TINSELTALK

This is a feature of Outtakes devoted to the mysterious machinations of Hollywood.

Columbia did quite a job priming the pump for the May 16 opening of Blake Edwards’ supposedly slapstick comedy, “A Fine Mess,” with Howie Mandel and Ted Danson. Except that it opens Aug. 8.

It originally was set for last Christmas. Then May 16. But research showed the pic “skewed” to a younger audience--so Columbia re-re-scheduled “to take advantage of kids being out of school,” according to a Col spokeswoman.

But it will lose the advantage of mucho publicity hustle by Hanson & Schwam. The firm paired Mandel and Danson as hosts on MTV (May 6) and “Friday Night Videos” (May 9). Howie is set for a People cover June 15, is featured inside this month’s Mademoiselle, has a spot on “The Tonight Show” in early June and other plug appointments. Danson has recent covers on US and Sunday Woman--but those on McCall’s and Woman’s Day have been salvaged with postponements. Alas, print ads for TV Guide, Rolling Stone and others couldn’t be held back.

Meanwhile, a music video has been pulled off MTV, etc., and an album release delayed. But the title single by the Temptations is already out--at this writing, No. 76 with a bullet on Billboard’s black chart.

Losing all that momentum has to hurt: “Of course it hurts,” said a publicist, “but it’s also to be expected.”