QUIBBLES & BITS

. . . Writer Mikal Gilmore displays a bad case of Madonnamania in his gushing cover story in Rolling Stone: She “has inspired speculation in Hollywood that Madonna may become one of the most bankable new actresses of the decade.” Ummmm. Potential investors should check out ticket sales of the fading-fast “Who’s That Girl” (after two weeks, a super-measly $5.2 million). Not to mention “Shanghai Surprise”--which died fast with only $2 million.

. . . Speaking of “Who’s That Girl,” Outtakes wanted to talk with director James Foley to see how he felt about the largely dismal notices. But Foley--who also did the bombs “At Close Range” and “Reckless”--is in the Soviet Union. No, he wasn’t exiled to Siberia. Said a Warner Bros. rep, “He’s just vacationing in Moscow.”

. . . Columbia opened its Peter Falk romantic caper “Happy New Year” so suddenly--and with such little fanfare--that they seem to have overlooked the fact that the press kit was penned when the pic was in another edited form. Press materials mention color flashbacks, set in Palm Beach, and B&W; scenes of New York. But “Happy New Year” has a chronological storyline, all of it in color.

. . . We had to repeat it! In the current Smothers Brothers act--now playing in Northern California cities--Tommy is promoting a new political cause: Condoms for Contras !