LOS ANGELES – One of the breakout media stars of the war with Iraq, Richard Engel provided ABC with coverage from Baghdad. In the war’s aftermath, though, Engel will shift his shingle to NBC, joining the network’s Baghdad bureau.

He’ll be working out of Iraq at first, but will also do stories from Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

As a stringer for ABC Radio, Engel remained in Baghdad after most of the networks’ regular correspondents were either expelled from the country or left out of fear. Engel’s first-hand reporting gave ABC News a major advantage, as other networks struggled to use journalists from other outlets or merely to take foreign feeds.

“Richard’s impressive reporting from Baghdad demonstrated what a tenacious and dedicated reporter he is,” says NBC News President Neal Shapiro.

“We look forward to him bringing his superb reporting skills to the coverage of Iraq, as well as to all major stories where ever they may be.”

The 29-year-old Engel was educated at Stanford and has lived in the Middle East for the past seven years. He’s written for USA Today, Reuters, AFP and the British publication Jane’s Defense Weekly.

“I am grateful to ABC News for the opportunity to report on the war with Iraq from Baghdad, it was an experience that every journalist could ever hope for,” Engel says. “I am now looking forward to working with NBC News and to covering the many complex issues and stories that will emerge as the rebuilding of Iraq begins.”

Simon Cowell may be tinted yellow

LOS ANGELES – Acerbic, but honest “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell may be on the verge of his animated debut, doing a voice on the long-running animated hit “The Simpsons.”

According to British media reports, Cowell will provide the pipes for a nursery school admissions officer prone to insulting prospective toddlers. The character’s cruelty will come into play when the Simpson family searches for a nursery school for Maggie. The plot of the episode is still in the development stage.

“Simon’s very popular in the US. There’s a history in American television of people we love to hate – fun villains, such as JR Ewing in Dallas – and Simon’s a similar sort of character,” “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean tells England’s TV Times.

Cowell’s character would sport the judge’s trademark high pants and tight shirts.

“Simon has criticized other people’s appearances on his show, so I think he should be open to that himself,” Jean says.

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AP-NY-05-01-03 1652EDT