A"Dateline: NBC" crew got eggs-actly the ambiance it was after last week at the Key's Cafe in Roseville. They wanted quiet so they could record the sound of eggs cooking for a segment on the inconsistent enforcement of a regulation that requires eggs to be kept in refrigerated areas. "Everybody - 65-70 people - had to be quiet," said Jean Hunn, who co-owns this locale with her brother Roy Hunn. It was like the shooting of an E.F. Hutton commercial. "Everything had to be quiet. They turned off all the vents and fans, all the air conditioning units, all our exhaust systems so they could hear the eggs. Then they listened to the eggs. It was very funny to us. I have no idea how this is going to come out," said Jean Hunn, whose eggs are cool. Mark Falstad photographed the eggs, Hunn said, while Heidi Hesse handled the sound bites. They recorded the sound of eggs in bowls and on the grill for the better part of six hours. The crew stuck around for breakfast - all had eggs in one form or another, including former WCCOer and now Dateliner Steve Eckert, a Key's regular. Breakfast cook Mark Ballus told Hunn he would have been less stressed if the crew had been from a local cable outfit. Well into the morning's shooting, Ballus said, I've had IT! Don't know whether IT came with eggs on the side.

`Ellen' finds fan, mimic

For a moment, Ellen Degeneres wasn't the funniest person shopping in a Beverly Hills clothing store. ABC's "Ellen" was spied at Barneys New York by Tiffany Wilson, owner of Minneapolis' V.I.P. salon. Wilson, who was vacationing in Smell-A, malodorous L.A., was examining wares in the exclusive area of Barneys when she spotted Degeneres, hair styled to stick up everywhichway and feet in her trademark Hush Puppies. Wilson tipped off her cousin Courtney Wilson, "That's Ellen." Degeneres looked up and gave Tiff "a very, very pleasant smile, kind of letting us know it was she." To jar Courtney's memory, Tiff lapsed into some Ellenesque silliness - dancing, slapping her tiny behind and singing "and booty slap, and booty slap. She did that booty--slap routine on some music awards show." Oh. "We happened to gain eye contact again, and Ellen burst into laughter," said Tiff. "She was really personable, just cool."

Jackie's a hushing bride

City Council Prez Jackie Cherryhomes was observed shopping for a wedding dress at Bloomies. She hit many Mall of America stores that day. "I'm not going to talk about where I'm getting the wedding dress from. I want to keep some of this stuff private," she said. "It's planned. It's happening. This is a very personal thing for me." Come on! Will the dress be strapless? White? Long? Give me something! "Something long," she conceded. "I'm a grown-up, and I'm going to have a nice dress." City Hall dwellers who believe that Cherryhomes has been grumpy of late, please note the "It's happening" quote. Perhaps she's not being friendly because she doesn't want to give anyone an opening to pry for details. The council prez is having trouble accepting that there is some curiosity about her nups with attorney F. Clayton Tyler - and not just from me.

Did it slip Arne's mind? Cherryhomes was more chatty about Gov. Arne Carlson's unilateral decision to send state troopers in to help Minneapolis manage its crime wave. Four days before Arne announced he was sending in the Big Boys and Girls, the governor didn't tip his hand while seated behind Cherryhomes at a State Theatre performance of Smokey Joe's Cafe. She said Carlson "didn't say a word" about his concern that Minneapolis' image is being damaged by the current crime spree. "We talked about the weather. We talked about his vacation," said Cherryhomes. She applauded acting Police Chief Lucy Gerold for her handling of a tough week in the news while Chief Robert Olson was on vacation.

Kat finds Wendy purrrty This 332-TIPS mewsing: "Hi C.J., Kat Woman. Funny you should write about Wendy Lubovich, because I just met her at a recent very happening bash in Hudson, Wisconsin. She was very nice. She looked beautiful in a hip, short, black dress. She was really friendly, fun to talk to. And we started talking shopping, and I told her how great the county market in Hudson was; so she might start shopping there. So tell the guys who called and asked about her that she looked fabulous. I love your column. This is Katherine Lenaburg, Kat Woman Productions (a video production company). Thanks, bye."

Boffo baby news

Tyler James Harris is only a month old and already he's a movie star. He cries, he flies, he naps during photo shoots. Jimmy Jam and Lisa Harris produced a darling baby boy and an incredible birth announcement. Wow.