Talkin’ ’bout his degeneration

The Who’s Super Bowl performance has come under fire from children’s advocates concerned about Pete Townshend’s child porn arrest.

The legendary guitarist was arrested in 2003 in Britain as part of a child pornography sting but later cleared.

Townshend had visited a Web site containing child pornography, but said it was for research for his own campaign against child porn. He was required to register as a sex offender, despite being cleared.

Groups like Protect Our Children have protested the choice of The Who as Sunday’s halftime entertainment.

Townshend said he’s been a children’s advocate for decades and alluded to his own confession of abuse as a child.

“Anybody that has any doubts about whether I should be here or not should investigate a little bit further,” he said.

Deaf ear to the critics

The head of Taylor Swift’s record label is defending her against widespread criticism of her off-key performance at the Grammy Awards.

“She is the voice of this generation. She speaks directly to (fans), and they speak directly back to her,” said Big Machine Records’ Scott Borchetta.

“This is not ‘American Idol.’ This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note.”

Off his high horse

Former ’70s teen idol Leif Garrett has been released from jail on a charge he carried heroin into an L.A. subway station.

Garrett, 48, has a history of drug use, including a 2006 arrest at another Los Angeles subway stop for possessing heroin.

The birthday bunch

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is 93. Actor Patrick MacNee (“The Avengers”) is 88. Actor Rip Torn is 79. Actress Mamie Van Doren is 79. Newsman Tom Brokaw is 70. Singer Fabian is 67. Singer Natalie Cole is 60. Singer Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses) is 48.