Two things:

1. Who forgot to give Italian Vogue the memo that Michael Jackson, who's planning a "comeback," as usual, hasn't really been fashion magazine cover material since, oh, around the time this year's current crop of college freshman were born?

ELUSIVE Michael Jackson's wig takes longer to style than a supermodel's. A source told us Jackson, who's rumored to be in New York to shoot a cover spread for Italian Vogue, sat for three hours in the stylist's chair until they perfected his freaky coif. The insider said Jackson has been holed up in a fancy Midtown hotel since Thursday afternoon "with an enormous entourage" and left only once, at 5 a.m., to take part in the 10-hour shoot for the fashion magazine. Reps for Jackson did not return calls.

2. Someone actually spent 3 hours on that mop of hair that could not look more like a wig if it was purchased in a Halloween costume shop? What a thankless job.

[PS]