NEWS LITE : THUMBS UP ON CRITICS' SPECIAL.

Film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert finally exit their movie screening rooms to host their own special tonight at 8 on CBS, Channel 2, from the Pantages Theatre. In ``The Siskel & Ebert Interviews'' they speak with Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg and Brad Pitt. Hanks recalls how he felt the first time he won an Oscar and how he reacted to Siskel and Ebert's review of ``Splash.'' Streep, interviewed at alma mater Yale Drama School by fellow alum Siskel, tells of the pressure she felt as she was always picked to play lead roles. Steven Spielberg sheds some light on how he might have altered the way he has portrayed some of the characters in his films, and Brad Pitt, in his first formal television interview, tells how his family instilled honesty and what went on behind the love scenes with Geena Davis in ``Thelma and Louise.''

Trying to express herself

When Madonna granted an interview to a Budapest rag recently, she had no idea what she was getting into. The Maternal Girl was in Hungary filming ``Evita'' when she chitchatted with the newspaper Blikk. It went thus: The paper asked a question in Hungarian, then it was translated into English for Ms. M, then the answer was translated into Hungarian for the mag. Madonna's response was translated AGAIN into English at USA Today's behest. The result was a comedy of errors. A sample:

Blikk: Madonna, Budapest says hello with arms that are spread-eagled. Did you have a visit here that was agreeable? Are you in good odor?

Madonna: Thank you for saying these compliments (holds up hands). Please stop with taking sensationalist photographs until I have removed my garments for all to see (laughs). This is a joke I have made.

Blikk: Madonna, let's cut toward the hunt: Are you a bold hussy-woman that feasts on men who are tops?

Madonna: Yes, yes, this is certainly something that brings to the surface my longings. In America it is not considered to be mentally ill when a woman advances on her prey in a discotheque setting with hardy cocktails present.

Blikk: Is this how you met Carlos, your love-servant who is reputed? . . . Were you dating many other people in your bed at the same time?

Madonna: No, he was the only one I was dating in my bed then, so it is a scientific fact that the baby was made in my womb using him. But as regards these questions, enough! I am a woman and not a test mouse! . . .

Blikk: OK, here's a question from left space: What was your book ``Slut'' about?

Madonna: It was called ``Sex,'' my book.

Blikk: Not in Hungary. Here it was called ``Slut'' . . .

`Twister' tosses stars around

The awesome special effects in the flick ``Twister'' took a toll on its stars, Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton; they emerged dazed, battered and blind. ``Fortunately, I'm oven-tempered for flexible strength,'' Paxton joked to Entertainment Weekly. In one incident, Hunt and Paxton were temporarily blinded after a day of filming in intensely bright close-up lights used to make the background look dark and stormy. A few days' R&R while wearing sunglasses cleared that up. In another scene, Hunt repeatedly banged her head on a low wooden bridge. She was even slammed in the head by a car door. ``I love Helen to death, but you know, she can also be a little bit clumsy sometimes,'' director Jan De Bont said. ``Clumsy?'' Hunt retorted. ``The guy burnt my retinas, but I'm clumsy.'' In a bizarre coincidence, a ``Twister'' movie audience in Ohio got the shock of their lives when part of the theater ceiling fell in. One moviegoer was injured in the leg and the theater was evacuated.

Sunny days bring warmth to tips

The Journal of Applied Social Psychology reports that if a room service waiter tells a guest that it is raining outside, his tip will average 19 percent; if he says the weather is sunny, he'll get 24 percent.

Florida pageant greets granny

Rachel Beaty, 82, will be the oldest contestant in the Mrs. Florida pageant next month, when she'll vie with 39 other women of average age 35. It's the prelim to the Mrs. America and Mrs. World contests. Beaty, Mrs. Boca Raton, is a trim Size 6 with clear skin and big blue eyes. After burying two husbands, she met and married retired insurance exec and widower Bill Beaty in 1992. ``It doesn't really matter whether I win or lose,'' she said. ``I just happened to see the ad, and I said, `I think I could go for that.' Of course, I could use the $75,000 prize.'' She added: ``I had my sorrows, but I've been happy ever since I was a child. Life brings you good things when you look for good things.''

Wedding bells near for De Niro?

Robert De Niro, 52, appears on the verge of marriage. Last weekend at an L.A. 70th birthday party for Don Rickles, the movie star introduced Grace Hightower, 29, as his wife-to-be.

Doggone it Where is he?

Lost: one hefty dog. Offered: one hefty reward. Call David Carradine. No questions asked.

Carradine's dog, Rocky, disappeared near Malibu on May 4 while the ``Kung Fu'' star was at the Cannes Film Festival in France, his girlfriend said.

``He's crushed, just absolutely crushed,'' Marina Anderson said Monday.

She said Carradine is offering a ``hefty'' reward for the return of the 7-month-old, 100-pound Bernese mountain dog.

Thief in hot water with Puck

The goose is cooked for a man accused of posing as a chef to rob Wolfgang Puck's office on New Year's Eve.

Clyde Herman Thomas, 27, was arrested in Santa Monica and booked for investigation of armed robbery.

Authorities had approached Thomas on Monday, but he ran away. About 90 minutes later, a police dog alerted officers to a cellular telephone in the bushes, and Thomas was discovered hiding above in a pine tree, said Sgt. Ray Cooper.

Police believe Thomas was one of two men who posed as chefs in white uniforms and hats to invade the office of the chef-to-the-stars. Puck was away at the time.

The armed men ordered employees to lie on the floor and escaped with an unknown amount of cash, but left the money behind during a police chase.

MBA leads to Clinton tee

Paul Peck, the guy who came up with $76,000 to play golf with President Clinton at an auction for Chelsea's school, credits a Philly institution for giving him the wherewithal to finance the links date. ``I got a Wharton MBA back in the '60s, and there was a philosophy of doing something to help your community,'' said the computer systems manager with the U.S. Customs Service. ``But they also taught you how to make money. I made some very good investments.'' No golf date yet. He plays in the low 90s, the prez in the low 80s.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1) The filming of ``Twister'' left Bill Paxton an d Helen Hunt a bit battered.

Associated Press

(2) David Carradine:Missing pooch

(3) Madonna:Nix on Blikk