SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Arrest warrants have been issued for actor Randy Quaid and his wife after they failed to appear for a court hearing, a prosecutor said yesterday.

The couple didn't show up in a Santa Barbara criminal court yesterday on a felony charge that they defrauded an innkeeper. The no-show will cost the couple $40,000 in forfeited bail.

It was the most recent in a string of court absences that have resulted in arrest warrants and an aborted attempt to extradite the pair from Randy Quaid's home state of Texas.

Randy and Evi Quaid were arrested on Sept. 24 in West Texas after being accused of using an invalid credit card to defraud the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito of more than $10,000.

'UP IN THE AIR' LEADS GLOBE NOMINATIONS

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — "Up in the Air" has emerged as a potential Academy Award favorite.

The film grabbed a leading six Golden Globe nominations yesterday, including best drama, plus directing and screenplay honors for Jason Reitman. George Clooney earned a best dramatic actor slot as a frequent-flier junkie traveling the country in first-class seats and premium car rentals as he fires the rank-and-file at downsizing companies.

The musical "Nine" ran second with five nominations.

The Globes are a ceremony that sorts out the prospects leading up to the Oscar nominations Feb. 2. The 67th annual Globes will be handed out Jan. 17.

PROSECUTORS DETAIL ALLEGED BLACKMAIL

NEW YORK — A TV producer accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million said he needed money to visit his son and would mask the transaction as a business deal, prosecutors said yesterday.

Robert J. "Joe" Halderman also told the comedian's lawyer he would keep copies of his information on Letterman's personal life for "protection" and acknowledged misgivings about the scheme, Manhattan prosecutors said in court papers yesterday.

Halderman wants a judge to dismiss the attempted grand larceny charge against him, saying he was just shopping a screenplay.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS AT ROCK HALL OF FAME

CLEVELAND — ABBA is dancing its way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies and The Stooges.

The list of the next class of inductees was released yesterday by the Cleveland hall. ABBA and The Stooges made it in this time after being nominated previously but not making the cut. The 25th annual induction ceremony is scheduled for March 15 in New York City.