Tattle: 'Bachelor' Brad gets the heave-ho

THIS TIME, we thought it was true love.

Again, however, "The Bachelor" has let us down.

Fortunately, it's let us down without ever having to watch it.

Life & Style, which has created a niche for itself by tracking bachelors, bachelorettes and teen moms, reported exclusively that over the weekend of April 9, Emily Maynard, the blonde du jour, phoned her "fiance," blow-dried Ken doll "Bachelor" Brad Womack, to tell him it's over.

"Emily told Brad that she can't picture them getting married," an insider revealed to Life & Style, again cementing the fact that the best place to find love is not in a house full of catty women.

"Brad's not acting like a fiance, and she knows that he's not going to change," the insider said. "Emily knows in her heart of hearts that the relationship is finished."

"Emily was very close to moving with her daughter, Ricki, to Austin, Texas, just weeks ago, but that's not true anymore," insider No. 2 said. In fact, a friend (who may or may not be a third insider) told Life & Style that Brad put an offer on a new home - without even consulting Emily.

"She obviously feels that it isn't the behavior of someone who plans to be with her."

Sheesh, it's like he's Crosby on "Parenthood."

So what happened to this match made on ABC?

"Brad seemed very complacent all of a sudden," said one of the insiders. "He did everything he could to woo and charm Emily on the show, and then it just slowed."

Because the show was over, perhaps?

Emily has kept quiet about the split because of her pimp - ABC. Like most pimps, ABC doesn't let its girls speak without permission, and Life & Style says that the network called Emily on April 13 to remind her of that - and to file her 1099.

Though ABC can't force Brad and Emily to stay together, another anonymous source says that they have encouraged Emily to try to work things out with Brad, because they want one "Bachelor" couple to make it down the boffo-ratings-guaranteed aisle.

* ABC has another problem.

Hoover vice president of marketing Brian Kirkendall, who says that his wife and mother are big fans of two soap operas canceled by the network, says that he's yanking the vacuum-maker's ads from ABC in protest.

And because not running the ads will generate more talk than running the ads.

Kirkendall announced on the company's Facebook page (what better place to look for vaccum news than Facebook, which sucks up time as if it's dust) that the ads will be lifted by the end of the week. More than 11,000 people said that they "liked" the action, many writing messages of support.

Soap Opera Digest declared Friday "Buy a Hoover Day."

Tattbits

* New York's Metropolitan Opera has decided to go ahead with its tour of Japan in June.

Met general manager Peter Gelb sent a memo to the company yesterday saying that he based the decision on the lifting of the State Department's travel advisory to Tokyo and "on official and scientific reports that the areas around Tokyo and Nagoya are safe."

Gelb says that the Opera will re-evaluate the decision if the situation worsens.

Remember, it isn't over until the fat lady glows.

* Mariah Carey hasn't given birth to her twins yet, but she's so over baby-making.

Mariah told Life & Style that carrying multiple babies "can be difficult" but that "it's all worth it." She also said she's ready to have her body back and she misses wearing high heels.

* Elton John, who also misses wearing high heels, is returning to Las Vegas for a three-year run at Caesars Palace.

Sir Elton's "Million Dollar Piano" will play The Colosseum at Caesars starting in September.

Tickets for the first 16 shows go on sale April 25.

* Queen guitarist Brian May will reportedly appear on the upcoming Lady Gaga album "Born This Way" on the song "You & I," which we will assume is different from the Queen song "You and I" on "A Day at the Races."

"It's always been Gaga's dream to perform as Queen," an unidentified source told London's Daily Mirror. "If it wasn't for Queen, there would be no Gaga.

"This collaboration with Brian May means the world to her."

* Prince William has reportedly organized a no-longer-secret secret honeymoon for his bride-to-be Kate Middleton.

An unnamed source said: "Kate wants to mix something active with the chance to put her feet up and relax."

Before the grind of being a princess starts.

Possible destinations include the Caribbean island of Mustique, a favorite of Kate's family, and South Africa, where William proposed.

The rumored winning jaunt, however, is now said to be horseback riding in South America.

The source told the London Sun: "Kate isn't supposed to like horses, but that's a bit of a myth.

"She has had a number of riding lessons since last summer, which could mean the idea of a pony trek is not that far-fetched."

Kate's parents will reportedly pay for the honeymoon and their daughter's dress as part of their $163,000 donation to the costs of the wedding.

$163,000? So they're paying for the mini hot dogs?

* Recently rehabbed Demi Lovato is leaving "Sonny With a Chance," the Disney Channel TV series that made her a star.

In a statement yesterday, Disney Channel said it respects Demi's decision to focus on her music and "not immediately" return to acting.

Demi told People that returning to the show would be bad for her recovery and she wants to make music her priority.

After all, nothing breeds normalcy like a pop music career.

BANGShowbiz.com and Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Email gensleh@phillynews.com