Not afraid of Simon, Ellen says

Ellen DeGeneres is known for being nice. But the new “American Idol” judge says she’s tough enough to be honest with the show’s contestants.

DeGeneres also said Thursday that she’s ready to take on fellow judge Simon Cowell, known for his sarcasm toward both singers and his “Idol” colleagues.

When Cowell is “rude and mean,” DeGeneres said, she’ll tell him.

But she said she’ll find a compassionate way to critique the contestants.

DeGeneres, who signed a five-year deal with “Idol,” says she’ll continue with her daytime talk show.

The birds and the babies

On the celebrity baby beat, it’s a boy for Nicole Richie and rocker hubby Joel Madden.

Their first son, born Wednesday, is named Sparrow James Midnight Madden. He joins sister Harlow, who’ll be 2 in January.

Meanwhile, “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl and her singer-songwriter husband Josh Kelley are adopting a baby, reportedly a 10-month-old girl from Korea.

And speaking of babes …

After more than a decade of separation, Hugh Hefner is seeking an official return to his bachelor status.

The Playboy founder filed for divorce on Friday from his wife and former Playmate, Kimberly. He’s offering to pay her $20,000 a month in support – half of what he’s been paying since their split.

Hefner, 83, is living with his second set of three girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion, as chronicled on the reality show “The Girls Next Door.”

The birthday bunch

Director Brian De Palma is 69. Drummer Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead) is 66. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 64. Actress Amy Madigan is 59. Actress Roxann Dawson (“Star Trek: Voyager”) is 51. Actor Scott Patterson (“Gilmore Girls”) is 51. Actress Virginia Madsen is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 47. Musician Moby is 44. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 42. Actress Taraji P. Henson is 39. Rapper Ludacris is 32.