Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 39

TELEVISION BYKO! BE STU YKOFSKY littlest Groom' is atypical dating show GLEN FOSTER is probably used to people asking him if he's crazy. There was, for instanc Pat Croce, whom the 4-foot-5 Foster approached a few years ago at a Slam Dunk for Diabetes fund-raiser, first asking for Croce's autograph and then offering himself up as a junior mascot for the 76ers. Ahoy, Amigos! PIRATE STATION PLUNDERS MIX 95.7's AIR 'Are you Foster recalls the then- Sixers president asking. Foster assured him that he was. But apparently not enthusi- I astically enough for the high- energy Croce.

'Convince me that you're ELLEN GRAY jlj The other Big Five: See 'The other Big below. A LATIN MUSIC station has recently started broadcasting on 95.3 FM. Featuring a range of tunes, in addition to Spanish-speaking DJs and advertising, El Sol has all the conventions of a typical FM station, except one, we're told: a license from the FCC. El Sol's strong signal can be heard as far south as Wilming ton and is believed to be the work of professionals broadcasting from an unknown area location, say radio insider s. The station is cutting into Mix 95.7's signal in parts of Jersey, and Mix is not pleased.

It's alerted the FCC and local authorities. "They don't have the proper authority to be on the air at all," says Bob Woodwar senior VPGM of Greater Media Philadelphia, which owns Mix. "It's in our best interest to get this handled in an expedient manner." The 'other' Big Five It's still a secret, but the National Kidney Foundation of Delaware Valley is going to offer a lithograph of the South Philly Sports Comple that will soon be inimitable The shot shows count 'em all five of the stadia: the Wachovia Spectrum and Wachovia Center, Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park and Veterans Stadium, which will be imploded this spring. The pic was taken Dec. 21, 2003, the last regular season Eagles game at the Vet.

Prints are $19.95, which includes shipping and handling and it all goes to the Foundation. To reserve one, call 215-9 23-8611 or visit www.nkfdv.org. Last request Those of you paying attention realize that tomorrow is the last gossip column I will write for the Daily News. To be honest, there won't be any gossip in it. I have some other things to say.

So today's the last "gossip" column (with "gospel," not "gossip," as usual). Some of you might also realize there's a roast being planned for me tomorrow night at Finnigan's Wake. (3rd Spring Garden, starting at 6:30. To get in, make a $25 donation to Variety Club by dialing 215-735-0803.) There will be a couple fistfuls of celebrities on hand to skewer me (figuring that without The Column I am powerless to harm them). crazy, Foster, now 16, recalls Croce telling him.

It took a massive shout of "I'M CRAZY!" to persuade Croce, but the Warminster native and Archbishop Wood High grad was soon hard at work as Lil'G, the sidekick to Sixers mascot Hip-Hop, a highly athletic job for which Croce, he said yesterday, trained him personally. Now, though, Foster probably won't have to shout or run around in a costume to convince people that he's a little crazy. Because people thinking you're crazy pretty much goes with the territory when you're the star of a Fox "reality" show. Yes, Foster, a dwarf who now works in Tulsa, doing sales and tech support for a cell phone company, is "The Littlest Groom." And while some of the Chicken Littles of this world are regarding the two-part dating special, which will air Feb. 16 and 23, as yet another indication that the sky is falling while others of us think it fell some time ago Foster's insisting it's anything but that.

"There's nothing exploitative in this whatsoever," he said, describing the show as an opportunity for him to meet a wider selection of women who are "little people" though the show will also introduc him to some average-sized women who'll be competing for his attention. In his show life, "I've dated more average sized women than little people," Foster said, while admitting a slight preference for women closer to his height because "we have an automa tic bond it's more of an icebreaker." He remains, he said, friends with "pretty much all the girls I dated." Currently he lives with his 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier. Even the show's title doesn't bother him. "Obviously, they had to do a play on words," he said. "That's to be expected." But is Foster, who's talking about moving back to this area where his "supportiv parents, an older sister and a younger brother all still live really ready to settle down at 23? "Anything's possible," he said, sounding like many a TV bachelor before him.

"If I met that perfect somebody, I'm definitely open to it." Since I won't need them anymore, I'm handing out free "Stu's Spy" pins to those arriving earliest, until supplies run out. The last word "They criticized Panthers coach John Fox for play-calling at the Super Bowl," says WIP's Steve Trevelise, "when it was really Justin Timber-lake who should have gone for two." There will be my many Editor's note: Stu means few friends and some busines associates, but my request is that you, My Favorite Reader, attend. If The Column has given you a laugh, or an insight, or a thrill, over the years, "pay me back" by coming around to say hello. (Or give me a lap dance, if you happen to be a stripper.) It would be more "real" for me that way. You'll get to meet some of the characters you've read about over the years, and we'll raise extra money for the Children's Charity.

(You'll also get to meet the "new Stu," my pint-sized Mini-Me You also get to ask editor Zack Stalberg why the ink still rubs off on your fingers and why we print so many incoherent letters from Donna Di Giacomo and Abe Krieger). If you hear, see or know something you want to share with e-mail Stu Bykofsky at stu spyphillynews.com or dia I up the StuSpyline: 215-854-5963. For recent columns, go to http:go.philly.combyko. SEE STU ROASTED: Page 47 South Philly's David Brenner gags 68. Rosa Parks remains seated at 91.

Alice Cooper rocks 56. Dan Quayle potatoes 57. Lawrence Taylor snorts 45. Oscar De La Hoya knocks out 31. Parks Send e-mail to grayephillynews.com PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS PAGE 39 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2004.