US Weekly hasn’t been the kindest to Jennifer Aniston in the past. (They also rip on Angelina Jolie, so it’s not like they’re taking sides.) I’m thinking of the stories they’ve run that Aniston only dates men who raise her profile and that she was copying Angelina by daring to wear a gown with a high leg slit to an event. In this latest US Weekly story, Aniston is supposedly hoping to be set up with some kind of rich businessman instead of the industry types she usually dates. It sounds like a good idea, but also a familiar one. We’ve heard the millionaire matchmaker say that Aniston needs a powerful business type guy and just last week Brangelina author Ian Halperin claimed Jen had paid over $100k for the services of an elite matchmaker. (Not that I think that’s true at all. If Halperin says it, it’s more likely to be made up.)

Jennifer Aniston, 40, is through with famous men, says an insider, who notes that the actress was left “really messed up and heartbroken” by singer John Mayer.

“She wants to be set up with a wealthy businessman, not a celebrity,” the insider says in the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

Though her rep says Aniston “does not place restrictions on the people who may come into her life,” the insider says pals like Courteney Cox are hoping she’ll settle with an “older, mature man.”

Still, one pal doubts the resolution will stick: “She always ends up drifting back to actors and musicians. Her friends want a normal guy, but she’s drawn to the attention.”

[From US Weekly]

Kaiser and I were talking about whether this post could have been spin from Aniston’s camp at all. I think it’s too snarky toward her and has that kind of “Aniston is desperate for a man” slant that we’ve heard so often. Kaiser agrees, but counters that “her media team [could have been] counting on Gerard Butler keeping it in his pants for a month (HAHA), and [are] trying out a different strategy.” I don’t know. The media will focus on the long-dead triangle whenever they’re given a chance. It doesn’t matter if one of them has something to promote or not. The Bounty Hunter is out on March 10. Will Aniston have a date for the premiere and does she care or not?

Yesterday we heard that Jennifer Aniston was gracing the pages of the March issue of Architectural Digest with photos from inside her newly remodeled home in the Hollywood Hills. People Magazine seemed to think it was a big deal that Aniston replaced his and her tubs in the master bathroom with a spa quality tub (for a “single” person), but it sounded like a sensible move to me. Kaiser sent me a link to the scans of the article posted at Jezebel and I was kind of floored by Aniston’s decorating sense and not in a good way. Let me just say that I love modern, somewhat sparse design and Asian-inspired furnishing. (Think Design Within Reach. Brad Pitt’s home is way too empty.)

Aniston’s “Bali inspired” home is filled with dark, heavy furniture and earthtones. Overall I think it looks a little too 1970s. Some of the furniture overpowers the room, like the giant lamps in the bedroom and the purple plush chairs in a living room. The view is beautiful though and it looks comfortable and well laid out for entertaining. It’s just not to my taste, but it probably looks much better, and much more impressive, in person.

Jezebel posted these photos with big yellow arrows to add some snarky comments that make fun of Aniston’s tabloid persona. It’s not a critique on Aniston so much as on the way she’s been characterized as a sad sap by the media. Some commenters found it tasteless and offensive, but I think Jezebel was just poking fun at the way a very rich, contented woman is being characterized. My favorite comment is this one. “Here is where Jen sits and waits for her phone to ring. Even though this exquisite room has a beautiful view of the lanai, she always turns her back on the foliage, because it reminds her of how much Brad liked to smoke weed.”

Jennifer Aniston appears on the cover of the March issue of Architectural Digest. She shows off her undoubtedly enviable newly remodeled Beverly Hills home inside. I love looking at interior design photos and videos, particularly bathrooms and kitchens, and will be sure to pick up this issue once it hits stands. People Magazine has this news, and is making a big deal out of the fact that Ansiton redesigned the bathroom to replace a his and her rub set with a large spa-quality tub. It sounds pretty awesome and I would probably replace two smaller tubs with a big jet tub even with a partner living with me. There’s nothing “single” about a nice tub that probably fits two. Here’s People’s description:

In the March issue of Architectural Digest – which features photos of the house by Scott Frances, following its 2½-year overhaul – the magazine notes that the master suite is no longer guy-friendly.

“[The house] originally had his-and-hers baths, but Aniston has turned the ‘his’ into a spa bath with a soaking tub,” the magazine reports. Her master bedroom features a wool-and-silk shag carpet, and a platform bed with a TV at the foot.

And Aniston, 40, even describes the Zen-influenced home – whose palette was drawn from Brazilian cumaru (teak) – in an affectionate way. “It’s like a big hug,” she says in the issue, on sale Feb. 9.

Built on a hillside in 1970 with sweeping views of the city, Aniston calls the house “Ohana,” a reference to the Hawaiian idea of extended family. She says the single-level home “vibrates with the love that created it.” Among those who worked with Aniston was designer Stephen Shadley, who also has collaborated with Diane Keaton and Woody Allen.

The house features Aniston’s fruitwood Sauter piano from the 1960s, a dining room that seats 24, and a 1920s Thai gong to summon diners to the long walnut table.

“I entertain for a living, and I entertain,” she says. “The house has a rather glamorous, old-fashioned Hollywood quality. I can just imagine the Rat Pack stopping by; someone is playing the piano, and people are laughing in the next room.”

[From People]

If there’s anything to read into in this brief recap of the interview, it’s the fact that Aniston name-dropped the Rat Pack. Her ex, Brad Pitt, is considered part of the modern Rat Pack along with George Clooney and I guess anyone else that starred in those hard to follow Oceans movies. She probably didn’t mean anything deeper than a reference to old Hollywood, and I personally wouldn’t jump to conclusions. The tabloids are analyzing Angelina’s handwriting and Brad’s beard so you know that they’re going to say Aniston is pining for her ex and is showing off her home in an attempt to invite him in. Pitt has also appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest several times and has shown off his home. Of course there will be the inevitable comparisons.

In related news, Aniston is hosting a Haiti benefit for the organization Americares. The charity event will feature a screening for the film The Last Station and is scheduled for later this month. She also volunteered for George Clooney’s telethon and personally donated $500,000 to various causes benefiting Haiti.

After Brad and Angelina made a public appearance together last week, the tabloids are starting to do some backtracking from all their claims that the two are splitting up. The more audacious tabloids claimed that Brad was reuniting with his ex wife, Jennifer Aniston, based on the fact that both of them were at the same telethon at the same time. OK! ran a “Yes, they’re together again” cover with the banner “Exclusive” while Star claimed that Aniston told Pitt “I’ll take you back.” The split rumors originated with a story in British rag News of the World that stated that Brad and Angelina had visited a lawyer to sign some sort of agreement that would divide their assets in the event of a breakup.

Now OK! is trying to cover their butts for claiming that Brad was leaving Angelina for Jennifer. Their latest cover reads: “I still love Jen, but I can’t leave the kids” Tabloids rarely bother to correct their stories, so you know this is a big deal for OK! You can tell from the way the teaser article on OK!’s site is worded that they don’t have much new information and are just running with their earlier weak story. They quote “Brangelina” author Ian Halperin, a hack of the highest order, and promise “professional analysis on Brad’s usually unkempt beard,” and “photos of their most memorable happy moments.” The “professional analysis” is getting way out of hand with these two. We were subjected to US’s analysis of Angelina’s hastily signed signature yesterday and now it’s on to the beard that Brad is probably growing for a role.

Despite presenting a united front for awards season, glamorous couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s relationship is dissolving, according to several sources. Friends of Brad say he sometimes regrets leaving Jennifer Aniston and actually still loves her, but he stays with Angie for his children’s sake.

“Brad was very calm and mellow and gave a great, funny speech — he had everyone on the floor with his imitation of Quentin,” a witness tells OK! of their appearance at the Director’s Guild Awards. “He and Angie seemed very happy.”

Or so they would have us believe: Ian Halperin, author of Brangelina: The Untold Story, predicts the couple will announce their split “when no one expects it.”

Exclusively in the new issue of OK!, learn professional analysis on Brad’s usually unkempt beard, photos of their most memorable happy moments and snapshots of Brad bonding with each member of his brood.

[From OK!]

I just want all this Brangelina speculation to end. I do think they’re having problems, but my opinion is based on solely superficial evidence and their circumstances. At least I admit that I’m jumping to conclusions and won’t make blanket statements about how they’re doomed or a split is imminent. Until they make an announcement, we just don’t know. They did make an announcement of sorts with their joint appearance last week, and for now we can assume they’re together. I’ve seen couples that seem happily married split up and people that seem miserable stay together for decades. It’s hard to tell either way.

Jennifer Aniston has donated a whopping 1/2 million to help charities in Haiti after the devastating earthquake. She didn’t put out a press release at all, and from the way this story is worded it sounds like Marc Malkin at E! Online heard about it through the grapevine and is the one who chose to make it public. We’ve already heard that celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and Brad and Angelina donated a million or more to charity in the wake of the tragedy. Apparently Aniston gave a large amount too, she just did it quietly.

Add Jennifer Aniston to the list of celebs donating major bucks to help Haiti.

I just got word that the actress has given $500,000 to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and AmeriCares for their recovery efforts in the disaster-stricken Caribbean nation.

Aniston also participated Friday’s megastar-studded Hope for Haiti Now telethon, which as of today has raised $61 million.

[From E! Online]

So did Jennifer Aniston want this to be made public and did she tell one outlet to make it sound like it got leaked instead of announced? Does it matter? I’m of the mind that it’s positive when celebrities announce their charity efforts because it encourages the rest of us to get involved. I’ve learned a lot about legitimate, worthwhile causes by following celebrity news. (Yes, it’s a completely superficial way to become educated on issues, but it has helped serve as a starting point for me. This is what I do for a living.) Plus, Aniston deserves a lot of credit, like all of the other celebrities and people who donated, for getting involved in the “Hope for Haiti” telethon. You can still donate at HopeforHaitiNow.org.

Boy, with all the Brangelina/Aniston stories hitting the tabs this week, you’d think it was 2005 all over again. Deja vu! We told about one silly story that claimed Jennifer modeled her sexy, thigh-high slit gown after one worn by Angelina Jolie last year. Now, new stories are coming out that say Jennifer’s entire look, from her sexy, beachy hair, ample cleavage, to her form-fitting gown and very toned body, were all part of a revenge plot to commemorate the fifth anniversary of her split from Brad Pitt.

She wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe, but a stunning Jennifer Aniston definitely took home the award for sexiest appearance at the Jan. 17 ceremony. Wearing a black Valentino gown with a mile-high slit on the side, the screen siren took a page out of her rival Angelina Jolie’s style book. And while Angelina and Brad Pitt decided not to attend the awards, their absence actually inspired Jen. “Jennifer decided to go for black and sexy for the awards only when she discovered that Angelina wasn’t attending,” an insider tells Life & Style. “An earlier choice had been a white asymmetrical Stella McCartney, since she didn’t want to go head-to-head with Angelina and her trademark black.”

Jen, 40, has been proudly showing off some killer curves — while Angelina, 34, has looked worn out and nearly skeletal. Unlike Angelina, Jen has taken a balanced approach to maintaining — and even improving — her figure. Jen has done away with a regimented diet to maintain her fat-free form and is enjoying her food. “Jennifer was happy to emphasize her curves in direct contrast to Angie’s skeletal look,” says the insider.

Just three days before she poured her curves into a Valentino gown, Jen and five friends met at the Sunset Tower Hotel in LA, where they indulged in $30 flutes of Veuve Clicquot champagne, small plates and then a meal. “Jen joked that she didn’t want to look like a blimp on Sunday,” an eyewitness tells Life & Style. But as a devout yoga fan, Jen can certainly afford to take in a few more carbs. “She’s been putting extra yoga hours in but has also upped her carb intake to create an altogether curvier look,” says the insider.

[From Life & Style]

I’m going to admit something. When I know I am going to be at an event where I might run into some of my ex-husband’s colleagues, I want to look good. I can’t say it’s for “revenge,” more like, “wow, she’s really hot, why’d he get rid of her?” But I don’t think that’s what happened here. The short answer is that Jennifer Aniston has a new movie to promote and showing up on that red carpet with Gerard Butler required her to look extra-sexy. End of story. Who wants to stand next to that morsel looking like a frump?

Meanwhile, People Magazine has a new cover story on Aniston entitled “Five Years After Brad.” Honestly, I can’t think of anything more insulting. Like I want people counting the years from when my husband publicly dumped me and took up with another woman. What the hell? I mean, the article seems to be framed as a “she’s better than ever” type of fluff piece that People excels at, but that title? Really? Is there going to be a “Life After Brad” 25th anniversary special issue, too?

Life & Style and People Magazine covers courtesy of CoverAwards.

I just want to address this issue because I think it’s ridiculous that anyone even brought it up. Jennifer Aniston, who wore a gorgeous one-shoulder black dress with a thigh-high slit to the Golden Globes, has been accused of copying Angelina Jolie, who wore a pale peach-colored dress of a completely different cut, fabric and designer that also happened to have a thigh high slit this summer. US Weekly made this jaw-dropping claim in a story titled “Jennifer Aniston Steals Angelina Jolie’s Look,” as if the looks were even similar enough to make this comparison.

Then someone at The Huffington Post put together a side-by-side slideshow meant to show that Aniston’s cosy red carpet poses with Gerard Butler mirrored Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s show of togetherness at Cannes. There are similarities between the poses, but if you put together the red carpet photos of any two random starlets they would look like they were copying each other because there’s only so much you can do when you’re standing up and smiling for the cameras. With another person there, you can put your arm around them, look up at them, smile, laugh, etc.

Aniston really worked that dress and she doesn’t need to be compared to Angelina for the rest of her life. These two do have similar sense in fashion in that they both favor solid colors and classic lines. (Which in Angelina’s case sometimes means shapeless sacks.) They also have similar taste in men. Oh and Aniston and her co-star Gerard Butler are doing a “racy magazine spread” for W that will draw comparisons to Brad and Angelina’s 2005 “Domestic Bliss” portfolio. Whether Aniston and Butler will also head to a more permanent state of domesticity afterwards remains to be seen. In this case there’s no third party involved at least.

Here’s my favorite comment from the Huffington Post on this issue:

There are SO MANY many things about these pictures that are identical!
They both have dresses made of cloth.
They both have hair.
They are both alive.
They are not medical doctors.

This is truly amazing.

[From Halfwit on The Huffington Post]

This is not the photo we’re talking about here. That is on Radar Online
Jennifer Aniston was photographed talking on the phone while driving in California, which is illegal as of July 1, 2008. She was holding the phone up to her mouth but not her ear, and it looked like she was using the speakerphone. (You can see that photo on Radar Online, we don’t have the rights to it.) As obnoxious and illegal as it is, I have to admit that I’ve occasionally used the speakerphone on my cell phone while driving. Like if someone calls me while I’m driving and I don’t have the time to go digging through my purse for the headset I’ll just answer the phone and put them on speaker. I know this is wrong and that I am endangering my own lives and other’s lives, so feel free to remind me so that I don’t do this again.

First lady of California Maria Shriver was similarly photographed talking while driving, but in her case she was busted several times by TMZ. She ultimately got a strict talking-to by her husband, Governor Schwarzenegger, who signed the laws that she was violating.

There’s a lot of debate over an announcement by Ford that they plan to offer in-car Wifi in new models next year. The new system will work with the user’s USB mobile modem to broadcast the signal throughout the car for everyone to use. That’s incredibly convenient and useful for passengers and commuters who are responsible enough to pull over to use laptops, but you know that people are going to abuse it. Still, if someone has a USB modem they can already use it while they’re driving.

There’s also the issue of texting while driving, which is also illegal in California. With all the other ways we can be distracted while driving, using the cell phone might be seen as less harmful. Still, we shouldn’t be fooled. Talking on the phone is just as dangerous, if not more so, than driving drunk. The next time the phone rings when I’m driving I will let it go to voicemail for sure.

Photos are from 8/4/09 and 5/6/09. Credit: Fame Pictures

Jennifer Aniston is playing the field and loving it, if this week’s Star Magazine is to be believed. Most of this story seems to be based on some brief friendly encounters she had with various single men at recent parties, but that still counts to some. Aniston was seen flirting with singer Josh Groban and actor Josh Hopkins from friend Courtney Cox’s sitcom, Cougar Town, at separate events. Star also claims that Aniston is quietly dating actor Sam Rockwell, with whom she’s been linked in the past. I tend to believe the Sam Rockwell story before the other two, as Aniston is a friendly person and tabloids are quick to link people together when they’re talking for more than two minutes. Still, this is Star so the whole thing could be made up.

“Jen’s mood has changed so much lately - for the best,” an insider tells Star. “She’s gushing about all the guys she’s dating and about how much fun she’s having!”

At the release party for her yoga instructor Mandy Ingber’s DVD Yogalosophy… on Dec. 3, Jen cozied up to Josh Groban.

“Jen was glowing when she hugged Josh,” a source reports. “They chatted for more than 20 minutes, and she smiled the whole time, ignoring everyone else. You could tell she likes him.” While Josh is 12 years younger than 40-year-old Jen, he’s “mature beyond his years,” the source adds. “Jen and Josh have been speaking on the phone and e-mailing. He’s smitten, and she loves the attention!”

But Josh is just one of Jennifer’s Mr. Right Nows. On Dec. 6, BFF Courtney Cox brought another Josh, her Cougar Town costar Josh Hopkins, 39, to Jen’s annual holiday party at her Beverly Hills pad - and the pair hit it off!…

“Josh arrived kind of late, and when Jen saw him, she grabbed his hand and gave him a tour of her house. She was playing hostess to the max. The next day, the insider adds, Jen told Courtney that she liked Josh and wants to see him again.

“Josh had given Jen his cell number at the party and told her to call him. Courteney asked, ‘What are you waiting for?’ So Jen picked up the phone and asked Josh to come to her chili cook-off party.”

Busy Jennifer has also been quietly seeing Sam Rockwell, 41… “Jen and Sam have been on a couple of low-key dates in L.A., including a dinner at the Sunset Tower,” says a source. “Sam’s been concerned about them getting photographed - he wants to keep their dates under the radar for now.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, January 4, 2009]

I think Jen is just happy to be hanging out with her friends, throwing parties and having a good time. She’s rich, single and loving it. If something happens for her, so be it, but I don’t think she’s really looking hard for a committed relationship at this point.

Wouldn’t it suck to have to hide your dates from the press and worry that they’re going to pick apart your every move? It’s like Aniston is damned no matter what she does. If she doesn’t date anyone she’s lonely and if she is dating someone she’s desperate. She’s probably working to keep things quiet. If she is involved with actor Sam Rockwell then he has the right idea by laying low and not courting the paparazzi like cad John Mayer.

I remember hearing that John Mayer gave Jennifer Aniston one of his guy-style Rolexes and that she wore it proudly ,even sporting it after they broke up for the second time. They got together again after that, although it’s hard to tell how long it lasted.

Now that Jennifer and John are over again for good maybe, she’s been seen out driving a silver Bentley - that she reportedly bought for him. So he gave her an expensive watch and she bought him a Bentley? I wasn’t able to semi-confirm this news at all, and this is the first I’ve heard that she bought him a Bentley. Those cars cost over a quarter million, so I’d like to think she bought the thing for herself and not her hot and cold overly talkative lover. This news is in Star Magazine anyway, so the only true part could be the fact that she’s driving a Bentley.

Nothing says revenge like a brand-new Bentley! Jennifer Aniston has been cruising around in the $350,000 ride, but she didn’t get the sexy toy for herself - it was meant as a gift for her off-again ex, John Mayer! “Jen really wanted to knock John’s socks off with this car,” an insider tells Star. “Unfortunately, they broke up soon after she ordered it.” Jen didn’t let the expensive purchase go to waste. “She got back at John by keeping it for herself!” dishes the insider.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, December 14, 2009]

Yeah, all Star has is a timeline and Aniston in a new Bentley. It’s a nice car I guess, but it kind of seems like an old person car to me. There’s something kind of stodgy about the car, but I don’t like BMWs either and they have similar lines. I also think Louis Vuitton purses are ugly, so what do I know. Just because something is really expensive and luxurious doesn’t mean that everyone will necessarily covet it.

In related Jennifer Aniston news, she was served with legal papers outside the launch of her trainer’s new yoga DVD in LA last night. Photo agency Pacific Coast News reports that she was summoned to be a witness in a lawsuit against her agent, Todd Shemarya, who “is being sued by his former assistant Heather Devlin in a sexual harassment case.” That must have sucked to get served outside after a nice time out with friends. Also at the DVD launch were Courtney Cox, Ricki Lake, Josh Groban and Faye Resnick.

A car similar to Aniston’s new silver Bentley. Photo credit: LSDSL on Wikimedia.

Photos outside Aniston’s yoga DVD launch credit: Josephine Santos, PacificCoastNews.com. Other photos are from 11/30/09 at LAX and are credit: Fame Pictures