Everyone is talking about the new romance between Jessica Simpson and Owen Wilson. Both In Touch and Star are reporting that Wilson and Simpson had dinner together on October 28 at a restaurant called The Penthouse at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. They were seen getting cosy, with Jessica’s hand on Owen’s knee and Owen playing with Jessica’s hair and touching her shoulders and hands. Star reports that Jessica went to Owen’s house afterwards. That means that an earlier report that his ex-girlfriend was going to move in with him was probably not true or their cohabitation was short-lived.

Simpson and Wilson got re-acquainted while filming a music video for Willie Nelson. They took part in a lawn mower race near Austin, Texas on november 17 for the video, and Star reports that the phone calls and text messages between the blonde stars started soon afterwards. Woody Harrelson was also on the set of Nelson’s music video, and is said to have tried to put the moves on Simpson and to have been shot down. Harrelson is married with three children, but that didn’t seem to deter him:

Accompanied by his best pal, Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson was “flirting up a storm with Jessica. He told her that she looked incredible,” says a source. “He followed her around like a puppy dog and even chased her with his big tractor.” After their lunch break, Woody told Jess that they should get together in L.A. But unfortunately for Woody, Jessica wasn’t into it. “She handled it with grace and told him she’s going to be busy these next few weeks,” adds the source. “Woody got the hint, and he handled it like a gentlemen.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, November 12, 2007]

I’m surprised Harrelson didn’t throw a fit when Simpson let him down easy, but maybe he wasn’t too invested in the flirtation or stepped aside once he learned that Wilson was interested. Owen and Jessica don’t strike me as a likely to have a long-term relationship, but maybe they’ll last and we’ll have another couple to speculate about for a few months.

Here’s Jessica Simpson in unfortunate dark makeup and a dress that makes her boobs look saggy promoting her clothing collection at Macys on 11/3/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

Owen Wilson sure seems to be getting back into the swing of things. Rallying back from his suicide attempt two months ago, Owen has worked extensively with a sobriety coach, moved into a new bachelor pad, and done a healing ritual over the Grand Canyon. Now he seems to be focusing on returning to live as he knows it: partying with pretty girls. Nothing wrong with doing what you love, my friend.

He’s been hanging out in New York for a few days, and already Owen Wilson is becoming a familiar face at city hot spots – from lunching downtown at Café Habana to dining at Graydon Carter’s Waverly Inn with Sting and Lance Armstrong. And that was just Tuesday.

On Thursday night, the recovering star made an appearance at the Gramercy Park Hotel’s swanky Rose Bar after midnight. Says an observer: “He was chilling out, having some ginger ale.”

The night before, it was a Halloween party at the home of nightclub owner Chris Barish (one of the forces behind Marquee and Martini Park lounges), where he hung out with art dealer Tony Shafrazi. Wilson went as, well, himself, looking “rested” and “radiant,” and generally charming as he chatted with guests and didn’t drink, an observer tells PEOPLE.

Later that night, the actor was spotted hitting up Bungalow 8 – and it was a packed house, with stars like Mary-Kate Olsen, James Gandolfini and members of the Police (who performed earlier at Madison Square Garden). Also there: female dancers in police uniforms, gyrating under a tent.

[From People]

Among the positive Owen Wilson stories out lately, there’s one that keeps floating around that – while still positive –is definitely a little weird, too. Supposedly Owen has been keeping the bathroom door open whenever he uses it – even in public. This is apparently an attempt to ward off any gossip that he could be doing inappropriate things in there. I will point out that Owen certainly has alone time not in the bathroom, where he could be doing inappropriate things. So I’m not sure why it’s so imperative that he make himself visible during this one event.

Owen Wilson has decided to leave the door open when he uses the bathroom to prove he is not using drugs. The actor decided on the unusual habit because people fear he is doing drugs behind closed doors.

Wilson has been keeping a low-key profile since his suicide attempt in August. The ‘Darjeeling Limited’ star has slowly stated coming back into the public eye by attended several events. He attended a ball in honor of pop culture artist Takashi Murakami on Sunday where he showed off his new policy.

“He was with a girl with blonde highlights, and he went to the bathroom and peed with the door open,” a source claims. When Wilson’s rep was asked about the incident, he replied, “Can you blame him? He’s dammed if he doesn’t. If he tries to protect himself from innuendo and lies, it gets used against him.”

[From TransWorldNews]

Well that’s a whole lot of unusual. I’ll just let that go – I’m sure he’s going through stuff most of us can’t imagine, and he knows what he needs to do to stay safe. So congrats on getting back into the swing of things… and peeing with the door open. Both hallmarks of getting your life back on track.

Picture note by Jaybird: Header of Owen Wilson seen at two very popular NYC late night hotspots. First, Owen visited Waverly Inn for a late night dinner, next he was off to Beatrice Inn. Images thanks to Splash Photos.

Owen Wilson seems to be getting a bit better with each new little tidbit of information we get about him. He took a sober vacation with a sober companion, had a healing ritual over the Grand Canyon, and moved into a new house with a gorgeous view of the ocean. Hopefully it won’t be long until he’s completely back on track. Owen gave his first interview since his suicide attempt to his friend, director Wes Anderson. It was part of MySpace’s new interview series.

In his first interview since his suicide attempt in August, Owen Wilson talks about movies, monkeys and malaria – but not about his recent trouble. Sitting down with longtime friend and frequent collaborator Wes Anderson as part of the MySpace Artist on Artist series, Wilson starts by asking Anderson why he filmed his latest movie, The Darjeeling Limited, in India. Off of that question, the two friends wryly joke about getting shots, taking malaria pills and meeting monkeys.

Asked by Anderson if he gotten trapped by some monkeys in India, Wilson answers, “Yes, I did. At first you think, gosh, monkeys, that’s so kind of incredible…But they didn’t have your best interests at heart. They weren’t these adorable little creatures. … They want to replace you.” The men also discuss the meaning of The Darjeeling Limited, which Anderson directed and Wilson starred in.

“I would say it’s maybe, maybe my favorite,” says Wilson, who adds that the movie’s themes interest him. “My character says ‘I want us to become brothers again like we used to be.’ I really like that line and it means a lot to me.”

[From People]

I know everyone wants to know what happened with Owen, but something tells me that will be a story he won’t discuss publicly for a very long time – if ever. He’s their interview.

Artist on Artist: Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson

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Good ol’ Owen is finally facing the flames of a deep inquiry. Instead of Diane Sawyer digging into his deep rooted abandonment issues or fear of peanut butter, Wes Anderson will post an interview via Myspace.com.

This will be his first official words since his attempted suicide that left the world scratching their heads.

“The interview will be posted online at midnight Friday as part of MySpace.com’s Artist on Artist series, according to Fox Searchlight, the studio that released the pair’s most recent film, The Darjeeling Limited. Anderson and Wilson have worked together on all of Anderson’s movies — Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.”

[USA Today]

Rumors that his regret over loosing Kate Hudson caused him to try and end it all began in August. The fire was fueled when Kate reportedly broke up with Dax Shepard. However, word on the street is Owen has moved on and in with Carolina Cerisola. The two previously dated but called it quits only to find each other again for support.

Wilson has since been keeping a low profile and hanging out in his Malibu mansion. He participated in a lawn mower race in Texas at Willie Nelson’s digs. He seemed to be getting back on track when drinking binges were reported after guests saw him stumbling around drunk at the Santa Monica Viceroy hotel. Poor ol’ boy just can’t win. Best wishes to the Butterscotch Stallion.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Owen Wilson is shown at the premiere of The Wendell Baker story on 5/10/07 thanks to PRPhotos.

Owen Wilson seems to have changed his life after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. He’s been seeking holistic and alternative therapies and has hired a sober companion to help him stay away from drugs and alcohol. Owen moved into a new home, and even took a healing journey to Arizona and The Grand Canyon in a spiritual quest for sobriety.

There may be a lot of positive changes for Owen recently, but he wants at least one thing back from his old life - his ex-girlfriend, dancer Caroline Cerisola. Owen has asked the 20-something Buenos Aires native to move into his new mansion with him. She is said to be a great influence on Owen, along with being an excellent cook:

Owen Wilson, 38, has asked twentysomething Carolina Cerisola, an ex-girlfriend who has been at his side since he was released from L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to move into his recently completed Malibu mansion!

“Owen is back with the woman he never should have left,” a friend of the actor tells Star. “The whole time he was with Carolina, he was sober and happy. I don’t know what made him split from her, but I am glad they are back together…”

Carolina [is] a terrific cook who “buys all these organic foods and whips them into some gourmet wonders,” adds the pal. “Owen is eating well these days!”

Owen first met the Buenos Aires beauty, who has been dancing at Hollywood’s burlesque club 40 Deuce for the past year, in 2003. But the romance fizzled out by that December.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 29, 2007]

Owen’s brothers Andrew and Luke approve of Carolina and are glad she’s back in his life, according to Star.

The recovering actor took part in a lawn mower race near Austin, Texas last week. It was filmed for Willie Nelson’s new music video “You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore,” and included appearances by Jessica Simpson, Dan Rather, Woody Harrelson, and Owen’s brothers Luke and Andrew. Willie Nelson Fan site Still is Still Moving has photos of the event.

Owen is shown swimming on 9/23/07, thanks to Splash News.

It sounds like Owen Wilson is making some great progress in turning his life, his heath, and his head around. A lot of people who battle depression have low energy and motivation, but Owen seems to really be rallying in an impressive way. He’s embracing his health, and actively trying to change and improve his life, and it’s really inspirational to see. Owen has moved into a new house in Malibu that he’s spent over two years working on. It has a beautiful, serene view of the ocean and is said to be the “ultimate bachelor pad.” Hey, some things never change.

Sources tell Star the move is giving Owen, 38, a new lease on life and is really lifting his spirits. “He’s excited about the house, and he loves to talk about it,” says one insider. “The place was all custom-built: pool table, dartboard - it’s full of man toys!” Owen’s even getting friendly with his neighbors. According to the source, he’s been riding around the neighborhood on his moped and taking his dog for walks around the block in order to introduce himself to everyone.

So what changed for the old Owen, who was dark, depressed, and wanted to die? A lot! For one thing, he’s decided it’s better to love life and enjoy all he has, including his very supportive network of friends and family. He’s even hanging out with an old ex: Carolina Cerisola.

“Owen realizes that there are a lot of people who really care about him, so he’s taking serious steps to find peace,” says the source. He’s not drinking or doing drugs anymore. It’s difficult, but he knows it’s worth it.”

[From Star Magazine, October 22, 2007 print edition]

I like this proactive approach Owen is taking to change his life. If only we could all afford to move to a nicer place to lift our spirits! Owen also had a cleansing ritual over the Grand Canyon, which it sounds like was a symbolic way of getting rid of his past and starting a new chapter in his life. The Enquirer tells the story like he’s crazy or the people around him are nut balls for letting him do it, but I think they’re just taking an unnecessarily sensational view on it.

Owen - who slashed his wrists and swallowed pills at his Santa Monica home - participated in a “spiritual exorcism” September 29th, while perched on a scary glass walkway 4,000 feet above the rocky floor of the Grand Canyon, the Enquirer has learned exclusively. The 38-year-old actor stood on the walkway, stretched 70 feet over the Canyon’s western rim, as a medicine man prepared the ritual.

“Owen and his entourage of about a dozen people emerged from a tour bus at about 4 p.m., and there were two Indians with them, one with long black hair and a feather,” said a witness. “After a while, Owen and the feathered Indian, who was carrying a bag, moved out onto the Skywalk and Owen stood there, looking outward at the Canyon.” Tourists at the site were herded into the nearby Skywalk Cafe so that the healing ceremony could proceed.

The medicine man, from the Hualapai tribe, lit some sage on fire and then began chanting and dancing, while waving the smoke over Owen. In his hand he held a small woven object - a dream catcher. The goal was to scare away the demons. “Personally, I was shocked they let Owen, who has been suicidal, place himself in such a dangerous position,” the witness told the Enquirer. “The railing is only four feet high, and if depression had overtaken him at that moment, he could easily have leaped over the rail. They stayed on the platform for about 30 minutes - with the medicine man chanting and dancing the entire time. Afterward, Owen seemed happy, and was chatting with the tourists.

[From the National Enquirer, October 22, 2007 print edition]

I think as a general rule, depression doesn’t suddenly overtake someone at the moment. It tends to creep up, or sometimes a specific bad event triggers it, but rarely does it lead to an instant suicide attempt. Generally that takes some time and contemplation. Now certainly he’s been in that place before, but I’m guessing his family and friends wouldn’t have been supportive of the cleansing ritual if they thought there was a chance Owen would jump. First off, he doesn’t seem the type to do it in front of his loved ones. And this is clearly an attempt to move on, shed his demons, and focus on happiness and a positive direction. I’m kind of annoyed with the hysterical tone of the Enquirer’s article. It sounds like Owen is doing everything he can to actively embrace his recovery, and I wish him nothing but the best.

Instead of going the traditional rehab route, Owen Wilson is working on finding his own path to recovery after attempting suicide about six weeks ago. He has hired a sober companion to stay with him and make sure he fights the temptation to drink and do drugs. He is said to be taking a healing journey to Arizona, where he will be treated holistically using the traditional Native American method of a sweat box to rid the body of toxins. He will also undergo hypnosis and attend group therapy for addiction.

Yoga is also on Owen Wilson’s itinerary. Jennifer Aniston is a strong proponent of the practice, and has spoken candidly about how it helped her to work through her negative emotions following the breakup of her marriage.

Aniston will be working with Wilson on the upcoming film Marley and Me, and is said to have sent him some books and to have encouraged him to pursue meditation and yoga as part of his path to healing. It’s possible she influenced him to take the trip to Arizona and to embrace holistic practices as part of his recovery:

Owen Wilson has a concerned Friend rooting for his recovery - Jennifer Aniston! The two, who are slated to work on the film adaptation of the best seller Marley & Me, have been speaking regularly by telephone and e-mail since Owen was taken to an L.A. hospital after a failed suicide attempt on Aug. 26.

Jen has sent him some of her favorite books, including The Power of Now, and she’s “been encouraging Owen to practice breathing techniques, yoga and meditation,” says a source close to the actress. “Owen has come to rely on Jen’s phone calls.” They’ve connected, adds the source, because “both are wounded souls.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 15, 2007]

If you read between the lines Star is suggesting a love match there, but since Aniston and Wilson haven’t been seen out together and their source probably just knows that she sent him books, there’s not enough to go on to declare a relationship, even by tabloid standards.

Jennifer Aniston is portrayed as a sad sap who can’t get a man while Owen Wilson has the stigma of a failed suicide attempt and crippling depression. It’s a match made in tabloid heaven, and it would certainly sell copies on the week they’re declared an item. If they’re ever foolish enough to be seen in each other’s presence when they’re not on set making that movie it’s sure to make the covers of the glossies. I don’t mean to sound too harsh, and I don’t view either of them that way, but celebrities become caricatures for our entertainment and the paper cut outs of these two would make a nice couple.

I’m a big Own Wilson champion in terms of his road to recovery. In his case, he doesn’t just need to recover from addiction, but from depression as well. He’ll also have to deal with lingering feelings about his suicide attempt, which will include both his own issues and the way it impacted those in his life. It’s a painful process, but it seems like the guy is essentially a good person with a good family, and that means everything in a situation like his. There are all sorts of roads to recovery, and when someone has as many issues as Owen, it gets a little more complicated. But I think that - although is treatment plan is certainly unorthodox – he’s trying to figure out something that’ll work for him, and it’s not really possible for the rest of us outsiders to know whether he’s got the right idea.

Owen Wilson, to the shock of his friends and family, is opting for a “sober trip” instead of rehab, says an insider. “Owen believes a spiritual journey, which includes holistic practices, is what can bring him back to total mental and physical health,” says the insider. He also wants to get out of L.A. because “he feels it’s full of negative, harmful energy,” adds the insider.

Owen will first stop in Sedona, Arizona, where he will use a Native American sweat box to get rid of toxins. Also on his itinerary: Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, group drug-addiction meetings at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, hypnosis and rebaptism in a river or lake! The Darjeeling Limited star will be accompanied by a “sober companion” on his trip.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 8, 2007]

I’m a big proponent of both traditional and alternative medicine and healing. I think that a lot of practices beyond the scope of the doctor’s office have merit. Owen is lucky to be in a financial situation where he can avail himself of so many facilities. The guy definitely has some serious issues to deal with, and it sounds like more than anything else, he just wants to be happy. And that is a great thing. As long as we can deal with our sadness a little bit and then move on, there’s hope. I really hope Owen gives himself the time and the space to really get better and feel whole again.

Although it’s been reported that Ben Stiller had to (or chose to, who knows) fire good friend Owen Wilson from his upcoming movie “Tropic Thunder” after Wilson attempted suicide, it appears the two are at least on speaking terms. Stiller was on Ellen DeGeneres’ show on Friday, and said that, though he tries not to talk about it too much, Wilson is doing a lot better. I really hope reports that Stiller fired him aren’t true, as that would make him a giant douchebag, and a terrible friend. People have the right to react to a suicide attempt however they want to, but I can’t imagine anything that would be more thoughtless.

“Ben Stiller says things are looking up for his longtime pal and frequent costar Owen Wilson. ‘He’s doing really well,’ Stiller, 41, tells Ellen DeGeneres on her show Friday. ‘I sort of like to protect his privacy, ’cause I feel like it’s his own thing,’ says Stiller. ‘But he’s a really good friend of mine. He’s an incredible guy and I wish him as everybody does, all the best.’

“Wilson, 38, was set to begin shooting the comedy Tropic Thunder with Stiller this month, but was hospitalized on Aug. 26 for what police called a suicide attempt. He dropped out of the film after issuing a statement requesting that he be allowed to ‘receive care and heal in private during this difficult time.’

“Wilson’s withdrawal from the project – which is about actors on a war movie location where a real battle erupts – was reportedly a mutual decision between him and Stiller, and Matthew McConaughey has stepped in to join the ensemble cast that includes Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Nick Nolte.

“Speaking at Thursday night’s Westwood premiere of his and his son’s latest movie, The Heartbreak Kid, Ben’s dad Jerry Stiller, 80, expressed concern for his son’s best friend and said he was ‘surprised’ to hear of Wilson’s apparent suicide attempt – but he was sure that Wilson would ‘recover.’

“‘I know that he’ll put his life together,’ the elder Stiller, who also costarred with Wilson in 2001’s Zoolander, told PEOPLE. He added that his son has been ‘very close to Owen for most of their careers, and that Ben had been an ‘advocate’ in ‘intervention and all that stuff.’”

[From People]

So I guess they’re still going with the official “mutual decision” line about dropping out of the movie. That preserves everyone’s dignity. I wonder, when Jerry Stiller says that Ben has been an advocate for “intervention and all the stuff,” if he means in terms of Owen’s obvious depression, or his rumored drug/alcohol abuse. Hopefully Wilson will continue to get better, and has lots of loving and supportive people around him. As long as there are good people, he can get better and still have a really great career.

Picture Note by Jaybird: Here’s Ben Stiller with wife Christine Taylor at the premiere for his new movie, “The Heartbreak Kid” yesterday. Header image with mother Anne Meara Images thanks to PR Photos.

The incident that is said to have triggered Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt was a fight with a close friend after he failed to deliver promised material for a comedy project. It was reported that Wilson pulled out of the comedy he was involved in with good friend Ben Stiller after he was hospitalized, but that might not have been the case. Variety reported that the decision for Stiller not to be involved after his illness was “mutual,” but The National Enquirer says that Stiller and Steven Spielberg, who were directing and producing the film, decided they needed to fire Wilson and arranged to have the news delivered to him in his hospital bed.

The film had been shooting for six weeks at that point, according to People, so they probably couldn’t afford to wait any longer. There were millions at stake and Owen was a major liability:

It’s hush-hush and strictly confidential, but tragic comedy star Owen Wilson didn’t “quit” his movie after that drug-fueled suicide bid - my spy reveals he was actually fired by pal Ben Stiller and mogul Steven Spielberg… although both agonized endlessly over how to deliver the blow without sending him over the edge! Even as Wilson was rushed to Cedars-Sinai, director Stiller and producer Spielberg - under the gun because “Tropic Thunger” rolls next month - huddled desperately, debating two major points: (1) Could Wilson recover fast enough to handle the grueling shoot; and (2) would insurers of the multimillion Dreamworks flick underwrite a drug-taker/suicide risk?

“Ben was literally sick about making a decision to fire his good friend,” said an insider - but after hours of deliberation, Stiller and Spielberg concluded Owen had to go! But how to soften the blow? Incredibly, Plan A was to phone Wilson at the hospital and ax him on his bed of pain… gently of course! “Ben proposed calling directly so Owen wouldn’t hear the news from the press or a flunky,” said the insider. “But after family members told them Owen was not in a good state of mind, they realized the direct approach was far too stressful.” Rather than order studio lawyers to contact Wilson’s people, however, Stiller and Spielberg conferenced them personally to deliver the bombshell that Owen was goin’!

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, Mike Walker's column, September 24, 2007]

So instead of having their people contact Owen’s people, Stiller and Spielberg contacted Owen’s people and by eliminating one level of detachment from the situation were able to relieve some of their guilt. At least they considered contacting Owen directly, and it sounds like they were told not to do it that way. Hopefully Owen’s people broke it to him once he was feeling a little better and was able to handle the news.

There’s a really nasty article in this week’s Star Magazine about how Owen must not have really tried to cut his wrists because a recent picture, not the ones from the beach, showed no scars on his right wrist. Photos taken recently on Malibu beach do reveal scars on his left wrist, showing that the suicide attempt did involve some cutting on Owen’s part.

The article is titled “Was it All a Hoax?” and circles a picture of Owen’s right scarless wrist with an arrow pointing to it:

The truth about what happened to Owen Wilson on Aug. 26 has now become a mystery that seems to be getting deeper by the day. While it’s been reported that The Wedding Crashers star sliced his wrists and took drugs in a desperate suicide bid, Star has learned that the entire incident may be cloaked in a cover-up that began right after Owen was found bleeding at his Santa Monica home.

“I’ve seen many patients who have attempted suicide by slashing their wrists, and even weeks later there are red marks and scarring,” says Louis Mueller, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist based near Tampa, who has not treated the actor but has studied photos of him taken shortly after his release from the hospital. “These photos do not computer with attempted suicide by slashing of the wrists.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, September 24, 2007]

The article goes on to say that 911 was not called until an hour after Owen’s brother Luke found him, and brings up the fact that a criminal attorney was called to visit Wilson when he was at the hospital. They then put even more emphasis on the pictures, with another quote from that random psychologist.

Star is grasping at straws. Owen’s other wrist shows a clear scar, which is because he’s probably right-handed and used that hand to cut his left wrist without getting to the other one. Maybe the reports were incorrect that both wrists were slashed, but it’s not some big conspiracy and Star should have passed up that story instead of needlessly speculating about it. The guy needs help, not more grief.

Owen Wilson will forever be known as the celebrity who tried to take his own life, but he has also become a much-needed symbol of the very hidden and deep pain of depression. As I mentioned earlier, Owen shows us that anyone can suffer from mental illness, and that there is no shame in getting help before its too late. While the rest of us yearn for fame and wealth, we may be better off just as we are. Rich celebrities aren’t immune from problems any more than the rest of us, and they’re certainly subject to a lot more nasty speculation about their personal lives.

Owen Wilson is shown in the header image on Labor Day paying a visit to his brother Luke Wilson. Thanks to Splash News for the pic.