LAKE WOBEGON WOES

They used to kill the messenger bearing bad news. But so far they’ve missed Minneapolis Star & Trib TV critic Nick Coleman.

Minnesota Public Radio was in the midst of its Pledge Week--usually a time of begging for alms--when Coleman revealed that “Lake Wobegon Days” author Garrison Keillor, host of public radio’s “Prairie Home Companion,” earned a not-insubstantial salary of $171,186 (for the year ending June 30, 1984).

Coleman also was the one who broke the news of Keillor’s plans to wed a Danish divorcee who was an exchange student at his high school when he was a senior. As a result, his longtime housemate--who produced his radio program--has, said Coleman, “gone under deep cover.” Surmised Coleman: “It wasn’t a good week for her. She lost her house and job and lover. . . .”

He said the paper has received “dozens and dozens of letters--many of them vitriolic and disturbed” from Keillor fans.

He hasn’t heard from Keillor--a former drinking buddy. “It’s been two years since he’s even returned a phone call.”

Keillor has been in L.A. hosting live broadcasts of his show at Claremont Colleges. He’s also known by Outtakes to be talking with producers about bringing Lake Wobegon to the screen. Said Coleman: “I can see it already, Chevy Chase starring in ‘National Lampoon’s Lake Wobegon Days.’ ”