`NEWSRADIO' TALKS WITH LOVITZ.

Byline: - Keith Marder

Rumors abound as to the identity of the actor who will replace multitalented Phil Hartman, who played Bill McNeal on NBC sitcom ``NewsRadio.''

Hartman was killed by his wife in an apparent murder-suicide on May 28 in their Encino home.

A published report Tuesday said that Hartman's friend Jon Lovitz, who has appeared on ``NewsRadio'' twice already as different characters, is the top choice of executive producers.

Lovitz, who originally recommended Hartman to ``Saturday Night Live'' executive producer Lorne Michaels, has been approached, according to the report.

It cited Lovitz's representatives - which include Brillstein-Grey, the production company for ``NewsRadio - as the source.

Other names that have surfaced include Patrick Warburton, who played Elaine's boyfriend Puddy on ``Seinfeld,'' and Jeffrey Tambor, who played Hank ``Hey Now'' Kingsley on ``The Larry Sanders Show.''

Tambor, however, has been attached to a sitcom starring Melanie Griffith, which may be picked up as a midseason replacement.

One person close to the show said that the writers had just begun to meet and no decision has been made yet on a replacement for Hartman.