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

POP/ROCK

No Sophomore Jinx: Rapper DMX’s second album, “Flesh of My Flesh Blood of My Blood,” debuts at No. 1 on the album chart, ending the five-week reign of country superstar Garth Brooks’ “Double Live,” according to SoundScan. The 670,00 copies of “Flesh” sold last week marked the growling New York rapper’s second No. 1 album this year, giving him a piece of chart history. (“It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” debuted at the top spot in May and has sold more than 2 million copies.) “That’s two No. 1 albums in seven months, the first time a new artist has done that [since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991],” said Geoff Mayfield, charts director for Billboard, the music industry trade magazine. Brooks fell to No. 2, selling 587,000 copies for the week; the Top 5 was rounded out by ‘N Sync, Celine Dion and Jewel.

TV & MOVIES

Rose Parade Coverage for the Blind: KCBS-TV will provide special coverage for the blind of the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade. For the first time, an audio description of the event will run on KCBS’ Secondary Audio Programming channel, which is accessible on all newer TV sets. The 8-11 a.m. audio broadcast is in conjunction with L.A. Radio Reading Service, which has offered radio broadcasts describing the Rose Parade since 1994.

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Brandwynne to KTLA: Former L.A. news anchor Marcia Brandwynne will join the “KTLA Morning News” as executive producer, starting Jan. 18. Brandwynne, who was most recently host-producer of “At Home With . . . “ on cable’s Home and Garden Television, was an anchor in the 1980s on KNXT-TV (now KCBS-TV) and KTTV-TV, and more recently anchored National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”

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Minnesota’s Bait for Filmmakers: Pro wrestler-turned-Gov.-elect Jesse Ventura has vowed to back efforts to lure the film industry to Minnesota. “We’ve had a history of being a great artistic community up here,” said Ventura, who has had movie roles in “Predator,” “The Running Man” and “Repossessed.” In a meeting with Ventura on Tuesday, Minnesota film board executive Randy Adamsick said he’s already seen the impact a celebrity governor can have on his ability to attract movie productions. Ventura said that one thing he won’t do as governor, however, is resume his acting career. “My job is too encompassing here,” he said.

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Looking for Donors: UCLA Medical Center’s Blood & Platelet Center is giving away free movie tickets in an effort to entice donors. For an indefinite period of time, all blood donors will receive one movie ticket to either AMC, UA, Cineplex Odeon, Edwards Cinemas or General Cinemas. Platelet donors will receive three movie tickets.