Folks at MOA were extra safe as mall cop Paul Blart rolled in

The movie star was getting shown up by a mascot.

Kevin James, the comedian from TV's "The King of Queens," was at the Mall of America promoting his new movie, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," on Monday. In addition to a red carpet event at the mall's theaters, James signed autographs with the Timberwolves' mascot, New Crunch (which is what I call all who have succeeded my friend, Original Crunch). The mascot was tardy, probably delayed by the snow-snarled traffic, and focused about making up the time as he furiously cranked out signatures and slapped the autographed photos on the table.

Told that he was being outperformed by a mascot, James said, "He's quicker. What can I do?" Of course, because the mascot is mute, the guy in the furry suit had the advantage of not having to interact with fans.

And he was a testy wolf. At one point, the wolf had the nerve to cop an attitude with Bloomington Police Sgt. Rick Hart, whose many hats include being in charge of the bomb squad. Even without words, Crunch was able to convey his dismay that Hart apparently walked by without paying proper attention.

On startribune.com/video of James, you'll see him Segway to his MOA appearance, at which I confirmed something from Perezhilton.com: Kevin's new baby girl is named Shea, after the stadium, because her daddy loves the Mets.

It's a small world It was difficult to focus on the face, the only part of the head that was visible, of the woman wearing the distracting fuschia Elmer Fudd hat.

But I kept studying her face, while standing in line at St. Paul's Grandview Theatres to buy tickets to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." I stepped closer to her, hoping that she'd recognize me if I knew her, because she seemed so familiar. When she finally focused on this person a foot away, she was startled. It was Minnesota-born comedian and political satirist Lizz Winstead, normally a NYC resident, on her way to see "Slumdog Millionaire," with her sister Mary Winstead, who lives here. Strange. I had just re-read that March 2008 NYT story about Lizz's popular Shootthemessengernyc.com stage show and webcast that mocks morning TV.

Hutch's back -- sort of Looks like it finally dawned on somebody at KSTP-TV that Hutch has a rabid fan base!

Or maybe not.

In December, Anne Hutchinson gave a curious sign-off from the high school sports wrap show. Was she saying the show was going away or that she, the anchor, was leaving? Enlightenment did not ensue, but now there's a staff memo welcoming back Hutch, even though she technically never left, and stating that she will be a weekend anchor working a minimum of 25 hours a week.

Executive sports producer Steve Johnson, the memo writer, told me Wednesday that the sports wrap show went on "hiatus." He would not discuss the memo: "All I will say is she's still with us. We cover high school sports as a department, she'll be a part of that."

Sounding like just another boss unwilling to given an employee her due, Johnson said, "I don't know" when asked if somebody over there figured out she has a fan base. "I don't make those decisions."

These kind thoughts were unrelated to Hutch recently flummoxing me at Winter Park by smiling and speaking. This is the same Hutch who tried to get me in trouble a couple of years ago. She had a boss send a videotape to one my bosses of me following her around Winter Park, asking the questions she refused to answer over the phone. Next thing you know -- I dream big -- Hutch will be calling me to say: I'm having a baby and I wanted you to write about it first.