Judge gives Howard Stern rebuke

Ruling that Howard Stern couldn't count XM's nearly 10 million subscribers in figuring his bonus, a judge has scotched his hopes for a $300 million payday from Sirius XM.

According to his show's Twitter feed, Stern was "really bummed" by the decision.

More bummed than having to spend the summer working with Howie Mandel?

The judgment dismissed Stern's suit "with prejudice," which means he can't bring another suit based on the same set of facts.

Stern will probably appeal.

Great expectations

London's Daily Mail was all over it and Buckingham Palace is in a dither because Pippa Middleton, the nonroyal younger sister of the Duchess of Cornwall, was photographed at a Parisian costume party featuring a man in a dog collar, a dwarf and a nearly naked nun.

Sounds like one of those after-concert bashes Queen threw in the 1970s.

"A lot of the world considers that she [Pippa] is royal, and by association what she does has an influence on the royal family," said Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine.

The photo editor at the Daily Mail, Paul Silva, recently said that up to 400 paparazzi shots of Pippa cross his desk every day.

Tattbits

Kevin Kline and Meryl Streep are having a one-night-stand.

The Public Theater said Tuesday that Streep and Kline will combine on June 18 to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Shakespeare in the Park series playing Romeo and Juliet. They're both about the right age to have played the star-crossed teen lovers 50 years ago.

Al Pacino will also be honored for his work with the Public, which includes his playing Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" in 2010.

Tickets begin at $1,500.

A lot of people have daddy issues, but Eddie Van Halen blames his father for his long struggle with alcohol.

In the May issue of Esquire, Eddie said "the whole alcoholism thing" developed when he asked his dad how to combat his nerves when playing music in front of people.

His father gave him a shot of vodka and a cigarette.

Angelina Jolie is getting a promotion.

The United Nations refugee agency has elevated Angelina from a goodwill ambassador to a special envoy, a role that will see her represent the organization at the diplomatic level to governments and diplomats.

It is the first time the U.N. refugee agency has named a special envoy.

Since the only good ideas in Hollywood are ones that can be licensed from existing properties, Deadline.com says Universal Pictures is developing a feature film based on the 1970s hit series "The Rockford Files." Vince Vaughn will star in the role made famous by James Garner.

The $412 check that DC Comics wrote some 70+ years ago to acquire Superman from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster has sold for $160,000.

The check is made out to both men. It includes a line item for $130 showing that DC paid for full ownership and rights to the Man of Steel. But a legal dispute over creator's rights to the character, which has generated billions in revenue, is far from settled.

Still, Tattle hopes each and every one of you will one day make such a lucrative investment. n

—Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Email gensleh@phillynews.com.