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

POP/ROCK

Brit Shenanigans: The Verve was the big winner, but Chumbawamba’s Danbert Nobacon caused the biggest splash at Monday night’s Brit Awards ceremony in London when he drenched England’s deputy prime minister, John Prescott, and the politician’s wife with a bucket of ice water. The incident occurred after the band performed its hit single, “Tubthumping,” changing the lyrics to criticize the country’s New Labor party. Nobacon raced over to Prescott’s table and poured water on him and other members of his party, causing Prescott’s wife, Pauline, to burst into tears (a Spice Girl, Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell, immediately rushed over to offer comfort). In a statement released Tuesday, Prescott condemned Nobacon’s act as a “deplorable incident . . . a publicity stunt designed to draw attention to his group’s act.” Chumbawamba issued its own statement Tuesday saying: “If John Prescott . . . has the nerve to turn up at events such as the Brit Awards in a vain attempt to make Labor seem cool and trendy, then he deserves all we can throw at him.” Meanwhile the Verve, whose “Urban Hymns” album has topped the British charts for nearly two months, received three Brit Awards (the British equivalent of the Grammys), including best British band and best British album. . . . An unfortunate no-show at the awards was singer Dusty Springfield, who is battling a recurrence of breast cancer. Springfield, 59, had a lumpectomy three years ago; another lump was recently discovered in the same breast, her manager said.

TELEVISION

Unhappy Host: Tom Snyder has told his producers that he’s unhappy with the direction of his “Late Late Show” and may not renew his contract at the end of the year. Sources said that Snyder and executive producer Peter Lassally (“Tonight Show With Johnny Carson”) have clashed over the CBS program, with Snyder wanting a more topical, news-oriented program while Lassally seeks a more traditional, Hollywood celebrity-oriented show. Snyder is also said to be unhappy over not being able to take “Late Late Show” on the road. Executives at both CBS and Worldwide Pants, which produces the show, declined comment.

MOVIES

De Niro Questioned: Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro was questioned in Paris for more than nine hours by French authorities Tuesday in connection with a prostitution ring aimed at wealthy Middle East clients, French justice sources said. He was released without being charged, the sources said. De Niro’s lawyer, former French Justice Minister Georges Kiejman, said De Niro was questioned about his relations with a prostitute who was involved in the ring. Kiejman said he planned to sue for violation of De Niro’s secrecy and for unlawful hampering of his movements.

Good Soul Hunting: Miramax’s “Good Will Hunting” got nine Oscar nominations Tuesday, including best picture. But producer Lawrence Bender sounded almost more excited about the movie’s nod for best original song. “That was the coup de grace,” he said of the nomination for “Miss Misery,” with music and lyrics written by Elliott Smith, whom director Gus Van Sant discovered in a coffeehouse in Portland, Ore. “He’s this very quiet soulful guy that no one’s really heard of. But he’s the soul of our movie.”

Another Oscar Note: After the best actor nominees were announced, an audience member at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ceremony started yelling in protest. “What about Howard Stern?” the man--believed to have been colorful Stern disciple “Melrose” Larry Green--called repeatedly, referring to the radio talk-show host and star of “Private Parts.” The heckler--who was yelling while the best actress nominees were being announced--was finally hushed and hastily escorted to the exit.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Politicians Non Grata: Politicians will be barred from attending concerts featuring the Budapest Festival Orchestra as long as they refuse to increase its funding, the orchestra’s conductor said Tuesday. Ivan Fischer, the man responsible for winning worldwide recognition for the orchestra since its founding in 1992, said that city officials will no longer be given free tickets and that there are no remaining tickets available for the season. “So if we don’t give them free tickets, they are excluded from concerts,” Fischer said. Fischer, calling Budapest politicians “completely ignorant,” said a city offer of $650,000 for 1998 was “absolutely ridiculous”; he needs another $600,000, he claimed, to avoid losing good musicians and having to curtail the season or even “dissolve the orchestra.” Ferenc Kormendy, chairman of Budapest’s cultural committee, who was among those banned by Fischer, said his exclusion from concerts was “totally absurd.”

QUICK TAKES

The controversial priest drama “Nothing Sacred” will return to ABC’s Saturday lineup on March 7 at 9 p.m. Another ABC series recently pulled amid disappointing ratings, “Hiller and Diller,” will return on March 6, airing Fridays at 9:30 p.m. . . . “The Ice Storm” co-stars Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline were honored separately this week for their “lasting contribution to entertainment” when they received Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year and Man of the Year Awards.