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Discusses the decision by actress Ellen DeGeneres, star of the television show `Ellen,' to come out as a lesbian. Rumors that her character on the show, Ellen Morgan, would come out; DeGeneres' former hesitancy to discuss the issue; Support shown for DeGeneres by several celebrities who made cameo appearances on the show; Role played by Oprah Winfrey on the show. INSETS: Not always ready for prime time;Is coming out going too far?.

Examines the depressing fall fashion collections just shown in Paris, Milan and New York. Epidemic of cynicism passing for wit; Grotesque distortion of the natural silhouette; Multiple layering is back, bulkier and more intrusive than its last incarnation; Variations of underwear as outerwear; Mohair from Lagerfeld, Vivienne Tam, Isaac Mizrahi, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein; Baby-doll dresses and Peter Pan collars; Costs; Comments.

Recounts the multimillion-dollar inaugural partee, where William Jefferson Clinton played the role of First Audience. The stars came out in constellations because they recognized in Clinton one of their own, a prime communicator, a beacon of middle-class charisma, a believer in the importance of image and style. Swearing-in ceremony on Inauguration Day; Most celebrities dressed conservatively and behaved decorously; Now Clinton as a pitchman for austerity.

Discusses the shooting of several middle school children by two youngsters at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas in March 1998. Background information on Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson, the two shooters; People who died in the shooting, including four children and teacher Shannon Wright; Comments from survivors; How the children obtained the guns. INSET: What is justice for a sixth-grade killer? by Lissa August et al.

Reports on the development of the Comedy Central television program 'That's My Bush!,' which was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of 'South Park' fame. Comments of Parker and Stone on the sitcom about the administration of United States President George W. Bush; Stars of the program, including Timothy Bottoms as the President; Details of the first episode.

Comments on a controversy involving critic Arlene Croce of the `New Yorker,' and choreographer Bill T. Jones. Jones' work `Still Here,' which is based on a series of workshops that Jones, who is HIV positive, held around the United States; Reasons given by Croce about why she would not review this work; `Victim art'; More.

Claims that New York City owns the season between the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Times Square on New Year's Eve and describes some of its holiday attractions. `Radio City Christmas Spectacular'; Shari Lewis' `Lamb Chop on Broadway'; Saks Fifth Avenue store windows; New York City Ballet's `The Nutcracker'; The musical `A Christmas Carol'; Patrick Stewart's readings of `A Christmas Carol'; More.

Examines the success of Disney Superstores and Warner Studio Stores, where 85% of the customers are adults. Warner's fearsome Tasmanian Devil has become a cult figure for kids, dads and inner-city gang members and no little girl feels chic without her Princess Jasmine dress. Numbers of Disney and Warner's stores; Sony's prototype store in Manhattan; Plans for MGM, MCA-Universal; Local preferences and best-selling items.

Considers the motion picture `Philadelphia,' directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, Hollywood's first big attempt to tell an AIDS story in a feature film. `Philadelphia' a hit across the country; Attack by playwright and gay activist Larry Kramer; Charges the movie was too polite, too ginger; Independent movies `Farewell My Concubine,' `The Wedding Banquet,' `Orlando'; Filming of Kramer's `The Normal Heart'; Details.

Speculates that what was supposed to be the Summer of Boys has become a series of hits for motion pictures that cut across generational chasms, `The Fugitive,' `Jurassic Park,' `Sleepless in Seattle,' `In the Line of Fire,' and `Cliffhanger.' Projections for a record summer at the movies; Theories on who is going to the movies these days; Adult movies that aren't all that adult; Similarities of the hits; Summer of No Sequels; Ratings; Earnings.

Ponders how much freedom Americans will have to relinquish as a result of tighter security measures following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Comments on the long waits to cross the borders into Canada and Mexico; Consideration by the administration of George W. Bush of the possibility of special military tribunals; Actions by the United States Senate which increase the circumstances in which law-enforcement officials can force Internet service providers to provide information about subscriber e-mails. INSET: The Other Threats.

Examines the performances of Debra Winger, Hollywood's hardiest risk taker and troublemaker, in `Shadowlands,' and `A Dangerous Woman.' Why director Richard Attenborough chose Winger, 38, to play Joy Gresham in `Shadowlands'; How she plays against her comely strengths in both motion pictures; Her marriage to actor Timothy Hutton and her son Noah, 6; Her sense of a bond between her reel and real lives.

Highlights Leni Riefenstahl, 91, half a century after shooting her last feature, still the world's most controversial director. United States publication of her `Leni Riefenstahl: A Memoir,' and release of Ray Muller's documentary `The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl'; Her notorious feature documentaries; Reasons why she has not completed a film since the war; Muller's comments on working with Riefenstahl.

Tells about the final month of the television sitcom `Cheers,' whose finale on May 20 will include Shelley Long (who returns as Diane Chambers). `Cheers' has won 26 Emmy awards and reigned in the Nielsen Top 10 for eight straight seasons. Similarities to the new hot comedy, `Seinfeld'; Problems both shows had when they first went on the air; `Cheers' ending because star Ted Danson is leaving; Television's generational divide; `Seinfeld' characters.

Considers the morning radio program, `The Howard Stern Show,' top show in Los Angeles where it went on the air a year ago. His late-night television show was cancelled after two years, but Stern will resurface this Friday as host of a new weekly interview show on E!, the cable entertainment channel. Scripts Stern is developing for New Line Cinema; His controversial appearances on talk shows; Fines levied by the FCC; His media background.