On Monday, the news of the sudden split between comedians Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman was a big surprise to most. But new rumors are swirling that Jimmy already had a new love interest in the form of his show’s head writer, Molly McNearny. Molly started her career at the show as an assistant writer, and appeared in a couple skits with Jimmy and others. Now, the young blond has been promoted to head writer–and may be dating her boss on the sly.

Jimmy Kimmel, low-rated late nite host and our bestest bud in the whole wide world, has broken up with his longtime girlfriend, comedienne Sarah Silverman. And now we’re told by an anonymous tipster that he has already taken up with a new lady. And not just any lady. Her name is Molly McNearney (Holly Johnson’s just a character she played in a skit) and she’s been promoted all the way (with one stop in between) from assistant to head writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! by the sex problem-having former Man Show (ugh) host.

[From Gawker]

I’d like to believe this isn’t true. The fact that it’s Gawker, and they obviously have an ax to grind with Kimmel, who dissed them while guest hosting the Larry King show, make this news suspect. However, it’s no secret that Jimmy messed around on his first wife, and he does seem to be attracted to funny women he works with. He met Sarah when they worked together on “Crank Yankers.” It’s not totally out of the realm of possibilities that he would become interested in a pretty young writer on his show.

Jimmy Kimmel is shown at “Taste For A Cure” on 6/21/08. Credit: Jody Cortes / WENN. Jimmy Kimmel’s potential girlfriend is shown in a screenshot from the show, thanks to Gawker.

Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman on 4/26/08. Credit: Faye Sadou / WENN
Somewhere, the former Mrs. Jimmy Kimmel is having a good laugh- and not over his hilarious “I’m F#$%ing Ben Affleck” video. Jimmy and fellow comedian girlfriend Sarah Silverman have split, according to a report that was posted at Us Weekly earlier today, which was mysteriously removed moments later.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel and comic Sarah Silverman have called it quits after five years of dating, a rep for the couple confirms to Usmagazine.com.

The break up was mutual, a source says.

Silverman, 37, was spotted at Hugos in West Hollywood on Saturday with a male friend.

“She really looked like she was in good spirits,” an observer tells Us. “She was laughing and smiling. Very animated.”

But a few minutes later, Silverman – who ate organic quinoa topped with fresh fruit – grew somber and became enthralled in a heart-to-heart conversation with her pal.

“She was talking and it looked like he was listening and then advising her,” the onlooker tells Us. “This went on for around 20 minutes.”

Mutual friend Jonah Hill – who has appeared in comedy skits on Kimmel’s ABC show – was dining in the restaurant and also stopped by to say hello.

“Jonah’s appearance definitely had an effect on her,” a witness tells Us. “They spoke for just a minute. And after he left, Sarah looked momentarily pensive.”

Kimmel, 40, and Silverman celebrated their five-year anniversary in February by creating parodies for his show about sleeping with half of Hollywood

Silverman began the faux rivalry with her tune, “”I’m F—king Matt Damon.” Kimmel joked to Us at the time that he “hope[s] they’re happy together!”

Kimmel got his revenge with “I’m F—king Ben Affleck” — starring Brad Pitt delivering a FedEx package, Harrison Ford blowing the couple a kiss and Cameron Diaz making obscene gestures.

The pair met during a roast for Hugh Hefner, where Silverman told the audience he was fat and joked he had no charisma — but that didn’t stop them from working together.

“He hired me to do voices on [Comedy Central’s] Crank Yankers and around the second season of that we started hanging out,” Silverman has said. “A while after that he kissed me.”

Kimmel separated from his wife Gina in 2002 after 14 years of marriage. Silverman has said she wouldn’t consider getting married until gay marriage is legalized.

[From Us Weekly’s RSS Feed, dated 3:04 EST 7/14/08]

Sarah and Jimmy just headlined a benefit concert in Manchester, NH, Sarah’s hometown. Sarah was the star of the show, with Jimmy serving as host. The concert was to benefit the theater group founded by Sarah’s mother, who still lives in NH.

Jimmy left his wife to hook up with Sarah, but somehow Sarah managed to dodge that “homewrecker” reputation so many other women get in her position. Maybe it was because Jimmy isn’t exactly a looker, and at the time, he wasn’t as famous and successful as he is now. Five years is a long time in Hollywood, and there sure are a lot of funny memories in the wake of their breakup.

Update by Celebitchy: The story is back up on US Weekly’s website, and may just have been waiting for some editing. It’s such a big story that we were on it right away and thought there was some funny business going on with US initially pulling it.

In Tuesday’s new issue of Vanity Fair, famed photographer Annie Leibowitz captures a photo shoot of some of entertainment’s funny women dressed as Hollywood’s most troubled starlets. The shoot is part of a story in VF about the rise of female comedians like Tina Fey and Sarah Silverman.

The ladies channel pop tarts for the photog (it’s doubtless Amy Winehouse ever got a laugh for political parody). Sarah does her best Amy, complete with pinup-girl tattoos, The Office sweetheart Jenna Fischer goes Lindsay Lohan (center) and Wanda Sykes gets nasty as Lil Kim (right).

“There is no question that there are a million more funny women than there used to be,” writer Nora Ephron says of the featured femmes, also including E!’s Chelsea Handler (second from left) and Sandra Bernhard (left).

Alessandra Stanley’s cover story explores the recent inundation of female-driven comedy that, while capturing mass audiences (good move on f***ing Matt Damon, Sarah), relies heavily on sex appeal.

30 Rock creator Tina thinks you can thank Jennifer Aniston for that.

“In the ’90s, it seemed like every person on a sitcom — think of the cast of Friends —was just really foxy,” Tina says.

Joan Rivers echoes the sentiments.

“Nowadays, you can’t even get on open mike with less than a C cup,” the Botoxed comedy vet said.

The issue, C cups and all, hits newsstands nationwide next Tuesday.

[From Page Six]

Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam on “The Office,” says the idea of playing Lindsay Lohan in a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz was such a source of stress and excitement, she had trouble sleeping the night before the shoot.

Turns out Jenna, 33, was more concerned with impressing the legendary photographer shooting her than with La Lohan.

“I couldn’t sleep the night before the shoot because I was so nervous to be shot by Annie Leibovitz. As a result I would sit and stare off into space when she was focusing on the other girls,” Jenna tells PageSix.com.

And about Lindsay?

“Then all of a sudden I’d hear Annie say, ‘That’s perfect, Jenna!’ and she’d be clicking away,” the actress says. “I guess for me, channeling Lindsay meant not getting enough sleep.”

[From Page Six]

I think it’s great that female comic actors are getting some much deserved attention, but it is ironic that the girls they’re lampooning in the shoot get more attention for their drug-addled, cooch-flashing antics, though. Tina Fey has more talent in her pinky finger than Blohan, Paris and Britney put together, if you ask me.

Pictures from Vanity Fair via ONTD.