‘Bachelor’ breaks up with fiancee

New York — New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer and the woman he chose on “The Bachelor” have broken up.

Palmer selected Jessica Bowlin from the 25 women competing for his affection on the most recent season of the ABC reality dating show.

On Thursday, the couple told the syndicated TV entertainment show “Extra” that they’d mutually agreed to end their relationship.

“Jessica and I shared an incredible romantic journey on the show that began with a friendship that remains strong today,” Palmer, 25, said.

Bloom one of ‘hottest bachelors’

New York — First, he was named Britain’s sexiest actor. Now, Orlando Bloom is among the “50 Hottest Bachelors,” according to People magazine.

The 27-year-old star of “Troy” and the “Lord of the Rings” movies is on the cover of the annual bachelor issue, which comes out Friday.

Although his female co-stars describe him as “lovely and very friendly” and “a very good kisser,” Bloom says he’d like to carve out a career for himself the way Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt have.

“They created a heartthrob thing, then went against it,” he says. “You kind of have to.”

Madonna picks Hebrew name

New York — Call her Esther: That’s the Hebrew name Madonna has chosen for herself as a follower of Kabbalah.

“I was named after my mother. My mother died when she was very young, of cancer, and … I wanted to attach myself to another name,” the singer says in an interview on ABC’s “20/20,” airing at 9 p.m. today. “This is in no way a negation of who my mother is … I wanted to attach myself to the energy of a different name.”

During the interview, Madonna wears the red string around her wrist that’s a symbol of the Jewish mysticism, though she wears it beneath her watch.

Star recipients announced

Los Angeles — Antonio Banderas, Rod Stewart and Donald Duck are among an eclectic bunch of honorees who will receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year. The honorees were selected Wednesday by the Walk of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Motion pictures: Tim Allen, Antonio Banderas, Donald Duck, Kevin Kline, Julianne Moore, Patricia Neal, Dennis Quaid and Ben Stiller.

Television: Tom Brokaw, James Doohan, Roger Ebert, Susan Lucci, Al Michaels, David Hyde Pierce, Wayne Rogers and Soupy Sales.

Recording: Emilio Estefan, Al Green, Herb Jeffries, Billy Joel, The Righteous Brothers, Carly Simon and Rod Stewart.

Radio: Jim Ladd and Bob Miller.

Posthumous stars: Stella Adler, Redd Foxx, Freddie Prinze and David O. Selznik.