COURTNEY A LOVE TO WORK WITH ON `FLYNT,' PRODUCER SAYS.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

The outrageous Courtney Love, in Memphis co-starring with Woody Harrelson in ``The People vs. Larry Flynt,'' has been a love to work with. At least, that's the word from her boss.

The grunge rock queen reportedly was considered enough of a risk that the movie company had quite a time insuring her for the picture. However, producer Michael Hausman assured us, ``She's been terrific. We had to sort of strap her down in the makeup chair - it takes two hours a day to make her up for her role and she gets antsy - but she's really latched onto the part.''

In the Oliver Stone drama being directed by Milos Forman, the widow of Kurt Cobain ages close to 20 years as the wife of pornomeister Larry Flynt, a woman who became addicted to drugs and died of AIDS in her 30s. Considering the track record of the controversial singer, who was ordered to take courses in controlling her temper after attacking fans at a concert, one would assume Hausman and team would have been reluctant to hire her. His response: ``I'm always concerned hiring an actor; one minute of photography and they have you. I was concerned about hiring Courtney, about hiring Woody - `Toy Story' would have to have been the easiest film to make in that regard.''

Mixed media: Expect to see a different ``The Twilight of the Golds'' on the big screen - with Jennifer Beals, Faye Dunaway, Brendan Fraser and Garry Marshall - than you might have seen in the legitimate theater. Playwright Jonathan Tolins altered his award-winning piece. In the play's premise, the daughter learns her unborn child will be a homosexual male, she must decide whether to abort, and the family is torn apart. ``He says he's feeling more positive about life and the world than he was when he wrote the play,'' noted producer Paul Colichman, ``and that outlook is reflected in the changes.''

You also can expect to see a very different Brendan Fraser than you've seen before when the just-completed Showtime-funded ``Twilight'' hits screens. The handsome leading man of ``School Ties'' and other films plays the gay son of Dunaway and Marshall. ``Here was a blend of a strong Jewish family relationship and this man whose life is based in opera and the gay lifestyle. It was a potent brew,'' said the actor. ``The whole story made me reconsider love. ... It made me think about how we make our changes in life,'' Brendan said.

`NYPD' baby blue: The ``NYPD Blue'' company has finished production of the segment in which Sylvia and Andy Sipowicz (Sharon Lawrence and Dennis Franz) become parent, and sources reveal that the little Sipowicz is a boy. Lawrence told us she's glad the Sipowiczes' financial situation necessitates Sylvia holding down a job; it allays any concern that the character might lose her edge in domesticity. Lawrence certainly has been keeping her acting edge sharp with assignments outside of ``NYPD Blue.'' You'd better believe she'll be raising eyebrows with her forthcoming NBC telepic, ``A Friend's Betrayal,'' in which she plays an artist who seduces her friend's 18-year-old son. Scenes between Lawrence and ``Beverly Hills, 90210's'' Brian Austin Green are said to get steamy indeed.