Simon Cowell announced yesterday that he will use his considerable powers to help "Britain's Got Talent" runner-up Susan Boyle launch a prosperous singing career. His rep says Cowell can't wait to work with the Scottish warbler.

Boyle is recovering from a bout of anxiety that landed her in a London hospital Sunday night.

Cowell's rep says all Boyle needs is rest: "Provided she's given a few days and then allowed to be as normal as possible, she should be fine. All she wants to do is sing."

50 CENT MIFFED OVER MANSION EXPENSES

HARTFORD, Conn. — Rapper 50 Cent said yesterday he never would have bought a Connecticut mansion once owned by boxer Mike Tyson had he realized it would require millions in repairs and renovations.

The rapper testified in his lawsuit against BVH Integrated Services that the firm, hired to inspect the mansion in 2003 when he was buying it from Tyson's ex-wife, estimated repairs at about $500,000. But 50 Cent ended up spending about $6 million on repairs and renovations.

EMINEM STUNT STAGED, MTV WRITER SAYS

NEW YORK — The head writer for the MTV Movie Awards has settled the debate: The stunt involving Sacha Baron Cohen and Eminem at the MTV Movie Awards was completely planned.

Scott Aukerman said in his blog that the incident was staged and rehearsed in advance. At Sunday's award show, Baron Cohen appeared in character as gay fashionista Bruno and fell on top of Eminem after being suspended above the crowd. The rapper appeared to find little humor in the stunt and stormed out.

Speculation is rampant over what was and wasn't real. Baron Cohen, Eminem and MTV have yet to comment.

MADONNA TO PLAY TEL AVIV CONCERT

JERUSALEM — The Material Girl is going to the Holy Land. Madonna will play in Tel Aviv on Sept. 1 as the last stop on her Sticky and Sweet world tour.

Madonna isn't Jewish, but is a student of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism. She made a pilgrimage to Israel in 2004 to visit grave sites of Jewish sages.

CONAN DEBUTS TO GLOWING RATINGS

NEW YORK — Conan O'Brien has reason to smile after his debut as "Tonight" show host.

His first Nielsen report showed a 7.1 rating and 17 audience share in the nation's biggest media markets. That means that more people checked out O'Brien's show than watched David Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS and ABC's "Nightline" combined.