Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

TELEVISION

Here’s Lucy: A classic “I Love Lucy” episode that has not been seen in its entirety since the original 1957 broadcast will open the 15th annual William S. Paley Television Festival at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills on March 3. “Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana,” an uncut 75-minute version of the first of “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Shows,” tells how Lucy and Ricky met and fell in love in Havana. The festival, which runs through March 16, will offer salutes to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (March 4), “Fawlty Towers” with John Cleese (March 5), “MacGyver” (March 6), the duo of Penn & Teller (March 7), “Ally McBeal” (March 9), “The Nanny” (March 10), “Fernwood 2-Night” (March 11), “King of the Hill” (March 13), “Touched by an Angel” (March 14), the HBO prison drama “Oz” (March 14) and “The Practice” (March 16). Tickets go on sale Friday to museum members for $13. The public can purchase tickets for $15 (senior citizens and student ID, $13) on Feb. 6. The museum is located at 465 N. Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.

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Fawcett Postponed: Farrah Fawcett’s much-hyped Monday return to CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman” was suddenly postponed. Representatives for Fawcett, who caused a stir in her previous appearance last year because of her erratic behavior, said there was a “scheduling conflict.” Letterman producers said they would try to reschedule the actress in the next few weeks. On a lighter note, “Late Show” stage manager Biff Henderson will appear as a Winter Olympics correspondent in Nagano, Japan. Letterman’s mother, Dorothy, also will appear in segments airing during the two weeks of Olympics coverage on CBS.

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‘3rd Rock’ Gets Super Boost: The post-Super Bowl episode of “3rd Rock From the Sun” drew super ratings Sunday. The hourlong episode, which guest-starred models Cindy Crawford and Angie Everhart, attracted a national audience of 34.3 million viewers, the largest viewership ever for the 3-year-old comedy, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Super Bowl-themed “Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” a special Sunday night edition of Leno, also scored big, outperforming its season-to-date averages in total viewers by 30%.

PEOPLE WATCH

Pavarotti Condition: Luciano Pavarotti was resting at home Monday after experiencing a dizzy spell during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera over the weekend. Pavarotti, 62, had a sudden spike in his blood pressure Sunday while singing the final number in the first act of Verdi’s “Luisa Miller,” said his manager, Herbert Breslin. Pavarotti’s voice faded a bit, but he appeared to have regained his strength by the end of the piece. Joseph Volpe, general manager of the Met, told the audience that Pavarotti had “experienced an episode of lightheadedness.” By the time Pavarotti reached his New York apartment, his blood pressure was normal, Breslin said.

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Tuning Up for Oscar: “Fanfare for Oscar,” an official theme written by Jerry Goldsmith for the annual Academy Award presentations, will be used for the first time on March 23 when the show celebrates its 70th anniversary. “It seems odd that Oscar had to wait 70 years to get his own theme,” said Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Robert Rehme, “but it was worth the wait.” The 45-second composition, which will open the ceremony each year and be played throughout the telecast, will be recorded Friday by an 83-piece orchestra at the Todd-AO facility in Hollywood. “My goal,” Goldsmith said, “was to create a piece that explores the power and grandeur of movies, not just for today, but for many years to come.”

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Going With Goldberg: Gary David Goldberg, whose television credits include “Family Ties,” “Brooklyn Bridge” and “Spin City,” will receive the 1998 Valentine Davies Award from the Writers Guild of America on Feb. 21. The honor is given to writers who have contributed to the entertainment industry as well as the community-at-large.

MOVIES

‘Door’ Opens for Madonna: Madonna is expected to play a freelance photographer reconciling with her AIDS-stricken brother in “The Red Door,” her first starring role since “Evita.” Producer Alan Saffron announced Monday that the entertainer will appear in the independent film with Stockard Channing and Rod Steiger.

QUICK TAKES

Theater League’s 1998-99 series of musicals at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Probst Center will feature an Irish dance extravaganza, “Spirit of the Dance,” in its American premiere tour, in February 1999. . . . Hoping to strengthen its demographics with young women, cable’s Lifetime has acquired the Fox TV drama “Party of Five” for a fall debut. The series, about a family in San Francisco, is in its fourth season. . . . For the record: KTLA-TV Channel 5 will honor veteran newsman Stan Chambers on Thursday morning for his 50 years with the station.