PHILLIES’ BIRD STEPS OUT

After eight years of anonymity as the green-feathered Phillie Phanatic, Dave Raymond is spreading his wings: He now hosts USA Network’s “Dance Party USA” (seen here weeknights at 7).

Producer Michael Nise picked Raymond because he’s a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies’ cheerleading mascot and “I knew there was a personality that was warm and exciting underneath that costume. He’s intelligent and a good-looking guy to boot.”

The Phillies aren’t too pleased that their rambunctious mascot has been unmasked--they’ve been refusing to give out photographs of the Phanatic for any non-Phanatic articles (we got ours from another source). But Raymond is delighted.

“I don’t think anyone was more surprised than I was,” says Raymond, who’s 30. “It’s a people-watching-people show, and I really enjoy it. However, the Phanatic is not the host. Dave Raymond is.”