Payback for Conan? No sweat

Conan O’Brien helped the re-election campaign of Finnish President Tarja Halonen with mock campaign ads on his “Late Night” show.

Now O’Brien, who’s visiting Finland, says he’ll ask for a cabinet position in return when he meets with her today.

“I’d like to be the inspector of saunas – mostly women’s saunas,” says the red-haired TV host, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Halonen.

Some 2,000 fans waited for hours in subzero temperatures to catch a glimpse of O’Brien when he arrived in Helsinki on Saturday.

Crude dude

One day after reportedly getting married, former Creed lead singer Scott Stapp was arrested for investigation of being drunk at Los Angeles International Airport.

Stapp was taken into custody by airport police at 6 p.m. Saturday. He was booked and released on $250 bail from an area jail.

The 32-year-old Stapp married former Miss New York Jaclyn Nesheiwat on Friday night in Miami, with his 7-year-old son Jagger as best man, People magazine reported.

Passion of the pins

Mel Gibson is shipping an eight-lane bowling alley to his private island in northern Fiji.

Gibson bought Mago Island, the largest privately owned island in the Fiji archipelago, from Japan’s Tokyu Corp. for about $15 million in late 2004.

Yo-yo, Adrian

“Rocky Balboa” is a wrap, as Sylvester Stallone and company filmed the crucial scene on the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art over the weekend.

Stallone ran up and down five times with Punchy, his dog.

He’ll never forget

Longtime game show host and animal rights activist Bob Barker is trying to save the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo.

He asked the Los Angeles City Council last week to close the zoo’s pachyderm exhibit and allow its inhabitants – Gita, Ruby and Billy – to retire to a sanctuary.

“They have lived in misery,” said Barker, 82, claiming that two of the animals were too sick to display.

Zoo director John Lewis disputed Barker’s comments, saying that the animals are well-treated and that a proposed new $19 million exhibit will exceed national standards.

The birthday bunch

TV personality Hugh Downs (“20-20”) is 85. Actress Florence Henderson is 72. Saxophonist Maceo Parker is 63. “Access Hollywood” host Pat O’Brien is 58. Magician Teller (Penn and Teller) is 58. Singer Dwayne Wiggins (Tony! Toni! Tone!) is 45. Actor Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”) is 43. Singer Rob Thomas is 34. Actor Freddie Highmore (“Finding Neverland”) is 14.