It was a great night for music and Cipro jokes as Paul McCartney and a vast array of stars entertained a wildly enthusiastic crowd at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Interspersed with actors (Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts) and comedians (Billy Crystal, Jim Carrey) who saluted various firemen, police, rescue workers and surviving family members from the Sept. 11 tragedy, the musicians nonetheless provided the most energy for the $250-$1000 tickets. David Bowie opened the charity telethon with a rousing rendition of "Heroes," and the hits kept coming with surprisingly few glitches when so many people had to get on and offstage. The Who, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Destiny's Child, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, John Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Macy Gray, the Goo Goo Dolls all had memorable moments. Howard Stern was even more memorable in his jumpsuit with holes ripped over his naked buttocks as he ranted about all the stars who had deserted the city. "I say shame on you," he said. "Come back to New York." Former Beatle Paul McCartney, evoking memories of one of the city's greatest moments (the arrival of the Beatles in 1964), brought down the house with "I'm Down" and unveiled a new song, "Freedom," written for the occasion. It will be interesting to see which of the competing telethons -- McCartney's or Jackson's -- raises the most money, as the two have been feuding since Jackson bought the Beatles song catalog out from under McCartney's nose.