Dustin Hoffman could be coming to TV in an HBO series about the world of horse racing and gambling.

HBO says the two-time Oscar winner will star in the pilot of "Luck," a prospective drama series from producer David Milch.

Hoffman would portray a career criminal heavily involved in gambling. Hoffman is 72 years old, but has never been a regular in series television. "Luck" would be Milch's third series created for HBO. His past credits include "Deadwood" and "John from Cincinnati," as well as "NYPD Blue" on ABC.

NOMINATED PRODUCER GETS OSCAR BAN

A producer of the war story "The Hurt Locker" will not be allowed to attend Sunday's Academy Awards because of e-mails he sent urging academy members to vote for his movie, Oscar overseers said yesterday.

But Nicolas Chartier will receive an Oscar at a later date if "The Hurt Locker" wins best picture.

The executive committee of the producers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences imposed the penalty on Chartier, who violated Oscar rules that prohibit mailings promoting a film and disparaging another.

Chartier sent an e-mail Feb. 19 to some academy members asking for their support for "The Hurt Locker," not a "$500 million film" — an obvious reference to blockbuster best-picture contender "Avatar."

WARWICK WANTS RADIO STATION ROYALTIES

Singer Dionne Warwick said yesterday it's only fair to make radio stations pay royalties to performers — herself included — when they broadcast music.

Warwick, 69, appeared at a Capitol Hill event to urge Congress to pass legislation to make radio stations pay fees to musicians, similar to those paid to songwriters.

She said radio stations have gotten a free ride and should compensate singers, backup singers and other performers for their work.

SIMPSON PEEVED AT MAYER’S KISS-AND-TELL

Jessica Simpson says she's "a little bit angry" with ex-boyfriend John Mayer for an interview he gave to Playboy magazine in which he called the singer "sexual napalm." Simpson says on today's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that she doesn't want people "to know how I am in bed." In the interview, Mayer talked about Simpson's sexual ability and said Simpson "is like crack cocaine to me."

— Advertiser News Services