More than 1.6 million fans sat on pins and needles yesterday waiting to find out whether they were among the lucky few to win access to his memorial service at L.A.'s Staples Center tomorrow.

Fans registered online for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected received two tickets.

Ticket winners were in the process of being notified yesterday afternoon, according to Michael Roth, a spokesman for Staples Center owner AEG Live.

The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183 - or slightly worse than winning one of Tattle's giveaways.

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 overflow to the Nokia Theater next door. If you don't have tickets, stay home and watch on television - you'll have enough options. Streets around the arenas will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said yesterday.

If you are a winner of the golden tickets, by now you've already received a unique code and instructions on how to pick up your tickets today at an off-site distribution center. When you pick up your tickets, a band - probably like the kind you get in the hospital - will be placed on your wrists.

Don't try to take it off.

To prevent ticket scalping, fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter Staples Center tomorrow. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.

L.A. officials are preparing for huge crowds. Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell would not say how many police would be on the job, or who's paying them, but he hinted that the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the recent championship celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers might give an idea.

Since the streets outside Staples Center will be closed, the ceremony will not be shown on the arena's giant outdoor TV screen.

There will be no funeral procession through the city - closing off streets will probably cause enough L.A. gridlock.

Michael's family is planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, McDonnell said.

* Madonna had an MJ impersonator dance to "Wanna Be Starting Something" at her concert Saturday in the same London arena (O2) where Michael's 50-concert run was set to break records.

A picture of a young Michael appeared on stage while Madonna was performing "Holiday," then the impersonator came on, wearing a sequined jacket, white T-shirt, white glove and white socks in the Jackson manner.

The music then switched to Jackson's song, "Wanna Be Starting Something," and the impersonator worked through Jackson's moves, including the famous moonwalk. The impersonator didn't sing.

After the number, Madonna told the crowd, "Let's give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known," and the crowd roared its approval.

In the show's last dance, Madonna and her dancers all donned jeweled gloves on their right hands in a simple tribute. Behind the stage some words from Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" were flashed up briefly: "If you want to make the world a better place look inside yourself and make a change."

* Colin Powell, meanwhile, told CNN's "State of the Union" yesterday that Michael had controversy in his life, but in death his art should be celebrated.

"Yes, there were some challenges in his life," the former secretary of state said. "Yes, there was a great deal of controversy about him. But he's now passed on. Let's celebrate his art."

Wonder where Powell draws the line with that reasoning.

* Michael's memorial service tomorrow will be broadcast live on five television networks: NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment. The service is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Philly time.

Another aggrieved party . . .

There's nothing Tattle can say here that won't get us into trouble with someone:

The Little People of America yesterday called for the Federal Communications Commission to ban the use of the word "midget" on broadcast TV.

Leaders of the group said the word, which was prominently featured in an episode of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," is as offensive as racial slurs.

"Historically, the word midget has been used to objectify people, like in the circus," said Clinton Brown III, co-chairman of the 52nd Annual National Conference of Little People of America, which is taking place in New York this week. "We're in the 21st century. We're beyond that."

Tattbits

* U2's cause as it kicks off its world tour?

Jailed Myanmar (formerly Burma) opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On its Web site and on stage, U2 is asking fans to wear a Suu Kyi mask in support of the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.

"Wear it to work or college. Wear it on the bus or the train. Wear it in the pub or at shops. And don't forget. Bring it to a U2 show," the band writes.

A mask of Suu Kyi's smiling face can be downloaded and printed from u2.com.

* The agent for "Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint says the actor who plays Ron Weasley is recovering from a mild case of swine flu.

Given all the things you could suffer from in a Potter story, the flu probably isn't too bad. *

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Send e-mail to gensleh@phillynews.com.