NEWS LITE : STYLISH BRIDAL GOWN COPIED.

It could have been you.

A women's store in Hingham, Mass., has an inspired display designed to sell cheaper knock-offs of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's stunning wedding gown, rumored to cost $40,000.

To clinch the fantasy (``It could have been you''), Crossing Main owner Lisa McCarthy fitted a headless mannequin with a copy of The Dress and paired it with a life-size cardboard cutout of John Kennedy Jr. that captures The Kiss he bestowed upon his bride when they stepped out of that quaint church on Cumberland Island off Georgia, united before God and curious locals. McCarthy says demand for the gown is so popular, she'll include the same display in two of her other stores.

How are the newlyweds holding up amid the crush of paparazzi? Not well. Last weekend, Junior growled at a photog when cameras followed him and Carolyn to a restaurant in TriBeCa, where the couple left their dog, Friday, leashed outside.

In a stunning show of humanitarianism, a paparazzo began petting the pooch when it began to whimper. Bad move. Kennedy howled at the camerawoman, reportedly snarling: ``If you guys are going to be inhumane to my wife, you shouldn't pet my dog.''

Down Kitty!

Audience member sues

`Cats' show

A New York City theatergoer has her dander up, claiming she was pawed and humiliated by a fur-costumed actor during a performance of ``Cats.''

Evelyn Amato, 31, is suing the Broadway production for $12 million.

Amato said Friday the mauling occurred in January 1996 as she watched the show from a seat near the aisle with her fiance and six members of his family. Her lawyer identified the actor as David Hibbard, who played Rum Tum Tugger.

``I think he spotted me from the stage because he came all the way around to stand right in front of me,'' Amato said.

``Then he came toward me and grabbed me by both wrists and he pulled me to my feet very roughly'' a couple of times despite her protests, she said.

After that, Amato said, the actor climbed onto the armrests of her seat, ``crouched down and started shaking his hips and almost putting his groin in my face and saying `Boom! Boom! Boom!' in a sexual kind of manner.''

Hibbard then grabbed her head and messed up her hair as the audience laughed uproariously, she said.

``He was an inch away from my face with his groin and I didn't think that was amusing,'' Amato said.

The suit accuses Hibbard; the Cats Company; the Schubert Organization, the show's producers; Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical's composer, and others of assault, battery, negligence and infliction of emotional distress.

Hibbard could not be reached. Other defendants refused to comment.

Costner the father 'fesses up

Now Kevin Costner admits that, yes, he's the daddy of baby Liam. People Mag says the mommy is Bridget Rooney, owner of a horse ranch near Aspen, Colo., and a niece of Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney. They met in Aspen in late 1995, and, well, one thing led to another. A source says Costner intends to do ``the stand-up thing'' and take full responsibility, financial and otherwise. Although Costner and Rooney are no longer romantically involved, they are said to be trying to work out an amicable relationship. Bridget is reportedly spending most of her time with family in Philadelphia.

Seigfried and Roy mark 8 years as duo

It's no illusion: Siegfried and Roy are starting their eighth year as headliners at The Mirage.

The tiger-taming duo reach the milestone today.

The illusionists have performed 3,134 shows at the Las Vegas hotel-casino over the past seven years, drawing sell-out audiences that totaled 4.71 million people. The shows have grossed about $350 million, manager Bernie Yuman said.

Siegfried and Roy, who began performing in Las Vegas 25 years ago, are also known internationally for their work in preserving rare white tigers and lions.

`Family Matters' leaving TGIF to take CBS slot

``Family Matters,'' the cornerstone of ABC's TGIF block of kidcoms, was stolen away by CBS late Friday afternoon.

That's right, somebody wants Urkel (series star Jaleel White).

In a major, and shocking, development, Steve Urkel and the gang will move over to CBS in the fall of 1997. The deal, which is rumored to be worth about $70 million, is for 22 episodes of the popular show and also includes a future production deal for Miller-Boyett-Warren Productions, the creators of ``Family Matters.''

ABC would not comment other than to confirm the loss of the show and to express surprise. ``Family Matters'' has been on ABC since Sept. 22, 1989 and has been in the 8 p.m. Friday night spot for the past six years.

``This is exciting for us on several levels,'' said CBS entertainment president Leslie Moonves. ``First, `Family Matters' represents the finest in family entertainment and is the perfect foundation upon which to build a new franchise evening. Second, I can't think of a better team in the business than Miller-Boyett-Warren to help us add more quality programming to such a franchise.

He went on to talk about being happy to work again with the people at Warner Bros.

``Family Matters'' is a comedy, which is very popular with kids and teens, about a middle-class family trying to co-exist in an overcrowded house.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) A cardboard cutout of John Kennedy Jr. kisses the hand of a mannequin wearing a reproduction of his bride's wedding dress.

Associated Press

(2) Jaleel White

Taking Urkel to a new home