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

TELEVISION

Emmy Ratings: Despite expanding to four hours, NBC’s telecast of Sunday’s nighttime Emmy Awards drew strong ratings, attracting an audience NBC estimates as the show’s largest since 1986--increasing viewership by roughly 20% over last year. In Los Angeles, the Emmy show was watched in more than 1 million households, or nearly one in five homes in the area. Final numbers will be issued today.

POP/ROCK

Call Her Married Spice: In a small church in Little Marlow, England, Scary Spice--a.k.a. Melanie Brown--married dancer David Gulzar on Sunday, then celebrated next door at her country mansion. Wedding guests--including Posh Spice (Victoria Adams), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton) and Sporty Spice (Melanie Chisholm)--were all dressed in white, as was the bride, who also sported a blue garter given to her by Bunton and antique earrings from her mother. She was given away by her father. Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was not spotted among the guests. The bride and groom, both 23, are expecting a baby next year.

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Facial Expressions: Several Hindu groups are upset over Madonna’s appearance at last week’s MTV Video Music Awards, with the World Vaishnava Assn. saying that her use of “sacred” facial markings meant to depict purity, while “wearing clothing through which her nipples were clearly visible and while gyrating in a sexually suggestive manner,” offended “sincere Hindus, Vaishnavas and yoga practitioners around the globe.” Madonna, who is reportedly a devoted yoga practitioner, began her performance by chanting Hindu mantras before launching into her dance hit “Ray of Light.” A spokesperson for Los Angeles’ Chaitanya Mission said the performance “gave the perverse impression that Hinduism condones and promotes hedonism.” The singer’s spokeswoman said Tuesday that Madonna had two thoughts in reaction to the Hindu protests: “She wondered why they didn’t pick on [No Doubt singer] Gwen Stefani, who also had stuff on her face, and said why do they assume that she’s not pure?” Madonna sported similar facial markings in a photo shoot in Rolling Stone’s summer issue. See more Madonna news in Liz Smith, below.

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A Brotherless Chain: The Jesus and Mary Chain’s history of conflict between brothers Jim and William Reid resurfaced Saturday at the House of Blues, when guitarist William refused to go on stage and the band halted the show after just 15 minutes. Singer Jim Reid reportedly seemed distracted, sometimes singing lyrics to a song other than the one the rest of the band was playing. After the group left, members of the audience hurled ice and cups at the closed curtain. Ticket holders were given refunds. The group canceled a planned free appearance Sunday afternoon at the Virgin Records Megastore in West Hollywood, but did play its scheduled concert that night at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano without William. A spokeswoman for the band’s label, Sub Pop Records, said she did not know the reason for William’s departure, but said the Scottish band plans to complete its U.S. tour--which runs through Oct. 4--without him.

STAGE

(Inside) the Season: The L.A. County Arts Commission has announced the first season of (Inside) at the Ford, a subsidized theater rental program using newly renovated space on the lower level of the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre (the former home of the Taper Too, which is returning to Burbank’s Falcon Theatre). The season will include a new version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s opera “Patience” by the Antaeus Company (Nov. 5-Dec. 20); the world premiere production of “Riga,” a play by William M. Hoffman, mounted by Venture West Theatre Company (Jan. 4-Feb. 27); and an all-female, multicultural production of “King Lear” by the L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Company. (Inside) at the Ford was designed to address the shortage of affordable rental spaces for theater companies without permanent homes.

QUICK TAKES

Although the tapes are not available in stores, Columbia House Video Library is offering HBO’s “From the Earth to the Moon,” which won the best miniseries Emmy Sunday night, on home video by calling (800) 638-2922. . . . The late Phil Hartman’s final guest voice appearance on Fox’s “The Simpsons” (as Troy McClure) will air on Sept. 27, the show’s second episode of the season. . . . Granada Entertainment USA has optioned the rights to “The John Denver Story,” a planned two-hour TV movie based on Denver’s autobiography, “Take Me Home.” Granada, the producers of the new Fox series “Holding the Baby,” have also secured rights to Denver’s story from his first wife, Annie Martell Denver, his children and key business associates. The project has not yet been sold to a network. . . . Rocker Elvis Costello was among those at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for Friday night’s L.A. Opera season opener, “Carmen,” starring Jennifer Larmore and Placido Domingo. Though Costello--an ardent opera fan who regularly attends the English National Opera and Royal Opera Covent Garden--was said to be “floored” by Domingo’s performance, the tenor admitted during the pair’s backstage meeting to not knowing the pop artist’s work. Instead it was the tenor’s son, Placido Domingo Jr., who was excited at meeting Costello.