George Clooney is not going to let his girlfriend’s web-based mini scandal get in the way of a good premiere. He posed jokingly with his relatively long-lasting love, Sarah Larson, 29, on the red carpet at the premiere of his new film, Leatherheads last night. Humor author A.J. Jacobs interviewed Clooney for last month’s issue of Esquire, and their entire session consisted of Jacobs showing Clooney the criticism and sites about him on the Internet. Clooney was really low-key and mildly amused by all the crap about him online, and you can bet he got a kick out of those drunken photos of his girlfriend. Compared to the other photos on the photographer’s site, which include a lot of wasted topless women making out, the photos of Larson on all fours and sort-of bikini wrestling weren’t that bad.

Clooney has been tirelessly promoting Leatherheads, which is out in the US on April 4. He has an interview in this week’s Life & Style that includes a lot of his deadpan witty comments, like saying he likes to wear women’s clothing and shoes. He also told a funny story about how he embarrassed designer Georgio Armani by wearing one of his suits until it started looking beat. Armani sent him a new one and told him to either wear it or not credit him with designing that old thing:

Are you into fashion?
It’s not that important to me. I’ve worn the same tux so long that Georgio Armani actually sent me a new one and said, “Please either wear this or stop saying you’re wearing Armani, because it’s frayed.” I’ve basically worn this sweater for three days. It’s easier for men than for women.

Do you have sympathy for women’s fashion woes?
I do wear a lot of women’s clothes. The thing is the pumps. I have Manolos in size 11 ^1/2. They’re hard on your calves.

[From Life & Style, print edition, April 7, 2008]

As for whether he dated Renee Zellweger, to which he said “a little bit” when asked, Clooney said he was joking and that comment was overblown, but he got in trouble with Zellweger for it. He says “No” when asked if it’s true that they dated a little.

Is it true that you and Renee Zellweger dated a little?
No. Someone went through a list of girls I supposedly dated. I replied. “Yes, no, yes, no, no, never heard of her, a little bit,” as a joke. If you take the list and what I said together, it looks like I said “a little bit” about Renee. She later said to me, “A little bit?” I was like, uh-oh, I’m in trouble.

[From Life & Style, print edition, April 7, 2008]

I still think they had something going on, though.

Leatherheads is a football comedy set in the 1920s and it’s getting mixed reviews. We’ll have to see how it does at the box office.

Zellwegger looks really good at the premiere in LA last night. Her face isn’t all bright red or ghostly looking and that’s a great vintage-cut dress. Also shown are John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer. I love Jenna Fischer, she seems so down to earth. Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

It was a bevy of Jessica Simpson lovers yesterday at Cipriani’s last night as Cosmopolitan magazine “honored” John Mayer as its “Fun Fearless Male of the Year.” That title always makes me giggle. Somehow the phrasing would work a lot better for women than men. While ex-Jessica Simpson lover John took home the crown (I’m 90 percent sure it’s a crown instead of a trophy or plaque), he also got to mingle with current Simpson flame Tony Romo. Ironically, ex-Simpson husband Nick Lachey was the Fun Fearless Male last year. So apparently dating Jessica Simpson means you have no fear. I’m not sure how the fun plays in there.

Cosmo bestowed its Fun Fearless Male of the Year title to Simpson’s ex, singer John Mayer, and some of his fellow honorees could have been straight from her little black book: Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current Simpson squeeze Tony Romo and Employee of the Month co-star Dane Cook, whom tabloids linked to her.

Last year, Simpson’s ex-husband, Nick Lachey, received top honors at the same ceremony. “We know the common thread,” comedian Cook said on the red carpet, acknowledging the Simpson connection. “We realize.” Simpson’s beaus, past and present, took it all in stride and were good-natured about the whole affair. Romo walked the carpet without his girlfriend, and in accepting his award, he said he had been asked whether he was, in fact, fun and fearless. “If you date Jessica Simpson, I guess you are,” he joked.

MySpace co-founder Tom Anderson couldn’t resist weighing in as he accepted his honor. “I think I might have a chance with Jessica too after today,” he joked, noting Simpson had signed on to perform at Operation MySpace, a concert being held in Kuwait for U.S. troops and streaming live on My-Space starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT Monday.

“I haven’t hooked up with Jessica Simpson, but I’m honored,” said rapper/actor Common when it was his turn to accept an award.

[From USA Today]

“The Office’s” John Krasinski (or as I like to call him, the future Mr. JayBird) was also a contender for the prize, and has apparently hasn’t dated Jessica Simpson according to my extensive internet research. I just happened to be on one of his fan sites… never mind, moving on. The other nominees were Animal Planet’s Dave Salmoni, “Brothers & Sisters’” Dave Annable and “Dirty Sexy Money’s” Peter Krause.

Here are Common, Dave Salmoni, John Krasinski, Dave Annable , John Mayer, Dane Cook, Peter Krause, Tom Anderson, and Tony Romo. Images thanks to PR Photos.