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

POP/ROCK

Eminem/Elton: Grammy Duo?: The big question surrounding the Grammys--will Eminem perform at the Feb. 21 ceremony?--now has an intriguing subplot, as talks circulate that Elton John may join the controversial rapper to provide the haunting backup vocals on the song “Stan.” Officials at Eminem’s label, Interscope Records, a spokeswoman for John and a Grammy representative declined comment Thursday. But sources close to the principals confirmed that the idea is among those under consideration, although they stressed that no decisions have been made. John, who is gay, has come to the defense of Eminem’s music, despite protests by gay activist groups that the rapper laces his raps with hateful homophobia, and John’s presence on stage would create a compelling music moment against the backdrop of the controversy. Eminem is nominated for four Grammys, including best album, and has been invited to perform on the show, which will also feature U2, Madonna and ‘N Sync.

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Concert Victim Dies: An Australian teenage girl who suffered a heart attack during a crowd crush at last weekend’s Limp Bizkit performance in Sydney died Wednesday. The band, which pulled out of the rest of the Australian Big Day Out tour after the melee, said Thursday: “Nothing can describe the sadness and anguish we’re feeling. . . . The loss of her life will impact ours forever.”

TV & RADIO

New White House Patrol: A changing of the guard in the White House often means a change at the networks as well. NBC on Thursday named Campbell Brown and L.A. native David Gregory its new White House correspondents, where they will alternate reporting for “Nightly News” and the morning “Today” show, as well as MSNBC. They replace David Bloom, who moves to national reporting in addition to co-anchoring “Weekend Today,” and Claire Shipman, who is likely headed to a post at ABC News’ “Good Morning America.” Both Gregory and Brown had been covering the Bush campaign. At ABC, meanwhile, Terry Moran, who had been covering the Gore campaign, has taken over at the White House. CBS’ John Roberts, however, will remain in place on the beat.

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A Little More ‘Ally’: Robert Downey Jr. was back on the set of “Ally McBeal” this week to tape an additional episode (his 11th on the series), though his spokesman said Thursday that there was no “official . . . commitment” that he will do further installments. Downey won a Golden Globe for the role last week, and a Screen Actors Guild nomination Tuesday, but his future with the series has been uncertain because of his legal troubles. But it would appear he now has time to shoot a few more episodes: On Monday, a judge gave Downey and prosecutors until Feb. 21 to work out a plea bargain on drug charges stemming from his Thanksgiving weekend arrest in Palm Springs.

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CBS Moves: CBS has announced plans to shuffle its Wednesday and Saturday lineups, with “Kate Brasher,” a new family drama starring Mary Stuart Masterson, Rhea Perlman and Hector Elizondo, premiering Feb. 24 in the Saturday 9-10 p.m. time slot and “Some of My Best Friends,” the Danny Nucci-Jason Bateman comedy based on the movie “Kiss Me, Guido,” kicking off Feb. 28, airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. “Some of My Best Friends” will push Bette Midler’s “Bette” to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, nudging out Christine Baranski’s “Welcome to New York,” which goes on hiatus. CBS said that “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which has aired in the Saturday 9 p.m. slot but is now in its final season, will return April 14.

STAGE

Musical Dates: Specific dates and some casting have been set for two previously announced revivals of very different musicals at the Shubert Theatre. “Saturday Night Fever” will star Richard Blake as Tony Manero, May 29-June 24, and “Kiss Me Kate” will feature Rex Smith and Rachel York, Aug. 22-Oct. 13. . . . Meanwhile, Reprise! will stage “Hair” at the Wadsworth Theater, not the group’s usual Freud Playhouse, June 16-24, and Charles Nelson Reilly will star in “Strike Up the Band,” Feb. 21-March 4 at the Freud.

QUICK TAKES

Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline for all Oscar nomination ballots to be received by PricewaterhouseCoopers. . . . In a cross-network crossover, ABC’s “The Practice” and Fox’s “Boston Public” will converge in episodes airing on Feb. 11 and 12, respectively. Both series are produced by David E. Kelly. . . . With its competition all in reruns, Fox’s “Temptation Island” drew 18.2 million viewers Wednesday, its biggest audience yet. Meanwhile, Fox--which has had trouble with advertisers reluctant to buy time on the racy show--has turned down an ad for a female contraceptive spermicide, saying that the network will accept contraceptive ads only if the product’s main stated purpose is disease protection.