Wallowing . . .

Director Penelope Spheeris (“The Decline of Western Civilization,” “Suburbia”) is set to direct “Thunder and Mud,” a pay-per-view event that will feature “top stars of female mud wrestling pitted against each other in competition, intercut with live performances of some of the rock scene’s hottest underground heavy metal bands.” Jessica Hahn will host.

Won’t critics condemn all this as sleazy T&A--especially; from a female film maker?

“The special will be approached in a light-hearted way,” Spheeris said. “In fact, what attracted me to the project in the first place was its very funny script. We want to give viewers a sense that this event is happening in front of their eyes, in their own living rooms--without tracking mud onto their carpets, of course.”

“Mud,” produced by IRS Media, will be taped later this month at L.A.’s Park Plaza Hotel for November airing on pay-per-view channels around the country.