`EFX' ACCOMMODATES NEW LEAD.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

David Cassidy, who is replacing Michael Crawford in the MGM Grand's ``EFX'' musical, reports the $45 million production ``has an entirely new script and new book.''

Cassidy reveals the changes were part of the stipulations he made when ``EFX'' producers approached him about stepping into the show after a hip injury forced Crawford to step out in November. ``I agreed to do it if they were willing to make it have a different tone and character. I felt it needed to be much more human and humorous.''

Cassidy, who's also working on a half-hour pilot, says the revamped musical extravaganza still has ``the most outrageous and spectacular visuals, but I'm not playing the special effects master that Michael played. James Earl Jones has come in and filmed that part. The character I play is an everyman who gets taken on this incredible journey and comes out a different guy. The audience gets to take the trip through him.''

He says he also felt the music in ``EFX,'' which will have a grand reopening in January, ``needed to be much more contemporary - we've redone about 70 percent of the music. I wrote a song and recruited Bill Ray, Andrew Gold and my wife, Sue Shifrin, to write songs.'' Cassidy's song features the veteran rock group Little Feat, which also cut two tracks for the musical. ``We've put a whole different spin on this show. It's got this gospel, soulful thing happening now.''

Hear, hear

Bernadette Peters reveals that her Dec. 9 AIDS benefit for Gay Men's Health Crisis - the concert that will mark her solo debut at Carnegie Hall - is being recorded for release by Angel Records. ``They plan to put it out within a month or so and all the funds and proceeds will be going to the GMHC,'' reports Bernadette. The Broadway star says that in the first half of her Carnegie Hall show she'll perform songs ``from shows I've been in, do a couple of tunes from my new CD (`Be Your Baby') and some things from my old albums. But I wanted to do something I haven't done before, so the second half of the show is all Stephen Sondheim songs I've never sung.''

The real Janis?

Rock icon Janis Joplin has never been hotter, what with dueling Janis movies coming to the big screen (one with Melissa Etheridge reportedly revved up to play Joplin). On Monday, Joplin fans can take a gander at never-before-seen home movies, performances and interviews on the ``Janis Joplin - Legends'' documentary airing on VH-1. Written, produced and directed by Kevin Barry, the special attempts to demythologize Janis as a rock icon and show her to be honest, caring and ahead of her time. The docu, which airs throughout December, is narrated by Kris Kristofferson (Janis' old friend, lover and writer of her hit ``Me & Bobby McGee'') and also features Laura Joplin reading letters Janis wrote to the Joplin family.

The big screen scene

Jenifer Lewis gives sole credit to director Penny Marshall for turning ``The Preacher's Wife'' into a really funny, warm film. The actress, who plays Whitney Houston's mom in the upcoming Touchstone Pictures film, says Marshall came up with the funniest lines in the film. Lewis - best-known for playing Tina Turner's mom in ``What's Love Got to Do With It?'' - says she was so impressed ``after I saw the first screening, I sent Penny a million roses.'' Give or take a bud.

Filmland flair

There are many fascinating things about Los Angeles. One of them: watching The Sunset Strip reinvent itself time and again. In its heyday in the '40s and '50s, it drew the swanks to such classy clubs as Mocambo and Ciros. In the '60s, countless hippies took over, fine restaurants such as LaRue's closed their doors, and clubs like Whiskey A Go Go reigned supreme. And now ... it's become a gathering spot for the sophisticated and hip - the sound of foreign tongues wafting from table to table at the smart sidewalk cafes that dot the boulevard. It's also emerged as a pop culture center - with the sides of skyscrapers converted to gargantuan billboards, covered from top to bottom with brilliant-hued murals advertising movies, records, books, condoms, whatever.