Well, art shaped like dogs. Whatever. It’s a good cause. Stay with me here.

This Monday, the artwork of celebrities – many with a connection to the Lower Hudson Valley – will be paraded down the streets of New York City as part of an initiative to raise money for a Brewster charity.

About 30 celebs painted life-sized fiberglass dogs that will be aboard a float in the city’s Columbus Day Parade. Among the artistic celebs with a local connection are Pound Ridge residents Richard Gere (pictured) and Clive Davis; Bedford residents Chevy Chase, Glenn Close, Robert Kennedy Jr., Paul Shaffer and Martha Stewart; Chappaqua resident Vanessa Williams; North Salem resident and John Jay High School alumnus Stanley Tucci; and former Putnam County resident Judge Judy Sheindlin.

The money raised through a subsequent auction will benefit Green Chimneys, a 60-year-old non-profit organization that operates a special education school, a residential treatment center for children and a farm and wildlife rehabilitation center in Brewster. The auction ends Nov. 1.

For the rest of October, the dogs will be on display at the TimeWarner Center in Columbus Circle.

Among the other celebrities to apply their palates to fake pups were Fiona Apple, Rachael Ray, Robin Quivers, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Goodall, Cyndi Lauper, Soledad O’Brien, Joe Piscopo, Mike Richter and Bill Walton.

Check out and bid on all the dogs at www.CharityFolks.com and learn more about Green Chimneys at www.GreenChimneys.org.

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

To open the first of four weekly prime-time Weekend (Weeknight?) Update specials on NBC, the cast of “Saturday Night Live” parodied the second presidential debate. As usual, Fred Armisen was Barack Obama and Darrell Hammond played John McCain.

As undecided voter Anthony Cipelli, Eastchester’s Bobby Moynihan asked McCain how he’d “bring this country together.” Fake McCain then called him “Oscar,” called Obama “Pee Pants,” then called Anthony “Zebediah.” I think he might have answered the question as well.

Turns out it’s not the first time “SNL” folks have butchered Moynihan’s name.

Three of the best bipartisan gags of the sketch involved the insistence of Tom Brokaw (guest Chris Parnell) to stick to agreed-upon time limits, John McCain’s drifting in front of the camera during one of Barack Obama’s answers and a question from “William Murray,” a.k.a. Palisades resident Bill Murray:

Senator Obama, Senator McCain: Last week, in the National League Divisional Playoffs, the Chicago Cubs faced the Los Angeles Dodgers. In game one, the Cubs lost, 7 to 3; in game two, they lost, 10 to 3; and in game three, 3 to 1. What, as president, would you do to guarantee this never happens again? Senators, in your answer, please be specific.

(Photo of Moynihan: Courtesy of Moynihan; photo of Murray: Lionel Cironneau/AP)

Apparently Rosie O’Donnell—the South Nyack resident and master “Million Dollar Password” clue-giver—is ready for a full-time return to TV as she is slated to host “Rosie’s Variety Show” Thanksgiving Eve on NBC. Looks like those rumors back in July were true.

The one-hour special could expand to a “full series should viewers embrace the project,” Reuters reported last week.

(AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

Ausiello reported last week that McCartney will be in the “recurring role of Andy, a heavily recruited freshman jock who’ll be torn between rushing the KT and OX houses.”

The rising pop star also filmed a role for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” this year. GUNG-GUNG!

(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Landing the Murray exclusive was “Mike & Juliet” co-host Juliet Huddy. I’m jealous, of course, both as a fan of Murray and the original “Ghostbusters,” my favorite movie of all time.

Suburbarazzi shout-out: Monica Hill, a very cool friend of mine, produced the segment.

The complete interview airs Oct. 10 on “Mike & Juliet,” which is broadcast locally on Fox. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at what Murray said.

On the rumor that “Ghostbusters 3” is being penned by a couple of writers from “The Office”:

“It’s promising, it’s never been promising before…. [The unnamed writers] are probably pretty funny. And the idea of having a new, fresh look at it is a great idea, you know, to see it through someone else’s eyes. I think a new idea would be great, I think it’d be fun.”

“We’d poach anything in that building. We took a lot of stuff out of that building…. There was people that figured out that if you had a form that was signed you could walk out with anything. We just looked so sweet and innocent. Most of what I did was go down to The Today Show because they came in at 5 in the morning to work and they had donuts, so we’d go down there and eat all their donuts and coffee before Jane Pauley came in.”

(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

That’s to be written, but the 54-year-old deejay and the 36-year-old model took the biggest step toward that goal with their wedding at Manhattan’s Le Cirque restaurant Friday night.

Stern proposed to Ostrosky on Valentine’s Day in 2007. It’s his second marriage, her first.

Officiating the ceremony was actor Mark Consuelos, the husband of Kelly Ripa, who also attended. The rest of the guest list wasn’t exactly the Wack Pack.

In addition to Stern show regulars, People magazine and Howard 100 News reported that the guest list included Bedford resident Chevy Chase (who reportedly delivered a raunchy roast), Larchmont native Joan Rivers, Sarah Lawrence College graduate Barbara Walters, Westchester real estate maven Donald Trump, Billy Joel and wife Katie Lee Joel, Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines, former Train lead singer Pat Monahan, John Stamos, Jillian Barberie, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman and former Senator Al D’Amato.

“I danced with Howard,” said Rivers, according to People. “The wedding was fabulous, everyone had a great, great time.”

The Piano Man sang two songs, Monahan sang another, and Maines and Barberie teamed up for yet another, according to reports.

In a report airing today on Howard 100 News, Barberie had a suspicion about Kimmel and Silverman, who earlier this year had a civil yet very public breakup: “I think they’re back,” she whispered today on her Los Angeles morning talk show.

(Associated Press file photo by Diane Bondareff)

Lange serves as a sidekick to Stern, who launched his professional radio career in Briarcliff Manor.

Here’s how the show started while Rob Zombie and Stern’s “American Nightmare” theme music slowly faded in the background:

Howard Stern: I don’t even know where to begin.
Robin Quivers: Well, you could say ‘Good morning.’
HS: Uh, good morning. That’s a good place to begin. Every television show has like a Belushi type; now it’s the Artie type. ‘Saturday Night Live,’ look at the latest guy they got: Bobby Moynihan. Who’s he look like, Artie?
Artie Lange: (Laughs.) Does that look like me?
HS: You know, that— does that look like you?!
RQ: Oh, my God. Of course it does!
AL: No, well, uh—
HS: It’s like the Artie type—
AL: I told you— Artie type?! It’s the Belu—
HS: The Belushi type.
AL: John Belushi got guys like me a career. God bless that guy.

As Bedford resident Chevy Chase will tell you, being an “SNL” alum on Stern’s cranky side can have serious pitfalls; only in recent years did Chase and Stern amicably settle a nasty public feud that raged for nearly two decades.

That said, the two consider each other friends these days, with Chase making his first visit to the Stern set on Thursday to promote a charity auction for The Center of Environment Education Online. During the candid chat, Chase said his mother and stepfather had been abusive, and explained how Belushi helped start—and tried to stop—the fisticuffs that broke out between Chase and Sneden’s Landing resident Bill Murray just before an episode of “SNL” in the late ‘70s.

Yet another comedian with ties to the Lower Hudson Valley, northern Westchester resident Nick Di Paolo, was a guest on the Stern show Tuesday. He was promoting his upcoming shows, including a Nov. 20 gig at the Tarrytown Music Hall; that show—his first major gig in the county—will return him to the village he called home for two years. More about that show to come.

(Photo of Moynihan courtesy of Moynihan; Photo of Stern: Richard Drew/AP; Photo of Di Paolo: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News)

Podcast file

Flash video

“American Idol” finalist Kimberley Locke helped organize a fundraiser that will be held this Saturday at Caramoor in Katonah to benefit the charity Camp Heartland. Which star of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” is scheduled to host?
A. Wayne Brady
B. Drew Carey
C. Colin Mochrie
D. Ryan Stiles

The answer is A) Wayne Brady. Don’t forget the answer! (Groan.)

(Photo courtesy of Somers state police.)

Yes, Barack Obama, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell are rumored to return to 30 Rock to appear on tonight’s premiere of “Saturday Night Live,” hosted by Olympic behemoth Michael Phelps. But let’s not forget about Eastchester native Bobby Moynihan, either.

Those familiar with “SNL” know featured players usually pop up in fewer sketches than their repertory counterparts, so expect Moynihan to appear in one to three sketches tonight, tops.

That said, I wasn’t surprised when he was hired in August. I’m proud to say I’ve known him for almost 20 years. He’s absolutely hilarious and, if there’s any justice, will be upgraded to repertory status within a few months.

The “SNL” premiere begins tonight at about 11:30 p.m. EST.

“I’d always heard melodies in my head, I’d always loved the theatre and I’d loved the arts, but I just didn’t know how to do that. I didn’t know how to break in.”

“You know what you do? You find the place that will help you to learn … tell them you’ll work for them for nothing. They’re probably going to pay you something. But just do it.”

Find out more about her Westchester County upbringing and her path to stardom in my article appearing in today’s edition of The Journal News.

A true LoHudder, her connections to the region are seemingly endless. As a child, she attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Scarsdale, sang at the Larchmont Shore Club and provided the soundtrack at campaign stops throughout Westchester County for her father, former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi. She later graduated from The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. Despite graduating from Duke University with a degree in political science, she abandoned law to become a vocalist in an Ossining garage band called Gramma Trips.

After snagging multiple jobs at Billboard magazine for a five-year span, she got signed to a record deal. Although her singing career never took off, her songwriting and producing gigs did. She was partially or completely responsible for writing Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Walk Away,” Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man” and dozens of other recent hits. No wonder she was named BMI’s 2006 Pop Songwriter of the Year.

My full story about DioGuardi is slated for the week ahead, but in the meantime, check out 10 questions and answers from my exclusive interview with “Idol’s” newest judge:

What recent song do you most wish you’d written?
“Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé.

As a singer, how far do you think you would advance on “American Idol”?
“I would hope to the top 10.”

How long have you been watching “Idol”?
“Since the beginning.”

You’d said that you thought “Idol” would have hired someone more famous to fill the fourth judge’s chair. Had you heard of any famous names who were being considered?
“They kind of kept me in the dark. I hadn’t really heard anything.”

As of Aug. 28, who was the most famous person outside of the show to congratulate you for the “Idol” hire?
“Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics).”

From the first seven seasons, who have been your three favorite “Idol” alumni?
“I’d say Kelly Clarkson, (Chris) Daughtry and, hmm, I like Katharine McPhee.”

Who’s the most underrated “Idol” contestant of all time?
“Katharine McPhee.”

What’s your favorite “Idol” performance so far?
“I thought that ‘Billie Jean’ performance that David Cook did was ridiculous.” (In the good way.)

The perception among fans is that Simon Cowell’s the bad cop, Paula Abdul’s the good cop and Randy Jackson’s somewhere in between. With which judge have you sided the most through the years?
“Probably Simon. Sometimes he can be hard, but I also think at times he’s doing people a favor.”

For your first day judging “Idol” contestants, you sat between Randy and Paula at the judges’ table. Where would you want to sit?
“You know at this point, I’m pretty much just like, ‘Where do you want me?’ I’m the new kid in school. I’m not going to cause waves right from the beginning.”

(AP Photo of Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson/Jason DeCrow; AP Photo of DioGuardi/Chris Pizzello)

Sorkin, who’s written everything from “A Few Good Men” to “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” said it was “more flattering than creepy” that people set up phony accounts in his name, according to the page. He also admits that his assistant, researcher Ian Reichbach, set up the page in his name “because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do and she’s been dead for 33 years.”

I’d be especially intrigued to see a movie with Sorkin’s chatty, elevated writing style if it delves into the most significant event in Facebook history. No, not when the site opened the floodgates from Ivy Leaguers to college students to everyone on the planet, or when it became the subject of controversy for releasing user information to third parties. I’m talking about the crushing blow that was the swift, heartless removal of Scrabulous, the Scrabble ripoff that was infinitely (and inexplicably) more user-friendly than the trademarked version. That move inspired me to play a few four-letter triple word scores.

Thanks to Suburbarazzi alumnus Ted Mann for the tip.

(AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Sean “Diddy” Combs isn’t feelin’ the quarter-million-dollar round trips he’d been making on his private jet. So he opted instead to be Something Special in the Air, flying American Airlines with the people. Quoth the Diddy:

“Gas prices are too m——f—-n’ high.”

This all reminds me of my favorite Weekend Update line from “Saturday Night Live” last year, delivered perfectly by anchor Seth Meyers: ”(If) gas gets any more expensive, rappers will start to drink it.”

(AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh)

Unlike most fairweather celebs who every few years show fleeting support to politicians (usually Democrats, for better and worse), Chase and Clinton are legit buddies.

When Chase was holding an auction in September for his charity, the Center for Environmental Education Online, Clinton agreed to lend his name and time to the cause. At one point in the auction, a bid for lunch with Chase and Clinton reached $51,500. Y’know, tip money.

(AP Photo/The Rocky Mountain News, Rodolfo Gonzalez)

So when I asked my fellow Suburbarazzo via Facebook chat tonight about today’s appearance by Denzel Washington in Mount Vernon, it segued into a discussion about former Nyack dweller, Russell Crowe.

The conversation below has been edited for clarity and to make us look like we care about capitalization in online conversation. Please note that I made Aman—a stand-up comedian—laugh twice or at least write out the phrase “hahahaha” two times to pretend he was. Either way, I’ll pretend he was in hysterics reading my hilarious words of hilarity.

The chat at one point picked up when Aman told me Washington said he was “really upset” about the Mount Vernon’s school district’s budget woes.

Aman: He was just really heated about the whole subject
Chris: Why does one of the world’s best actors need to be defensive about that, though?
Chris: Maybe he feels guilty, in retrospect, that he donated money to athletics when teaching jobs were later cut
Aman: One thing I give Denzel serious props about, that man seriously knows how to select good movie scripts to act in
Aman: Like whats the last flop movie he was in?
Chris: Absolutely. He’s amazing.
Chris: Even Russell Crowe does “A Good Year” now and then
Aman: Meh, “Master and Commander” I wasn’t a fan of
Chris: My dad likes that flick
Chris: But no one liked “A Good Year”
Aman: Yeah I dont think I saw that one
Chris: I think Russell Crowe attended its premiere, threw his cell phone at the projectionist and walked out the emergency exit door, setting off the fire alarm and sprinklers
Aman: Hahahaha
Aman: Apparently he’s going to play Bill Hicks in a biopic movie
Chris: I still love that guy though.
Chris: Like, will defend him 100 percent
Aman: Oh I like him too
Chris: That (Bill Hicks movie)’d be good. “The Insider” is one of my favorite movies
Chris: And maybe his best acting performance ever
Aman: Agreed, I do have a soft spot for “Gladiator” though
Chris: Good movie. Not great.
Chris: Although I like that Jay-Z uses his “Is this not why you are here?” speech to open “What More Can I Say?”
Aman: Hahahaha

(Non-AP photo of Aman Ali and Chris Serico wearing ironic T-shirts featuring puns involving the original Nintendo Entertainment System/Aman Ali and Chris Serico)

Today it was announced that Kara DioGuardi, who grew up in New Rochelle, was named the unprecedented fourth judge on “American Idol.”

I spoke this afternoon with her proud papa, Joe DioGuardi, an Ossining resident and former U.S. Congressman. He told me Kara was raised in the Wilmot Woods section of New Rochelle, attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Scarsdale and graduated from The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. He said his phone has been ringing off the hook today but was proud of and thrilled for his daughter.

It’ll be interesting to see with whom she most often sides on the panel. I’m guessing she’ll have the compassion of Paula but the ear of Simon, which in my mind is the ideal combination.

This was the second bit of exciting news for Westchester natives this month. As I reported last week for sister blog Remote Access, Eastchester’s Bobby Moynihan is joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live.”

I’m psyched not only because he’s a talented product of the Lower Hudson Valley and because I love the show, but also because I’ve been friends with him since we were in middle school. Call it full disclosure or name-dropping. Either way, I’m proud of him.

With a budding film career and tons of experience performing at the Upright Citizens Brigage Theatre in Manhattan, Moynihan’s an outstanding sketch and improv comedian and will quickly become an audience favorite.

Want some gossip about him? He really likes peach Snapple. Ooooh! Call the Enquirer!

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello; Moynihan photo/Brendan McMullen)

Despite previous reports to the contrary (sorry!), Ed McMahon agreed to sell his house to a private buyer but reportedly not to the Westchester real estate maven, who said he was in talks to buy the home and lease it to the former talk-show sidekick. McMahon, whose family once lived in Bronxville, had defaulted on $4.8 million in loans.

McMahon is slated to move out after the sale. Maybe he should call Mark Cronin to see if the next season of “The Surreal Life” will allow him to bunk with Carrot Top.

(AP Photo of McMahon/Matt Sayles; AP Photo of Trump/Jason DeCrow.)

So as someone who loved playing alto sax through high school and likes his share of Dave Matthews Band material, I was sad to read that Moore, 46, died yesterday afternoon of complications relating to an all-terrain vehicle accident he had June 30. He was to begin physical therapy in Los Angeles, where the band played last night.

Matthews, who spent much of his childhood in Yorktown, talked about his friend’s death to the crowd after his band’s opening number last night:

(Our) good friend LeRoi Moore … gave up his ghost to heaven and we will miss him always.

(AP Photo/Michael Kim)

(Courtesy of MSNBC.com; via BestWeekEver.tv.)

This begs the question: If the Yonkers-raised, Bedford-dwelling Ruff Ryder and the Central Nyack icon met behind bars, would the encounter more likely spawn a triple-platinum collaboration or rap’s best beef since 50 Cent and Ja Rule? Post your predictions below. Hypothetical (and clean) song titles are also welcome.

And while you’re at it, vote in the new poll in the right margin: Who’s the best rapper with ties to the Lower Hudson Valley? We’re starting you off with Diddy (Mount Vernon), DMX, Heavy D (Mount Vernon), Jadakiss (Yonkers), Jay-Z (Scarsdale), Lucky Me and Styles P (Yonkers). Feel free to add your own suggestions as long as they actually exist and at some point lived in the LoHud (Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties).

(Photo of DMX: AP Photo/Louis Lanzano; Photo of Lucky Me: The Journal News/Vincent DiSalvio.)