WEEK IN PREVIEW

MOVIES

“The Avengers,” inspired by the mod ‘60s British TV series, stars Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, right, as ultra-hip crime fighters John Steed and Dr. Emma Peel. In the big-screen caper, which opens Friday in general release, the duo take on a devilishly clever and thoroughly evil Sean Connery.

MOVIES

In “Return to Paradise,” Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix and David Conrad star as carefree Americans who meet and become pals--with consequences--while vacationing in Southeast Asia. The film, also featuring Anne Heche and Jada Pinkett Smith, opens Friday at selected theaters.

THEATER

TV weatherman and comedian Fritz Coleman will reprise his one-man show “It’s Me! Dad!” beginning Friday at the Coronet Theatre. The comic theater piece, directed by Richard Kline, is an exploration of such life experiences as growing up, family, school, divorce, dating and aging.

MUSIC

With the audience shielded from the sun by parachute fabric, the Brunch Classics series at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre continues today at 10:30 a.m. with a concert by the newly formed ensemble of pianist Christopher O’Riley, violinist Andrew Dawes and cellist Paul Katz.

DANCE

Delivering the male: Frit and Frat Fuller’s KIN Dance Company, Claude Thompson, Ron Brown, Robert Gilliam, Ken Morris and Marvin Tunney all are scheduled to appear Saturday in “Men: Dancing,” another segment of the “Summer Nights” series at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.

POP MUSIC

It’s hip-hop and R&B; time as KKBT-FM’s fifth annual Summer Jam, at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre today, collects such A-list acts as Missy Elliott, Monica (above) and A Tribe Called Quest, while on Thursday, the Smokin’ Grooves tour, headlined by Public Enemy, comes to Universal Amphitheatre.

ARCHITECTURE

Some 800 drawings, posters, maquettes and installations by the influential English architectural collaborative Archigram will be included in “Archigram: Experimental Architecture 1961-1974,” opening today at the Art Center College of Design’s Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery.

JAZZ

In tribute to the late great jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli, versatile fiddler Mark O’Connor teams up with the Rosenberg Trio (comprising two acoustic guitarists and a bassist) at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday. Their guitar music will include both swing standards and O’Connor originals.

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Early Warning: A nice companion to a taped presidential testimonial, “Primary Colors,” with John Travolta as a Clintonesque leader, arrives on video Sept. 8.