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By Kat Giantis
MSN Entertainment
March 26, 2004
Is a
blink-and-you-missed-it celebrity romance getting a second wind? Paparazzi
everywhere are drooling over a report in Us Weekly that claims Britney Spears, 22, and Colin Farrell, 27, are once again a-courting. Whether they're
courting trouble, the media, or simply each other is still unclear.
"They have been secretly seeing each other on and off for several weeks," a spy tells the mag, which says the two stars recently spent quality time together at the Beverly Hills Hotel while Britney was in town shooting her "Everytime" video.
You'll recall that the fickle lovebirds (his four-month marriage was a marathon compared to her 55 hours of wedded bliss) made headlines in January 2003 when they attended the premiere of "The Recruit" together. They were also reportedly spied swapping spit.
Colin, aka "The Lusty Leprechaun," was in the audience at Britney's March 8 concert in L.A., appearing backstage after the titillating performance, and reconnected with the pop starlet a few days later. "Any time she wasn't out shooting her video they were shacked up... ," a source tells Us.
But Farrell's short attention span could prove to be a problem. "He knows she's very young," an insider tells the magazine. "It's just a fling. Colin is being careful not to let Britney get too attached to him." Whatta sweetheart.
Cruise & Cruz Kaput
Geez, what's gotten into Tom Cruise lately? Not only did the enigmatic A-lister give his
longtime uber-powerful publicist Pat Kingsley the boot, but he's also ditched
his homophonic honey Penelope Cruz, 29, after three years of intense media
disinterest.
"They broke up at the end of January and it's amicable," Lee Anne DeVette, Cruise's sister and new mouthpiece, tells People.
Cruz's publicist, Robert Garlock, echoes that sentiment, explaining to the mag, "They remain good friends and still talk often," adding, "There is no other person involved." He was also quick to put the kibosh on any speculation that the bust-up was related to Scientology, explaining that Cruz is "not a Scientologist, but she has taken [Church] courses and she's found them beneficial."
So what happened? "The relationship just ran its course and they decided not to be girlfriend and boyfriend anymore," an insider tells People. "Through most of the relationship they were both shooting movies in separate parts of the world." Cruise spent months on location in New Zealand filming "The Last Samurai," while Cruz has been dealing with the Moroccan desert heat while lensing "Sahara."
The couple, who met while filming "Vanilla Sky" in 2000 and hooked up after Cruise's marriage to Nicole Kidman imploded in 2001, appeared on the red carpet together in early January while Cruise was promoting "Samurai" in Europe. Among the recent compliments they paid one another: "On a scale of 1 to 10, he's a 10" (Cruz on Cruise) and "She's a good girl" (Cruise on Cruz).
Penelope was not at Tom's side at the Golden Globes, sparking speculation of a split, but she had actually flown home to Spain to be with her ill father. "At the time, they were figuring out their relationship," the source tells People. They decided to part ways soon after.
"Idol" Critters
Things are getting uncomfortable on
"American Idol," and we're not just talking about the soulless stylings of Jon
Peter "Pen Salesman" Lewis. The New York Post reports that the fantabulous
Hollywood Hills mansion the contestants are holed up in had some very unwelcome
houseguests.
"The house was infested with termites and other bugs," a spy tells the paper. "It was disgusting. Nothing was done about it until the contestants threatened to not go on air unless they were moved out."
The producers relocated the fame-craving warblers to a hotel for a few days while the manse was de-bugged. A publicist for the show isn't commenting, but we can't help but wonder if this report might explain Jon's ants-in-his-pants dance during "Drift Away."
Anthony's Online Venting
Marc Anthony is mad as hell and he's not going to take it
anymore. In a message posted on his Web site, the Latin crooner angrily
confronts the rumors surrounding the end of his marriage to former Miss Universe
Dayanara Torres and his reported relationship with Jennifer Lopez.
"Even having to write this letter goes against everything that I believe in, for I have always cherished and protected my privacy," writes Anthony, who declares this will be the only time he'll comment on his private life. "I find it nauseating sitting here having to address allegations and accusations at the hands of people I know."
Fumes Anthony, 35, who has two young children with Torres, 29, "I would like to make it clear that the fact that the demise of my marriage is being blamed on infidelity is laughable ... I did everything to make my marriage work expressly for my children and in the name of family. And I find it hurtful that it has been portrayed otherwise."
As for Lopez, "In no way, shape or form did she have anything to do with the rupture of my marriage," he says. "I want to make that 100% clear."
Anthony also insists that a DNA test proves he did not father a child with a Miami waitress and expresses his gratitude "for those that stood by me and supported me."
Concludes Anthony, "I feel terrible that I have to address this in this manner, but enough is enough."
Mixed Reaction for "Jersey Girl"
Ben Affleck predicted a chilly reception for his Kevin Smith-directed romantic comedy "Jersey Girl," and boy, was he ever right. "It's hard to
believe, but this new film, with Jennifer Lopez in a mercifully brief appearance
as the baby's mother, almost matches the awfulness of last year's 'Gigli,' which marked the apparent nadir of both careers,"
snipes the Wall Street Journal. Ouch.
According to the New York Times, "Mr. Smith has made a movie so false and blatantly icky that it's the film equivalent of making goo-goo noises and chucking a baby under the chin for 103 minutes. At the end, all you're left with is drool and a mountain of baby powder." Oof.
But it wasn't all bad news for Ben. Roger Ebert loved the flick, which co-stars Liv Tyler, giving it 3.5 stars in the Chicago Sun-Times, while USA Today posits, "Smith is looking more and more like a developing major talent, so it could be years until we get a handle on this movie's legacy. The film is not only defensible as a cute one-shot, but also as a positive sign for the future. For now, look for both fans and detractors to overstate their cases."
Role Call
Will Ferrell is nearing a deal to join Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, and Nicole Kidman in the big-screen version of
"The Producers," tackling the role of Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind, says
Variety... Are Jerry Orbach and his shellacked 'do leaving "Law & Order"?
Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that the 12-year veteran, who plays Lennie
Briscoe, will turn in his gun and badge at the end of the season. But don't
fret: The actor may appear in the latest spin-off, "Law & Order: Trial by
Jury"... The trade also reports that William Shatner will over-emote on the new "Practice" spin-off
with James Spader, David Beckham is in negotiations to play against
type as a soccer star in the "Pink Panther" remake with Steve Martin, and Mena Suvari will get snooty as a socialite opposite Queen Latifah and Alicia Silverstone in "Beauty Shop"... Warning: Quit reading
now to avoid "Alias" spoilers. Seriously. According to the Hollywood Reporter,
Mia Maestro ("Frida") is joining the ABC drama as the sister of Jennifer Garner's butt-kicking CIA agent Sydney. Expect
Rambaldi wackiness to ensue....
