 1998 from more than two dozen categories: Tom Hanks garnered 38% of the vote to lead for standout male screen performance in “Saving Private Ryan,” while Cameron Diaz drew a slightly better percentage, 39%, for standout female screen performance in the title role of “There’s Something About Mary.” In other fields, “Psycho” was deemed the worst remake; “Felicity,” best new television series; Neve Campbell and Denise Richards for best sex scene in “Wild Things”; and Anne Heche drew the nod for the least convincing performance as a romantic lead in “Six Days, Seven Nights.” And for biggest waste of a movie marketing budget, 40% chose “Spice World.”

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Not Welcome: The soft-spoken host of PBS’ “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” has sued a Texas-based novelty store for hawking T-shirts that display Fred Rogers with his trademark sweater and smile--and toting a silver handgun. Taking off on his trademark “Won’t you be my neighbor?” line, the T-shirt, being sold by Gadzooks Inc. stores, has Rogers saying, “Welcome to my hood.” “It’s bad for the kids,” said Rogers’ attorney, Thomas C. Wettach. “It’s sick humor.” In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, Rogers and his company, Family Communications Inc., say they want the T-shirts destroyed. They claim Gadzooks is infringing on Rogers’ trademark, violating his privacy and wrongly benefiting from his image. Gerald Szczepanski, president of the 280-store chain, didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.

TV & RADIO

‘Shadows’ Returns: Cult favorite “Dark Shadows” returns to the Sci-Fi Channel Monday. The half-hour, ‘60s gothic soap opera stars Jonathan Frid as vampire Barnabas Collins. The series will air weekdays at 8 a.m.

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So Does ‘Rockline’: After a two-year hiatus, “Rockline” returns to classic rock station KCBS-FM (93.1) on Jan. 6. The interview show, hosted by Arrow FM’s afternoon personality Bob Coburn, resurfaces with John Mellencamp, live from his Bloomington, Ind., studio. “Rockline” will air Wednesdays, 8:30-10 p.m.