NEWS LITE : PREMIUM PLACED ON PHILANTHROPY.

Nicolas Cage is ready for more altruistic movies, where good people with good intentions try to do good things. That doesn't mean they have to be boring.

The offbeat star of nonmainstream films such as ``Wild at Heart'' and ``Leaving Las Vegas'' has formed a production company with old friend Jeff Levine that will make films ``with a conscience,'' in Levine's words.

``I'd like to see less cynicism in the movies, more passion and chivalry and a sense of what it means to be honorable,'' Cage said in Premiere magazine's June issue. ``Movies like `High Noon' were once acceptable - that sort of code of honor that makes a man stop his wedding day and do the right thing.''

Cage hasn't abandoned his own unusual take on parts he plays. For the upcoming Tim Burton remake of ``Superman,'' he wants to make the Man of Steel ``a freak, but a beautiful freak in that he really cares about people.''

``I wouldn't be afraid to talk about his loneliness and his feeling like an alien, never fitting in and so always compulsively needing to do heroic acts so people would like him and he would feel loved,'' Cage said.

Checkmate master may have match

It's going to take some deep - and quick - thinking for world chess champion Garry Kasparov to beat Deep Blue, a computer that can think out 200 million moves per second.

The rematch between man and machine will begin Saturday, when the first of six games will be played on the 35th floor of a New York skyscraper. The winner takes home $700,000 of a $1.1 million purse put up by IBM, the developer of the computer.

The 34-year-old chess star beat Deep Blue last year, but can he do it again - against a smarter, deeper Blue?

Barring human error or loss of concentration, ``a computer will always be beatable,'' Kasparov said Thursday. Considered by some to be the greatest player ever, Kasparov is preparing for the challenge in a hotel suite, armed with his own computer to work out strategies.

As for his opponent, IBM RS/6000 SP - a k a Deep Blue - Dr. C.J. Tan said his IBM chess team is ``ready to go . . . competing like you've never seen before.''

Winfrey stands by rebuff of rebounder

Oprah Winfrey, heretofore silent on the Dennis Rodman disinvite, was moved to pipe up after the NBA star's manager, Dwight Manley, said, ``She broke her word'' and accused the TV star of ``going through a Puritan phase.'' Countered Winfrey: ``I am not in a Puritan phase'' and ``I'm not trying to decide what viewers should see.'' She called Rodman's new book, ``Walk on the Wild Side,'' ``vulgar,'' citing its references to sexual acts, toys, and positions that are demeaning to women. ``And he lists sexual items in the kitchen,'' she said. ``I did not feel that was appropriate.'' She added that it was the first time in 12 years that she had broken her word to a guest. ``I have nothing against Dennis Rodman. He can walk as wild as he wants to. I just didn't feel that I could promote that book.''

Anchor's wife has advice on bedtime

Fox newsie Kim Hume, Brit's wife, has her own advice for those seeking a career in TV news. ``Get enough sleep and enough sex,'' she wrote in an in-house questionnaire. ``If you don't get enough of either, it will end up showing on your face.''

Millions tune in `Ellen,' poll gives thumbs down

America knew the punch line, but they still came out to see the setup. Many, however, did not like what they saw.

A show-record audience of 36.2 million people tuned in to the ultra-hyped ``Ellen'' episode on ABC Wednesday night in which the title character announces to a national television audience that she is gay. The show's star, Ellen DeGeneres, made a recent public announcement that she is gay.

The rating was accompanied by a 35 share (percentages of televisions in use tuned into the show) according to national ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research Inc.

``Ellen'' got some of its highest ratings in large cities, according to Nielsen's overnight ratings. It earned a 45 share in Boston and San Francisco, a 44 share in Seattle, 41 in Philadelphia, 40 in Houston and 39 in New York and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, about 29,000 Los Angeles-area viewers answered an ABC (Channel 7) call-in poll concerning the ``Ellen'' episode. The station is running a nightly poll during sweeps called ``ABC It's Your Choice,'' and the show was the flavor of the day.

Fifty-three percent of those who called in said they felt that the subject matter does not belong on television, 23 percent said it was a refreshing acceptance of gay lifestyle and 23 percent said it was not an issue because there are already 30 gay characters on television.

The ``Ellen'' audience may have actually been larger. Nielsen does not count televisions in businesses, only homes. Many bars, coffee shops and other venues saw groups gathering and parties held. ABC estimated that at least 42 million American's tuned in.

The previous high audience for an episode of ``Ellen'' was 29.8 million viewers, which was its series premiere March 30, 1994, when it was still called ``These Friends of Mine.'' Television's highest-rated sitcom, NBC's ``Seinfeld,'' averages 30.6 million viewers a week and kicked off sweeps last week with an audience of 31.6 million.

Pageant stresses size, strength The Miss Universe pageant? Get outta town! The ``Jumbo Queen'' beauty and strength pageant in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, has got it goin' on. No fake-o-rama Barbie wanna-bes need apply. The 30 beauties who competed were big, beautiful and should they sit on you, say goodbye to your spleen

They vied for titles such as ``Most Elegantly Dressed,'' ``Miss Mighty'' and ``Jumbo Queen'' in blistering heat. Thousands of people came to a private zoo west of Bangkok to gawk at the begowned, coiffed contestants. ``It's great to come here and meet friends and see people who have the same figure as me, and who are healthy and everything,'' contestant Nusara Onjalean said. Valaya Tonsak, 32, of Bangkok walked off with the $1,000 top prize. Afterward, everybody went off to dig into a generous banquet meal.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1) Ellen DeGeneres

Still trails ``Seinfeld'' in ratings

(2) Sukanya Pungwong strains to lift 167 pounds in the ``Jumbo Queen'' beauty and strength pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.

Associated Press

(3) Cage