By MICHAEL STARR

Whoopi got the freshman coffee klatcher so mad, in fact, that Goldberg snapped "You're ready to fight," during a heated exchange on celebrity etiquette.

Shepherd seemed as peeved by Whoopi constantly interrupting her as she was about a disagreement over when celebrities are obliged to give autographs.

Shepherd said she thinks it's OK to ask for an autograph if someone's a really big fan - and will probably never get the chance to see that star in person again.

Whoopi disagreed, explaining that the person who's asking for the autograph should realize the celebrity has already been asked the same thing many times before - and doesn't want to be intrusively interrupted.

When Shepherd pressed the issue, Whoopi exploded.

"So you're telling me that because you want my autograph, I'm supposed to stop for you? Who-the-hell are you?" she said.

"And I come with absolute respect when I say this."

Goldberg grew increasingly irritated as the discussion continued.

"Wait a minute. Relax! Relax!" she said to Shepherd.

"I'm relaxed," Shepherd responded.

"No you're not," Goldberg said. "You're ready to fight! You're sitting like this," she said, adopting a fighter's stance.

She then offered some unsolicited advice on the pitfalls of fame:

"You will learn this more and more that sometimes you have to say, 'It's not good right now.' " she said.

Yesterday also marked the impressive debut of "O'Reilly Factor" regular Margaret Hoover as a co-host.

The blonde political commentator defended her great-grandfather Herbert Hoover's role in the Great Depression - and also talked about how the early primaries were less important in this election cycle.