Does the Department of Homeland Security's orange terror alert have you concerned for the safety of your favorite star at the Academy Awards? Relax. Dr. Judith Reichman will be in the house.

Reichman is an expert on women's health who has appeared on "Today" and PBS. But that's not the point. She's also the wife of producer Gilbert Cates.

The Emmy-winning Cates, who is frantically preparing for his 11th Oscar telecast on Sunday, told assembled award nominees at last week's pre-ceremony luncheon at the Beverly Hilton that he was so confident about security at the Kodak Theatre that he planned to bring his family.

In the jittery war climate, the producer finds himself dealing with more than the usual finish-under-four-hours headaches. None is more daunting than the possibility that the ceremony could be postponed if fighting in Iraq begins this week.

Executives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that the Oscars are still planned for Sunday. But if ABC elects to broadcast war coverage, said Cates, the ceremony will be rescheduled to another date.

Since President Bush issued his 48-hour ultimatum to Iraq on Monday night, those involved with the Oscar production have said privately that if the conflict started later than Thursday, the show would likely be postponed by ABC. Oscar organizers and party planners were being advised to develop contingency plans in the event the ceremony was moved to Monday or Tuesday. A final decision concerning the Sunday telecast may not be made until the weekend.