MICHAEL GREENE WILL BE WATCHING AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS THIS EVENING

Now that the preliminary bout between American Music Awards producer Dick Clark and Grammy boss Michael Greene is over, it's time for the main events.

With Clark's $10 million lawsuit against Greene still in the courts, tonight's American Music Awards will be seen on ABC at 8 pm (ET/PT).

As for Michael Jackson, whose original decision to bypass old pal Clark's AMAs to appear exclusively on the Grammys prompted the suit, he will show up at tonight's ceremony at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium to receive the org's "Artist of the Century" award. A video, shot recently, of Jackson performing his 1988 song, "Man In the Mirror," will also be aired. Ironically, CBS, who will carry the Grammys from Staples Center on Feb. 27, is rebroadcasting the Michael Jackson concert special which first aired last Nov. in the same time slot.

Greene said yesterday he would wait to see what Jackson did during tonight's AMA ceremony before deciding whether to send him an invite for the Feb. 27 ceremony. "We have 980 nominees and 14 performance slots," he told Reuters. "Who in their right mind would want to regurgitate something that was on just a few weeks earlier?" Unhhh, ESPN Classic?

P. Diddy and Jenny McCarthy are on tap to host the Clark extravaganza. In addition to Jackson, his sister Janet will appear via satellite hookup to introduce another performance. Other performers include Britney Spears, Mick Jagger, Kid Rock and Cher. Among the highlights will be a salute to some of the music legends who died during the past year, with Luther Vandross crooning George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord." No word on whether he'll also cover Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" as a memorial to lead singer Joey, who died last year from lymphoma. James Taylor will take part in a tribute to Garth Brooks, this year's winner of the AMAs' "Award of Merit."

Alicia Keys, who will not perform, led the field with five nominations, including Favorite Pop Female Artist, Favorite R&B Female Artist and Best New Artist in both the Pop and R&B categories. Other multiple nominees include Janet Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, the Dave Matthews Band and the late Aaliyah.