BUZZ FROM TV CRITICS PRESS TOUR.

Byline: David Kronke

THE REPORTERS ARE THE STORY: Standard protocol for reality shows has fame-hungry nobodies applying for positions that will ultimately, even if they don't even realize it, humiliate them. For Bravo's reality series ``Tabloid Wars,'' about a few months in the life of editors and reporters at the New York Daily News, however, its participants were informed that they would be playing along.

``It was decided by people well above me that they had agreed with Bravo that on a certain date, cameras would be in the newsroom for several months,'' Greg Gittrich, deputy metro editor at the newspaper, told reporters Thursday at the semiannual TV press tour.

``If we had questions, we were told we should not ask those above us, but ask Bravo,'' Gittrich continued. As those in the media are well familiar with the usual tactics of reality-TV producers, Gittrich conceded, ``There was initial apprehension on the behalf of the vast majority of the people in the newsroom.''

Reporters spoke to the series' producers, Belisa Balaban and Ted Skillman, and had most of their fears assuaged and, in fact, grew to trust their documentarians.

``Our biggest concern was the potential for outing our sources,'' Gittrich explained. ``Not intentionally, but through some screw-up, perhaps the camera catching a name on a computer screen or overhearing a reporter on the phone with a police source.''

Bravo's producers agreed to shut off the cameras whenever a reporter told them he or she was about to speak with a confidential source; editors and reporters were allowed to view rough cuts of episodes in order to confirm that no confidential information got leaked.

``In the end, we agreed to do it,'' Gittrich said, ``because every day, we go out and ask people to tell us their story.So it didn't seem fair to say, `But I'm not going to talk to you.' ''

Gossip columnist George Rush discovered that the cameras were an unexpected asset. He noted that cameras helped lure Leonardo Di Caprio at the premiere of his film ``The Aviator.'' ``Though Leo was flummoxed,'' Rush said wryly, ``as to why the cameras were turned on us rather than Leo.''

KISS AND TELL: Gene Simmons is the very model of rebellion as a commodity: At his press conference plugging his upcoming A&E reality series ``Gene Simmons Family Jewels,'' he paused to pull from his wallet and show those assembled his KISS Visa card.

``Family Jewels'' is a sort of ``The Osbournes'' redux, only the patriarch is blustery rather than befuddled.

``When I wave at you, I want some (expletive) claps!'' he bellowed at the reporters.

The show portrays Simmons introducing his 17-year-old son Nick to scantily clad women and telling them Nick's in a rock band.

Nick claimed no aspirations to rock stardom. ``They say greatness skips a generation, but I think that's because the other generation helps too much,'' he said of his father.

Conversely, the series depicts the man who boasts of bedding as many groupies as breaths he's taken fretting anxiously over his 14-year-old daughter Sophie's short skirts and boyfriends.

``There's a definite double standard with Gene and other women,'' admitted Shannon Tweed, Simmons' girlfriend of 21 years.

``I have no problem with being a virgin for a very long time,'' offered daughter Sophie.

``Whatever my daughter wants,'' Simmons declared.

``I'll never be a groupie; I'll never be one of those girls,'' vowed Sophie, her voice dripping with disdain.

The series also captures copious debates between Simmons and Tweed over marriage; she wants it; he, not so much.

One reporter asked Simmons why he's so resistant to tying the knot; he dismissed the question, telling the journalist, ``You're a woman!'' Women, of course, being the only ones who want to get married.

``Even if he changed his mind, he couldn't do it; otherwise, he'd look bad,'' said Tweed, who clapped her hand over Simmons' mouth several times during the press conference.

THE ABCs OF MR. T: The ``T'' in Mr. T stands for many things. Many of them, it turns out, that don't even begin with the letter.

Among the words Mr. T told assembled journalists covering the semiannual television press tour in Pasadena: Tender. Tough. On time, baby. Temperature (``I bring the heat''). Being nice. Manners.

Polite.

Working hard. Loving thy neighbor. Feeding the hungry.

And so on.

Mr. T has traded his persona as a pummeling tough guy for a job as a self-help guru on his upcoming TV Land series based on his catch phrase, ``I Pity the Fool,'' in which he offers advice to the beleaguered. He has also traded in his iconic gold chains, which he said he quit wearing after seeing the devastated poor during Hurricane Katrina (``I put away the gold to show that I have a heart of gold''), for a smart charcoal suit and purple tie, accessorized with white socks and sneakers.

``My show ain't no `Dr. Phil,' '' Mr. T boasted, mimicking a guest on that show by mock-rubbing his eyes and weeping. `` `What's wrong with me, Dr. Phil?' `You're a fool -- that's what's wrong with you!' ''

Mr. T was asked precisely why he pitied the fool.

``Because you don't want to beat up the fool,'' he answered. ``You got to give them another chance because they don't know no better.''

3000 REASONS: Andre Benjamin continues to add to his multimedia empire. The Grammy-winning artist (OutKast's ``Speakerboxx/The Love Below'' was named 2004's Album of the Year), actor (``Be Cool,'' ``Four Brothers'') and co-creator of the upcoming film ``Idlewild'' is adding yet another title to his resume: executive producer and star of Cartoon Network's upcoming series ``Class of 3000.''

Co-created by Benjamin with Tom Lynch (The N's ``South of Nowhere''), ``Class of 3000'' concerns Sonny Bridges (Benjamin), a successful musician and winner of a Nobel Prize (three countries went to war to use one of his songs as their national anthem; he settled the dispute). Disenchanted with fame, he returns to his hometown of Atlanta and teaches music at a performing arts school.

The series was initially intended for Adult Swim, Cartoon Network's quirkier late-night personality.

Each episode will feature a new song from Benjamin, who is also creating the soundtrack for ``Idlewild,'' a film he's starring in.

On the series, Benjamin says, ``You'll hear all kinds of music -- classical, country, bebop ...''

``All in one song,'' adds Michael Ouweleen, Cartoon Network's senior vice president of programming and development. ``It's a celebration every time a new song from Andre comes in, but I'm terrified; I don't want it to leak. I tell people, `I'll play it for you, but afterward, I'm duct-taping it to my chest.' ''

OutKast's music, an ebullient mash-up of multiple genres, befits Benjamin's wide array of inspirations. ``I haven't been schooled for music,'' he says. ``I don't read music, but I can make music.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Care to share a meal with Gene Simmons and his ``Family Jewels.'' You can when the A&E reality series premieres.

(2) no caption (Mr. T)