Jennifer Aniston's
SUMMER OF LOVE?
Holding out hope for a Jennifer Aniston-Vince Vaughn reunion? You may have a long wait. The former Friends star, 38, single since her October split, spent Memorial Day weekend getting cozy with a handsome mystery man with dirty-blond hair. Although his identity remains in question, one thing's for sure: During a romantic dinner at Santa Monica's One Pico restaurant in the Shutters Hotel May 26, he had the actress's undivided attention.
At 8 p.m. the pair slipped into the beachfront eatery with Aniston's man gently rubbing her back as they waited for a table. For the next three hours the duo talked by candlelight over a bottle of San Pellegrino, leaning in close and, at one point, even holding hands across the table. (Her rep had no comment on the dinner date.)
Still, it's not as if Aniston needs a man to be happy. She seemed content to fly solo the next day at a local beach bash, palling around with neighbors Courteney Cox Arquette, David Arquette and their daughter Coco. Later, back at the Cox-Arquette abode, Aniston mingled with about a dozen guests while her pooch Dolly barked at the holiday commotion. "[Jennifer] is doing so good," longtime friend Kathy Najimy recently told PEOPLE. "She's fantastic. Couldn't be better."
Mischa Barton
NO HOLIDAY IN THE HOSPITAL
A friend's Memorial Day weekend barbecue in Beverly Hills turned frightening May 27 when Mischa Barton, 21, fell ill and had to be briefly hospitalized. What happened? Her rep blamed a bad reaction to medication she was taking for bronchitis, which she contracted during a recent European trip. The actress's rep added that Barton—who was later released wearing her hospital gown—is recovering with her family and "feeling much better."
Nicole Richie
GETTING HELP
No, Nicole Richie is not in rehab (as Internet sites claimed last week). But a source close to the Simple Life star, 25, says she is in an outpatient program. ("It's heavy-duty," says the source. "[You're] working at the treatment every day.") Boyfriend Joel Madden "has been a big support for her," adds another pal. Richie's rep could not be reached.
Britney Spears
'I TRULY HIT ROCK BOTTOM'
More than two months after checking out of rehab, Britney Spears is finally opening up to fans about her tumultuous year. After her split from Kevin Federline last fall, "I truly hit rock bottom," Spears, 25, wrote on her official Web site. "I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. I was like a bad kid running around with ADD." Though she doesn't want to "place blame on anyone," Spears says, "I have had to cut so many people out of my life." (The singer says she left manager Larry Rudolph and is reportedly feuding with her mom.) Two people she keeps close? Sons Sean Preston, 20 months, and Jayden James, 8 months. "I am truly blessed to have them in my life," says Spears, who took her boys on a boat trip near Marina del Rey harbor on May 24. "I just want the same things in life that you want ... and that is to be happy."
Heart Monitor
Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner
MEMORIAL DAY DATE
The former Melrose Placecostars—romantically linked for the last few months—spent a low-key Memorial Day strolling down a Malibu beach. One person not surprised by the couple's increasing closeness? Fellow Melrose alumnus (and mutual golf buddy) Andrew Shue. "They're both very nice people," the Gracie star tells PEOPLE. "They both love to laugh. I'm sure they're laughing a lot together."
GOING PUBLIC
Rose McGowan & Robert Rodriguez
From reel to reality: McGowan may have stepped out at the Cannes Film Festival with her Grindhouse director, but she's still playing it coy when it comes to their relationship. When asked about her date May 25, she would only tell Scoop, "He's my best friend."
COZY IN CABO
Jessica Simpson & John Mayer
What breakup? Simpson and Mayer—who recently split, only to reconcile days later—spent a romantic Memorial Day weekend in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Despite photos of the two having what appeared to be a spat, a close source insists, "There was no fight. Things with them are better than ever."
ENGAGED
Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt
The Hills are alive with the sound of ... wedding bells? Montag and Pratt—the on-again, off-again duo from MTV's reality hit—got engaged last week at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Calif. "They are beyond happy," a source tells Scoop. "Spencer realized he couldn't love anyone more than he loves Heidi."
Q & A
Austin Nichols
He surfs. He smolders. And, yes, he makes miracles. Meet the star of HBO's new John from Cincinnati
Lamenting Sunday nights without The Sopranos? Austin Nichols, 27, just might save the day with his new "surf-noir" series John from Cincinnati (costarring Luke Perry). The Austin, Texas-bred actor cast his spell on PEOPLE writer Lisa Ingrassia.
How would you describe your character on the new show?
People have called him a Christ figure. Or an autistic savant. I'm not supposed to say.
Did you learn to surf for the role?
I had three months to train. I started surfing at night. With no people in the water you learn six times as fast.
You also had a leg up when it came to this role.
Water sports are in my blood. My uncle is in the Michigan Water Ski Hall of Fame. I started water skiing competitively when I was 2.
Are you named after your hometown?
Ever drink Wild Turkey? It says Austin Nichols Wild Turkey on the label. [Laughing] My dad joked he was hitting the bottle when I was born.
You resemble a young Luke Perry with that hair.
I started creating John's look before Luke was cast. He came on, and I was like, "Oh my god, my hair looks like Dylan McKay's [Perry's 90210 character]."
Tell us something we don't know about Jake Gyllenhaal, your costar in The Day After Tomorrow. We heard you became BFFs while filming.
He makes really smart choices. He knows what works for him. And the kid can sing! He was in a band when he was younger.
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Saved by the Bell Reunion
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