Even Stern Finds At Times His Job Becomes A Grind

As they graze through the myriad cable offerings, some TV viewers blanch when they come across Howard Stern’s familiar visage.

Now, those who buy his second book, the forthcoming “Miss America,” may do the same thing - though for different reasons (and even though it could have been worse). Stern’s editor, Judith Regan, rejected two doctored photographs of O.J. Simpson, one which ostensibly showed Simpson instructing Stern how to slash his wife’s throat.

Unaccountably, though, she approved a photo of Stern’s wife Allison, her throat slashed, being fed to a meat grinder. A faux O.J. stands by, giving the thumbs-up sign.

“The other two were offensive, but the meat grinder one is OK,” Stern said on his radio show, questioning Regan’s rationalization.

Loose talk

Anjelica Huston on human relations (In W magazine): “I find animals infinitely more interesting than most people. I can always deal with a dog over long periods of time. I can always be fascinated by a cat’s behavior. But people, blabbing about their problems all the time. If my husband talked about his digestion all the time, I’d kill myself!”

As for his party, if you’ve got to go, go now

Manfred Mann turns 55 today.

And so, O.J. returns to his normal, peaceful life

When O.J. Simpson played the Panama City, Fla., golf course on Wednesday, he improved on Tuesday’s score by three strokes. After shooting a 79, he and girlfriend Paula Barbieri attended a showing of “Jade,” which includes a hatchet murder and videotaped rough sex.

Then again, maybe we spoke a little too soon

While on the course Wednesday (see above item), some onlookers challenged O.J. Simpson’s cheerful demeanor. “Hey, O.J., how’s your search for your wife’s killer coming?” one called out. Another said, “Come on, O.J., you really did it, didn’t you? The jury just gave you a break, didn’t they?” Simpson refused to answer, but merely sneered and muttered something to a golfing partner.

They are, of course, such good friends

London tabloids were filled on Thursday with photographs of Prince Charles, heir to the Windsor throne, attending a party with his, er, close friend, Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles, who has admitted cheating on his wife, Princess Diana, has also said he wants to go public with his relationship to Parker Bowles. The Daily Mail described Thursday’s events as “an astonishing high-risk strategy” to achieve that end.

We’ll wait for the MTV documentary

Def Leppard is planning to do a world concert tour - all on one day. On Monday, the rock group is scheduled to perform three 45-minute gigs - in London, Vancouver, Canada, and Tangier, Morocco.

Say, did HE ever try on those bloody gloves?

Finally, O.J. Simpson juror Lionel Cryer claims that a fellow juror had an affair with a court deputy during the eight-month trial. Cryer, the only black male juror, admits that he secretly kept enough detailed notes to fill six large loose-leaf books. Big surprise: He’s peddling a book.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster