Mark McGrath Co-host

MARK McGRATH has taken a regular gig. Yesterday, the SUGAR RAY front-man signed on to be the permanent co-host of the show, Extra. He'll join DAYNA DEVON in presenting celebrity, entertainment, and pop culture news on a daily basis. McGrath said he still plans to work with his rock band by fitting performances and tours into his TV schedule. His debut will be on Monday, September 13th. Check your local listing for times.

When ROB THOMAS finally releases his solo album, don't expect it to sound like MATCHBOX TWENTY. Earlier this week at a Latin Grammy event, Rob told us that he's doing everything he can to make the songs and the music on the album sound completely different from what he's done with Matchbox. That means he's not recording with the standard lineup of guitars, bass and drums.

Congratulations to PHIL COLLINS -- his wife ORIANNE is expecting the couple's second child this November. Phil says the baby will be a boy, just like their first child, NICHOLAS, who's now three-and-a-half. This will be Phil's fifth child -- he had two with his first wife, ANDREA, and one with his second wife, JILL.

Trash-talking: "American Idol" judge SIMON COWELL and reality TV star SHARON OSBOURNE. Both outspoken hosts --who are set to be judges on Simon's latest show which searches for an 'older' idol-- have been trashing each other in the British tabloids this week. Besides getting the PR started for the show, called "X Factor," it's amusing to read.

In one article, Sharon called Simon --quote-- "a pompous little bleep who walks like he has a stick stuck up his bleep."

The comment may be related to Simon calling KELLY OSBOURNE "ugly" last year and claiming that OZZY staged his near-fatal motor-bike crash to give his duet with Kelly some much-needed publicity.

And the beat goes on.