New ‘ET’ star’s got ‘Personality’

Latin superstar Carlos Ponce made his debut on last night’s “Entertainment Tonight” as the show’s “ET Personality” – the first “ET” on-air personality to carry such a distinctive title.

“He’s a star in his own right – he’s a huge international star and has a huge recording career,” says “ET” executive producer Linda Bell Blue, explaining Ponce’s title.

“He’s somebody I’ve known for a long time – I flew to Miami and wooed him [for the show] and spent a lot of time with him,” Blue says. “This is something he’s taking very seriously and something he wants to be a part of. He understands what a big show ‘ET’ is . . . and he’s somebody with whom the celebrities, including J.Lo, are familiar.”

Ponce, who will be based out of Miami, hosted a Spanish-language magazine show, “Control,” but really shot to stardom on the Univision novela, “Sentimientos Ajenos.” That, in turn, led to a recording career (including Billboard Magazine’s “Best Pop Album, New Artist” and “Best New Artist” honors) and roles on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Once and Again” “Karen Sisco” and “7th Heaven” – on which he will have a recurring role this season as Mary’s (Jessica Biel) boyfriend.

“This is a good vehicle to get myself out there and get known in middle America,” Ponce says of his new “ET” gig. “I need a change of pace. I was already looking for something different in my career for the mainstream market.”

Ponce says he “doesn’t want to get too far away” from his musical career and might embark on a “mini-tour” later this year.

“As far as promoting an album, I’m not planning on releasing anything for the next year,” he says.

NBC: Bam Bam’s a member of the family

I wrote a story yesterday about Dr. Jane Goodall’s and PETA’s concern over NBC’s use of a young orangutan, “Bam Bam,” to play the role of “Precious” in its daytime soap, “Passions.” Goodall and PETA believe that young orangutans like Bam Bam are routinely and cruelly mistreated.

NBC’s response came too late to include in yesterday’s story, but here it is: “The ‘Passions’ production personnel unanimously treats Bam Bam – the 4-year-old orangutan who currently appears on the daytime drama – with the utmost care and tenderness, far exceeding compliance with current humane laws and mandated regulations.

“Bam Bam has become a welcome and embraced member of the ‘Passions’ family and likewise, has proven equally popular with viewers nationwide.”

Last, but not least . . .

* This morning on “Today”: Katie Couric’s exclusive sitdowns with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, Calif. Gov. Gray Davis.

* David Arquette has given wife Courteney Cox a painting by the artist Shag, reports Us Weekly. “He’s got a real unique style. The painting is of this really cute girl in a negligee shot from behind and she’s got a wrench in her hand . . . it just reminded me of Courteney,” he says.

* Montel Williams, Mia Farrow and Billy Dee Williams co- star in “The Exonerated” at the John Drew Theater in Guild Hall (Easthampton) Aug. 19-24. It’s directed by Bob Balaban.

* Lifetime’s “Designing Women Reunion” special notched 3.3 million viewers Monday – the second-highest-rated special in Lifetime history behind the “Golden Girls” reunion (4.2 million). And Cartoon Network finished first in July, in prime- time, among kids 6-11 and 2-11 – for the fourth consecutive month.