WITH `DOG' ON HOLD, TRAVIS BEGINS NEW ALBUM.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Country star Randy Travis begins recording his first album for DreamWorks Records in L.A. Friday - making the best use of his free time while awaiting word on ``Black Dog.'' The Universal action picture shut down production in Atlanta last week after star Kevin Sorbo bowed out due to an aneurysm in his left shoulder.

Travis, who's co-starring in the Kevin Hooks-directed feature with Meat Loaf, has no idea who'll replace Sorbo. He does know that if the feature doesn't get back into production soon, he'll be running into scheduling problems with his December concert commitments.

``I liked working with Kevin so much - a real nice guy,'' says Travis. ``I don't blame him at all for deciding to go and take it easy.'' Sorbo, who was treated and given a clean bill of health, is using the rest of his ``Hercules'' series hiatus to recuperate.

Travis has a load of other irons in the fire. The singer, who's active with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, will ride atop the charity's float in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. He's also had more acting work this year than ever before, with parts in Francis Ford Coppola's forthcoming ``Rainmaker'' and HBO's ``The Shooter.'' And last month, he became the first major artist to sign with DreamWorks Nashville. He plans to get an album out the first quarter of '98.

Travis notes that he and his manager-wife, Lib, decided not to try to make acting assignments part of his new deal with DreamWorks, the company founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. His two professional lives are best kept separate, they feel. However, Randy quips, ``If Steven Spielberg came to me and said, `I want to put you in a movie,' well, what do you think I'd do?''

The big-screen scene

Christopher Reeve won't be starring in a remake of ``Rear Window'' this fall, after all. Producer Robert Halmi reveals that at this point, ``we're still looking for the right writer,'' and that as it stands now, the project isn't likely to go before the cameras until next spring - at the earliest. This is supposed to mark Reeve's first turn at acting since his near-fatal fall off a horse in 1995. He's told this column he's anxious to do the drama - in which he'd play a person who witnesses a murder from his apartment window - to show how resourceful and independent a disabled person can be.

Script problems also have pushed back Halmi's remake of ``Cleopatra.'' Halmi had talked about starring Vanessa Williams in the movie, but now he says he won't be setting the cast until the screenplay is written. The TV production, he adds, ``is such a big project it could take another year to get written.''

Halmi does have ``Moby Dick'' completed. The $16 million project, which will be shown on USA Network, ``was a tough shoot, with so many water shots. But it's turned out wonderfully, and Patrick Stewart and Gregory Peck are brilliant as the leads.''

The videoland view

Tom Selleck may not show his face on ``Friends'' anymore, but, oh, the memory lingers. Expect to see a new character pop up on the sitcom soon - the 30-year-old son of Selleck's character. Tim, a handsome doctor (now being cast), will meet Monica (Courteney Cox) while helping out at his father's practice, filling in while the old man's away. Their attraction will give new meaning to the words, ``What's good enough for Dad is good enough for me.''

His cup runneth over

Superhot recording artist Usher pops up as Brandy's latest love interest on ``Moesha'' Tuesday. ``I'm playing an intelligent guy who's studying to be a politician at the high school she attends,'' reports the 18-year-old singer. He's scheduled to do at least two more episodes of the UPN sitcom, but says, ``I'm trying to balance everything that's coming up.'' ``You Make Me Wanna,'' the first single from his hit LaFace Records CD, ``My Way,'' has been No. 1 on the r&b charts and No. 3 on the pop charts for six weeks. Now, he's mulling offers to tour with Sean ``Puffy'' Combs, Janet Jackson or Boys II Men.

X-port

If you've ever wondered why other countries get annoyed with America, consider this ... Soon to shoot in L.A. is a cigarette commercial for a well-known U.S. brand we won't bother to name here, set to be shown in Spain, Greece, Switzerland and Germany. Casting notices explicitly note that the TV spots will feature full nudity and simulated sex. Anything to sell those cancer sticks abroad, hmm?

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3 Photos

Photo: (1) Randy Travis

Other irons in the fire

(2) Christopher Reeve

``Window'' closed - for now

(3) Tom Selleck

Making way for ``Friends'' son