LOS ANGELES — Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced yesterday to 48 days in jail for racking up a second drunken-driving incident in three years, prosecutors said.

Sutherland, who pleaded no contest in October to the charge, appeared in court with his attorney and politely answered the judge's questions, said assistant city attorney Dan Jeffries.

His request to serve his time at the Glendale city jail was granted and he was ordered to complete the sentence by March 30, Jeffries said.

The actor was still on probation for a 2004 drunken driving conviction when he was stopped by police shortly after midnight as he left a party at the trendy Area nightclub on Sept. 25. Authorities said he was pulled over for an illegal U-turn, and failed a field sobriety test.

The 40-year-old star of "24" also was convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving in 1993, according to the city attorney's office.

GIBSON MAY SET UP IN COSTA RICA

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Mel Gibson met with several Costa Rican government ministers to discuss setting up a film production company in the Central American country.

The actor and director met Tuesday with the ministers of commerce, tourism and economy at an exclusive hotel in Costa Rica's capital.

"I'm here exploring opportunities to establish my film business in Costa Rica," Gibson told a TV station yesterday.

Gibson, star of Hollywood blockbusters such as the "Lethal Weapon" series and director of last year's Mayan epic "Apocalypto," said he is considering Costa Rica because "it's a beautiful country, very stable."

"I like its people a lot and they have very good coffee."

Gibson already owns a house in Guanacaste on the country's Pacific coast.

FRANK SINATRA WILL BE ON STAMP

WASHINGTON — Ol' Blue Eyes will get his own postage stamp next spring.

The stamp commemorating Frank Sinatra was announced yesterday by Postmaster General John Potter, who called the crooner "an extraordinary entertainer whose life and work left an indelible impression on American culture."

"His recordings, concert performances and film work place him among America's top artists," Potter said.

The stamp image will be unveiled next Wednesday — Sinatra's birthday — at a ceremony in Beverly Hills.

— Advertiser News Services

RAMPAGE SUBS ON HONOLULU STAGE

John Rampage, artistic director of Diamond Head Theatre, steps into "Meet Me in St. Louis" in tonight's performance at DHT, replacing Mikel Humerickhouse in the role of the father, Alonso Smith, in the musical based on the vintage film.

Humerickhouse was hospitalized because of an irregular heartbeat, said Deena Dray, DHT managing director.

Rampage has been rehearsing with director Greg Zane and will be "on book," meaning he may be using the script.

Humerickhouse was expected to leave the hospital tomorrow, but it was not certain if he'd be on stage that evening.

The production runs Thursday through Sunday, through Dec. 16.

— Wayne Harada, Advertiser Entertainment Writer