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

MOVIES

Ce N’est Pas un Ami: American actor Robert De Niro, furious about being named in a Paris prostitution investigation, has vowed never to set foot in France again and said he will return his Legion of Honor Award, one of France’s most prestigious honors. Police pounced on De Niro when he went to Paris earlier this month for a film shoot and hauled him in for nine hours of questioning after a call girl mentioned his name as an acquaintance. De Niro, 54, who received the Legion of Honor last year in recognition of his acting talents, has denied any involvement in the prostitution ring and said he has never paid for sex. “I will never return to France; I will advise my friends against going to France,” De Niro told Paris’ Le Monde newspaper. He added that he wanted nothing more to do with France’s prestigious Cannes film festival and vowed to “send your Legion of Honor back to the ambassador, as soon as possible. . . . I don’t see any reason why I should hang onto that thing, which comes from a country which flouts its own motto: ‘Liberty, equality and fraternity.’ I’m well beyond what one might call furious.”

*

Full Steam Ahead: The doomed ocean liner “Titanic” has cruised over “Jurassic Park’s” dinosaurs at the international box office. As of Monday night, “Titanic” had grossed nearly $920 million worldwide, surpassing the record $914 million worldwide take of “Jurassic Park.” The figures include about $404 million in domestic box office and $516 million in international sales. “Titanic” also seems poised to take over in a few weeks the domestic box-office record, held by “Star Wars” at $461 million.

*

Speaking of ‘Titanic’: British royal jeweler Asprey London will re-create “Cour de la Mer,” the film’s centerpiece necklace, to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on March 21 during the Princess Ball, a Los Angeles benefit for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. The necklace--to be made of platinum and prong-set diamonds, with a 170-carat centerpiece sapphire replacing the film’s fictitious blue diamond--will be valued at more than $2.5 million. “Titanic” star Gloria Stuart will aid the auctioneers. The benefit, the only event in the United States approved by Kensington Palace, takes place at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel and is co-chaired by Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett, John Travolta and Kelly Preston; celebrity vice chairs include Elizabeth Taylor, Ralph Fiennes and Hollywood couples Tom Cruise-Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis-Demi Moore, Tom Hanks-Rita Wilson, Kurt Russell-Goldie Hawn and Alec Baldwin-Kim Basinger.

TELEVISION

Couric Back on ‘Today’: Katie Couric returned to NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday, a month after her husband, NBC legal analyst Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer at age 42. “The heartfelt and compassionate letters and cards that so many of you have sent to me were enormously comforting, and I’m so grateful,” Couric said, thanking viewers. NBC said the network has received more than 10,000 condolence cards and letters.

POP/ROCK

Call Him ‘Sir’: Elton John--having played to sold-out crowds at Los Angeles’ Forum over the weekend--returned to London Tuesday to receive a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to British pop music and his work in raising money for AIDS charities. “They don’t come much bigger than this,” a beaming John told reporters. “I love my country, and to be recognized in such a way--I can’t think of anything better.” Abandoning his trademark extravagant outfits, John dressed soberly for the occasion in a full gray morning suit and was accompanied to the Buckingham Palace ceremony by his parents and his partner, David Furnish. His first announcement as a knight came by a representative for the royal household, who--apparently unfamiliar with the rock star--called him “Sir John Elton.”

*

Country Nominations: Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and George Strait will vie with the duo Brooks & Dunn for entertainer of the year honors at the 33rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, airing April 22 on CBS. McGraw garnered seven nominations, including nods for top male vocalist, album of the year (“Everywhere”) and song of the year (“It’s Your Love,” a duet with Faith Hill). Hill, Strait and Trisha Yearwood were next in the balloting with four nominations apiece.

QUICK TAKES

Tom Selleck’s heavily promoted new CBS sitcom, “The Closer,” weathered tougher-than-usual competition Monday and premiered with a respectable 15.7 million viewers. That was good enough for second place in its 9 p.m. time period, behind ABC’s miniseries “Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding,” which also handily beat “Dateline NBC” and CBS’ “Brooklyn South.” . . . HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show” kicks off its sixth season on March 15, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. Star Garry Shandling has already said that this will be his last year on the critically acclaimed show. . . . The top finishers in the Olympic singles and pairs skating events, including Tara Lipinski, Michelle Kwan, Ilia Kulik and Todd Eldridge, will return to the ice in “The Golden Gala,” a three-hour NBC special airing Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko will not participate because of an injury. . . . Mickey Rooney will guest star on Thursday’s episode of NBC’s “ER,” playing a retired science teacher who gets involved in the aftermath of a hazardous waste spill. . . . Former “Saturday Night Live” star David Spade (NBC’s “Just Shoot Me”) will headline his first solo stand-up special, airing on HBO on April 17 at 11:30 p.m. . . . Fox has renewed “Melrose Place,” “Party of Five” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” for the 1998-99 season.