As For The Next Ellen, The Denial List Is Long

After running an item about a “longtime, big-time TV star” who was said to be considering doing the Ellen Degeneres come-out-of-the-closet thing, gossip columnist Liz Smith had to backtrack a bit.

Oprah Winfrey made it very clear that the unnamed celeb, whom Smith described as an “icon and role model to millions,” was not her.

That left Smith grasping for expletives.

“Good grief!” Smith said. “Well, you can never imagine the laundry list of celebs who have called this office, or had their press reps call this office, to assure us, ‘It’s not me!’ Some of the names would astonish you. Well, I am sorry Oprah got what she considered grief because of this. She says she’s not gay, and, given her famed honesty on all matters in her life, I think you can take her word for it, in case you feel it’s any of your business.”

Loose talk

U2 lead singer Bono on whom he respects (as reported by the Associated Press): “Frank’s the man. We’re all guests on his planet, as far as I’m concerned. The only man we should call Mister - I would call him Mr. Sinatra.”

Can’t think of anyone better to nurse our wounds

Julianna Margulies turns 30 today.

His favorite song always was ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’

Bob Guccione Jr., who tried for 13 years to make Spin into a worthy competitor for Rolling Stone magazine, has given up the battle. He sold it to the owners of Vibe, which includes Quincy Jones, for $42 million. “I’ve always wanted to build a media company, and this deal lets me leap-frog several stages to that (goal),” Guccione Jr. said.

He usually sleeps it off under the rainbow

Punk-rock pioneer Iggy Pop is changing his musical tastes, if not his image. He plans to record an album of standards such as “Over the Rainbow.” “I’m 50, I’ve had a certain amount of experience and time to develop my taste,” says Pop. “I like the idea of this music.” Just don’t expect him to put on a suit. “No, I’d do it with my shirt off,” he said.

Oh, sure, it’s just like going to the dentist

Gossip columnist Liz Smith (see lead item at left) reports that Michael Jackson and wife Debbie Rowe are “working hard” to make a sibling for their son, Prince Michael. “Oh, I know maybe you feel Michael Jackson isn’t the type to enjoy making love to a woman,” Smith wrote. “But honestly, people can do anything if they set their minds to it.”

Question is, who is the real babe here?

Say what you want about the joys of being a “Baywatch” babe, actress-of-sorts Gena Lee Nolin knows real joy after the birth Tuesday of her first son. “I feel so complete as a woman, wife and mother,” the 25-year-old actress says. She’ll be back in her one-piece come July.

We always knew he was a ham at heart

When it came time for his heart surgery, Arnold Schwarzenegger had a couple of choices. He could choose a new synthetic valve or one from a pig. “I’m not going to say which valve I chose,” Schwarzenegger said, “but now every time I see bacon, I start crying.”

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