FIRST OFF . . .

KCET Channel 28 has quietly canceled its gala 25th anniversary party at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 28. A spokesman for Los Angeles’ public TV station cited the “inability to get the name performers that we needed on that date.” A public announcement was not made, the spokesman added, because “the show never officially went on sale.” It was, however, promoted in the September issue of KCET Magazine featuring Rita Moreno, Robert Merrill and Big Bird. Tickets ranged from $75-$4. “A lot of performers we hoped to get were simply not available,” the spokesman added. So the station cancelled “rather than invite people to a second-class show.”