Anna Nicole’s ex convicted

Los Angeles — An ex-boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith has been convicted of making criminal threats against her.

Mark Hatten, 35, was found guilty of the felony Monday after two days of deliberation by a Van Nuys Superior Court jury.

The jury also convicted Hatten of two other felony counts, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and battery. Those counts involved an altercation with Smith’s neighbor, Rene Navarro.

Hatten is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11 and faces up to eight years and eight months in state prison.

Liza Minnelli hits back

New York — The punches keep flying in the smackdown between Liza Minnelli and her estranged husband, David Gest.

Gest, 50, who filed a $10 mil lawsuit against Liza last month, accusing her of beating him mercilessly during their 16-month marriage, has been hit with a countersuit alleging that Gest stole money from Liza, the Smoking Gun Web site reports.

Filed in New York State Supreme Court, the suit — which describes Liza as “a uniquely talented actress, singer, dancer and entertainer” — alleges that Gest, who managed the 57-year-old star, took money beyond his 10 percent fee. Even worse, it claims that Gest “began refusing projects unless they included himself.” Liza portrays Gest as a prima donna who “began holding himself out as the ‘star.”‘ She’s seeking at least $2 million.

Gest’s attorney has denied the allegations.

U2’s ‘One’ truly the one

London — U2’s 1990 ballad “One” has been named the greatest song ever recorded, topping the list in a special edition of Q magazine’s 1001 Best Songs Ever.

Music experts placed the tune, which had only a brief and unremarkable spell in the charts, above high-ranking efforts by Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

Runner-up was Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer,” written by the songwriting partnership of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, followed by Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Meanwhile, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” has been named the best album of all time by Rolling Stone.

The Beatles’ 1967 LP is one of four by the Fab Four that made the Top 10 in the magazine’s list of 500 greatest rock records — “Revolver” at No. 3, “Rubber Soul” at No. 5 and the “White Album” at No. 10.

The Beach Boys were at No. 2 with “Pet Sounds.”

Meat Loaf falls ill

London — Grammy-winning singer Meat Loaf, who collapsed onstage during a concert Monday, is being treated for exhaustion brought on by a virus.

A spokesman for Mercury, the singer’s record company, said a second concert planned for Tuesday night at London’s Wembley Arena had been postponed.

Meat Loaf, 52, collapsed Monday on the first sellout date at the venue. A spokesman for North West London Hospitals said the pop star was in Northwick Park Hospital recovering “from exhaustion due to a prolonged viral infection.”