Jessica Simpson's New Man: John Mayer  —  Jessica Simpson is embarking on a not-so-public affair — with singer-songwriter John Mayer, PEOPLE has confirmed.  —  "She's tiptoeing back into the dating world," a source tells PEOPLE.  "It's the first stage.  She's never been happier."

HILTON'S CD IS INSTANT TANKER  —  PARIS Hilton's career as a pop star is fizzling as quickly as one of her blink-and-you'll-miss-it relationships.  —  In its first week out of the gate, Hilton's first CD is being widely seen as a certified flop.  "Paris," which features the single …

CLEANING UP LINDSAY'S ACT  —  BILLION-heir Harry Morton is trying his best to save Lindsay Lohan from herself - and it looks like he's doing a good job.  "Harry has told her not to drink so much and is trying to calm her down," said our spy.  Lohan was scheduled to hit town …

Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson are giving love another chance  —  It looks like Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson aren't over after all.  Just two weeks ago the couple announced that they were separating after 6 years of marriage.  Speculation was rampant that Kate was romancing her "You, Me and Dupree" co-star Owen Wilson.

Cruise Makes Financing Deal With Investors  —  The actor, whose ties with Paramount were cut last week, will get up to $3 million a year to cover the overhead of his production company.  —  Tom Cruise cut a limited financing deal Monday with a group of investors who include the owner …

Lachey, DiScala Buy Basketball Team  —  Nick Lachey and A.J. DiScala have long been friends, and now they're business partners in the perfect venture: The two sports fans are starting a basketball team.  —  They, along with a group of celebrity owners, on Tuesday announced the formation of …

My Chemical Romance, Fergie Performing At VMA Preshow  —  'Red Carpet on the Rock' preshow airs Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.  —  Fergie will kick off Thursday's Video Music Awards celebration by opening up the "Red Carpet on the Rock" preshow with a performance of her #1 hit "London Bridge."

Matt Leinart To Be a Dad  —  Football star Matt Leinart is going to be father.  The Arizona Cardinals quarterback and USC women's basketball player Brynn Cameron are expecting a baby in the fall.  —  Leinart, one of PEOPLE's Most Beautiful People this year, graduated from USC in December 2005 …

NBC 'Regrets' Conan's Crash Skit  —  NBC executives apologized Monday for the Emmy Awards opening skit that showed host Conan O'Brien surviving a plane crash and aired the same day a real crash in Kentucky killed 49 people.  —  "Our hearts and prayers go out to the many families who lost loved ones …

Flavor of Love 2's Toastee Speaks!  —  Foofy Foo left Toastee in tears as he told her she had to go, because of some nude modeling she did in the past.  She was evicted from the Flavor of Love mansion on this past week's episode after Nibblz told Foofy that she was a porn star and was lying about it.

Colin Farrell gets 3-year restraining order against woman  —  SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Actor Colin Farrell has obtained a three-year restraining order against a woman who confronted him during a taping last month of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  —  The preliminary injunction issued …

Sarah Connor Chronicles Gets the Green Light  —  Warner Bros.  TV has set David Nutter to direct the pilot for "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," prompting Fox Broadcasting to officially greenlight production on the "Terminator"-themed project.  —  Nutter, whose last 12 pilots have all been picked …

Jim Carrey & Jenny McCarthy  —  Jonesing for Japanese  —  Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy had a romantic date at the hopping little sushi restaurant Takao (11656 San Vicente Blvd) in Brentwood this past Friday.  Jim, 44, and Jenny, 33, cuddled in the corner outside of Takao while waiting for the valet to bring their car.

Katie's Extreme Makeover?  —  "Talk about a waistline touch-up," an e-mailer says:  —  The left photo is the official first-pic-of-Katie released by CBS at this year's upfront.  (TVNewser posted it in May.)  The right photo is an edited version of the same photo, from the September issue of Watch magazine, which is owned by CBS.

Angelina Jolie Angers Brad's Mom  —  Angelina Jolie reportedly offended Brad Pitt's mother by drinking at son Maddox's fifth birthday party.  —  Brad's family flew in from their hometown in Missouri to visit granddaughter Shiloh Nouvel but allegedly left early because they were unhappy with her behavior at the party.