E.T. COMES HOME EARLY--You don’t have to...

E.T. COMES HOME EARLY--You don’t have to wait for the July 19 reissue of “E.T.” to see the star in action. His first screen appearance in three years--and his first for a charitable organization--will be in a 60-second spot for the Special Olympics available to networks and local stations later this month.

Underwritten by McDonald’s Corp. and Universal Pictures, the spot features a tearful E.T. secretly inspiring a young high jumper in a Special Olympics competition. Co-star here is Charles Cross, 10, of San Diego.

Eunice Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, said E.T. was chosen because there “is no better representative of love, inspiration and understanding than E.T.”