Hey, 3 Tenors, It’s Nothing Personal, but . . .

The pop world will be watching Tuesday’s Grammy Award nominations with interest to see if the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ new nomination system really is as promising as it appeared when first used last year. Under the new method, nominations in the “big four” categories--best album, record, song and new artist--are decided by a 25-member secret panel rather than the full, 9,000-strong academy membership, which had previously chosen them (and come up with such dubious choices in 1995 as the 3 Tenors in the album balloting). The panel system, established in response to criticism that the Grammys were out of touch with the most vital currents in contemporary music, resulted in nominations last year for such cutting-edge artists as Alanis Morissette, Pearl Jam, TLC and Coolio. Were last year’s results proof that the new system works, or were they a fluke? If we see nominations for such critically acclaimed acts as Beck and the Smashing Pumpkins, the system will be praised again. If not, the credibility issue will surely resurface.

Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Remember “Murder One,” the acclaimed drama that drew so much attention prior to its premiere last season? Though few seem to have noticed, it’s still on the air . . . at least for now. The revised series has garnered critical accolades, with Anthony LaPaglia replacing Daniel Benzali as the star defense attorney and three murder cases featured instead of last year’s approach following a single trial over an entire season. Still, ratings have not surprisingly been poor in the killer slot opposite “Seinfeld.” “Murder One” returns Thursday after a three-week layoff and will wrap up its second case--involving an NBA superstar accused of murdering the team owner--with a two-hour episode Jan. 23. At that point, ABC will yank the show, trying to boost the network’s performance during the February ratings sweeps. Producer Steven Bochco has said the series’ third case actually may be the most provocative, though when anyone will see those episodes remains up in the air. An ABC spokeswoman confirmed the show will be off during February but return later this season, and the production company indicated the network may try to better showcase the final six hours. At this point, though, that may amount to little more than a stay of execution.

The Seemingly Endless Perils of Pauline

Three TV movies broadcast over the next two weeks will deal with rape, and an episode of ABC’s “NYPD Blue” broadcast during that period will also feature an assault on a female character. ABC’s “Touched by Evil,” in which singer Paula Abdul makes her TV movie debut, and NBC’s “87th Precinct: Heatwave”--air Sunday, while another ABC movie, “Tell Me No Secrets,” is scheduled for Jan. 20. The episode of “NYPD Blue,” in which new office aide Gina (played by Lourdes Benedicto) experiences an attack, airs Jan. 14. Although the timing is happenstance, made-for-TV movies are principally aimed at women and often play to their fears and concerns--demonstrated by titles this season such as “Her Hidden Truth,” “Her Costly Affair,” “To Face Her Past,” “The Secret She Carried,” “Every Woman’s Dream,” “She Cried No” (about date rape), “What Kind of Mother Are You?,” “In the Arms of Danger” and “Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?” The sameness of that genre, derisively dubbed “women in peril” movies, has become a frequent complaint among TV critics, many of whom are assembled in Pasadena for their twice-annual gathering to screen upcoming programs.

Please, Allow Us Just One More ‘Evita’ Item

While most of the country is just getting a chance to see “Evita”--it goes citywide here on Friday as it expands to 143 markets nationwide--much of Europe was able to see the movie musical last month. The film’s producers and Disney, the studio releasing the movie, decided to open the American-made film in England, Italy, France, Spain, Holland and Greece a few days before it opened in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Day. (It expanded to 22 more cities on New Year’s Day.) The point of this unusual release schedule was to create a global “buzz,” said “Evita” producer Andy Vajna. “ ‘Evita’ was such a huge play all around the world--it played in almost every country--so the idea was to create a worldwide event because it’s a musical and because it’s so different,” he said. “We wanted as much verification of how good and exciting this project was, not only from local critics, but from media around the world.” The film, starring Madonna in the title role, has received mixed reviews from American critics. Reviews in Europe have been more favorable, Vajna said. But for all the worldwide buzz it hopes to set off, Disney has taken a different tack in Argentina, where part of the movie was filmed after overcoming opposition by the government and some Argentine protesters. A subtitled “Evita” will open in Eva Peron’s homeland Feb. 20--a date the distributors chose because it “was a better playing time,” Vajna said. The film will also open on that date in most of South America and Asia.

--Compiled by Times Staff Writers and Contributors