People: David Spade taking heat for Chris Farley commercial

A new DirecTV commercial featuring funnyman David Spade and late comedian Chris Farley has kicked up a dust cloud of criticism, and forced Spade to go on the defensive.

The ad shows Spade sitting on a couch while an image of the Farley performing his trademark "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" routine, appears nearby. Spade complains that without DirecTV, "I'm stuck with either cable or that (pointing to Farley). It never gets old."

Farley, who died in 1997 of heart failure due to a drug overdose, is not identified in the commercial. Nor is the fact that the Farley scene depicted is from the movie "Tommy Boy," in shich Spade co-starred.

The ad has generated complaints from TV viewers and lots of missives from bloggers, who say Spade seems to be simultaneously dissing and cashing in on Farley, his onetime friend.

Spade has responded with a statement released by his publicist.

"When DIRECTV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about 'Tommy Boy,' we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing."

DirecTV has not commented on the backlash.

SLOWHAND GETS SURGERY: Guitar god Eric Clapton has pulled out of this week's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in New York after undergoing gallstone surgery. A publicist for the guitarist said Tuesday that Clapton was doing well and recuperating

METALLICA AIDS SEARCH FOR MISSING FAN: San Francisco metal band Metallica has added $50,000 to a $100,000 reward being offered by the parents of a missing woman last seen at one of the heavy metal band's concerts.

Morgan Harrington, 20, a student at Virginia Tech University, was with friends waiting for Metallica to take to the stage at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va., on Oct. 17. Just before 9 p.m., she went to a restroom, then called her friends to say security was refusing to let her back inside and that she would go home. She has not been seen since.

Morgan's parents have posted the reward for information leading to Morgan's safe return, or to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. There is a Web site — www.findmorgan.com — and a telephone tip line, 434-352-3467.

boss cancels show after cousin dies: Bruce Springsteen's cousin and assistant road manager was found dead in a Kansas City hotel Monday, not long before Springsteen and his band were to take to the stage. Springsteen canceled the show and released this statement: "Lenny Sullivan, Bruce's cousin and the assistant road manager of the E Street Band for the last 10 years, passed away today at the age of 36. A warm and sensitive person, he was beloved by Bruce, the Band, the crew, and the entire Thrill Hill family."

Kansas City police are investigating the death but say there are so far no signs of foul play.

TAYLOR-MADE ROMANCE: Reports are running rampant that country star Taylor Swift, 19, and "New Moon" heartthrob Taylor Lautner,17, are dating.

They were spotted together at a hockey game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Sunday, during which, spies said, they couldn't keep their eyes off each other. And one point, Lautner was overheard whispering romantically to Swift, "Why do they have professional hockey in Los Angeles, anyway? It's moronic!"

Actually, we have no idea what the two said to each other. But they were also seen dining together in Los Angeles last weekend. Last summer, the two filmed a smooching scene together for an upcoming romantic comedy titled "Valentine's Day — Better Than Hockey in Los Angeles!" (or something like that).

"They have gotten closer," a source tells Us Weekly about the pair. "They talk all the time, (and) they like each other." Lautner reportedly dated Disney star (and Taylor Swift bud) Selena Gomez last summer, while Swift dated Joe Jonas until he dumped her over the phone so he could go out with actress Camilla Belle (Belle and Jonas have since broken up).

HAVE THE HANKIES HANDY: Partick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi, will go on Oprah Winfrey's show Friday to talk about her life with and love for the actor who died Sept. 14 after a bout with cancer. Swayze and Niemi were married for 34 years, meeting as teenage students at his mother's dance studio.