`HERCULES' LYRICIST, TALENTED FRIENDS JOIN FOR AIDS GALA.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

This weekend, Tony Award-winning lyricist David Zippel, who received his first Oscar nomination this year for ``Go the Distance'' from Disney's ``Hercules,'' will take a break from post-production on Disney's upcoming ``Mulan'' to host ``Go the Distance ... An Evening With David Zippel and Friends.'' The all-star fund-raiser at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y will benefit the Family AIDS Network and will feature the talents of Lucie Arnaz, Barbara Cook, Judy Kuhn and James Naughton.

As is typical of Disney's animated offerings, there will be a lot of songs in the upcoming ``Mulan,'' but Eddie Murphy will be limited to providing comic relief. Zippel, who wrote the tunes for the June release, considers that a shame. ``It would have been fun to have him sing,'' he says. Murphy voices the character of Mushu, an ancestral dragon, in the tale of a young Chinese woman who masquerades as a man to fight in her country's army. Ming Na-Wen and B.D. Wong play the leads. Their characters warble several rousing numbers, but Zippel reveals their singing is actually done by Lea Salonga and Donny Osmond, respectively.

Trial in sight

An April 15 date has been tentatively set for the Ennis Cosby murder trial.

It was expected that the trial of Mikail Markhasev - the Ukrainian immigrant who stands accused of killing the 27-year-old son of Bill and Camille Cosby in the early morning hours of Jan. 16, 1997 - would begin this past January.

However, the L.A. District Attorney's office informs this column that one of Markhasev's two attorneys has been tied up on another murder case.

The Cosby family has been closed-mouthed about Markhasev's trial and doesn't intend to comment about the case until the judicial process has been completed.

However, Bill and Camille are expected to be on hand for at least part of the trial.

Incidentally, Cosby is still sending out thank-you notes for the thousands upon thousands of expressions of sympathy the family received following the senseless killing of their son.

On the job

Last Friday, as Tommy Lee was posting bail following his arrest on charges of felony child and spousal abuse, spouse Pamela Anderson was back at work on her upcoming syndicated ``VIP'' series.

Writer-producer Jonathan Lawton, who's plotting the sexy (surprise!) action drama with the former ``Baywatch'' actress, notes that the caper is slated for a September debut. ``We have to move fast,'' he says of the series, in which she'll play the head of a bodyguard agency. ``We're hiring writers, putting the production together. We'll shoot from late spring through summer.''

Not the same old same old

Don't expect repetition of standard Tinsel Town lore when E! Entertainment's ``Mysteries & Scandals'' show begins airing Monday. The series team has some surprises in store for viewers as it re-examines Hollywood's most notorious events. For instance, ``Mysteries & Scandals'' will let us know that, contrary to the commonly told story, Jayne Mansfield was not decapitated. The suspicious behavior of Marilyn Monroe's maid the night of Monroe's death may show that the actress was murdered and how. And, despite what people have believed for generations, the death of starlet Virginia Rappe during a wild party with silent-screen comedy king Fatty Arbuckle was not attributable to injury from a Coke bottle or piece of ice - but to Rappe's fifth illegal abortion. Michael Danahy, who's producing the show that's hosted by A.J. Benza, tells us they didn't set out to become debunkers, but as things have turned out, staff research has yielded some fresh information on vintage cases.

``Stars were getting into trouble with sex and drugs then, just like now,'' notes Danahy. ``The stories sound current. Only the names change.''

Foot note

Peter O'Toole, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof were among the notables in attendance when Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley broke Cliff Richards' long-standing record for most consecutive shows at London's Wembley Arena over the weekend, tapping a total of 21 performances.

In honor of his feet feat, the twin towers over the arena were lit, and the flags of Flatley's ancestry - America and Ireland - were flown. Not surprisingly, the flying of an Irish flag over a London arena got plenty of attention. In fact, O'Toole was heard announcing, ``What a great day for the Irish'' - and he greeted Flatley backstage by saying, ``Congratulations on your record, and on the flags!''

With reports by Stephanie DuBois.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1) Eddie Murphy

Breathing life into ``Mulan'' dragon

(2) Pamela Anderson

No jail break

(3) Michael Flatley

Honored for dance feat