January 24, 2000

Testing the Waters, Gingerly H. Carl McCall, the Democratic state comptroller, has begun a cautious but serious exploration of a run for governor against George E. Pataki in 2002. PAGE B1

James R Oestreich reviews New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's festival, Re-encountering Rachmaninoff (M)

Surprise success of Malcolm in the Middle, Fox's new half-hour comedy, has resuscitated troubled network and also revived hopes for sitcom genre; show tied for No.2 in viewership in just its second week on air; show costs far more to produce because it is made like a movie, with single camera, rather than on stage, with three or four cameras; its characters are funny and unpredictable, far cry from failed sitcoms in recent seasons that were cloned from big hits; photos (M)

Time Warner Inc plans to acquire control of music business of EMI Group and merge it with Warner Music, creating what could become world's largest record company; deal will shrink oligopoly of music companies that dominate world business from five to four; merged music company, to be known as Warner EMI Music, will sell about one of four records in United States and also have vast international presence; Time Warner and EMI Group will each own 50 percent of Warner EMI, but Time Warner will have slight majority on board of directors and ultimate control; Roger Ames, chief executive of Warner Music, will hold same post in new venture; Ken Berry, head of EMI, will be chief operating officer (M)

New York State Comptroller H Carl McCall has laid groundwork for run for Governor in 2002; he has established campaign committee, opened a web site and has begun concerted, very early attempt to lock up support of all Democrats who matter and head off any primary challenger; photo (M)