Hookup Shakedowns

We dish less pungent dirt on the whispered end of Reese and Jake's recent relationship, and you won't find these details in People! Plus, Jennifer Hudson wows 'em in Miami while Dylan McDermott puts 'em to sleep, and Robert Downey Jr. carries some questionable baggage!

Certain H-town know-it-alls claim Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal plan to (again) end their romance. “They were never romantically involved,” relayed a close amiga to both stars. “They were just very good friends, trying to help each other out.” For the moment, I’ll leave the why on that particular non-Cupid score alone. After all, could have been for any number of reasons—a messy end to a relationship with horndog Ryan Phillippe will leave any girl ripe for some good ol’ hand-holding, trust.

But look, Reese is a guaranteed movie star. She has an Oscar. She can open a movie. True, she’s had her share of bombs (Rendition with Jake, for ince), but she’s not exactly cautioning her every public move. She can afford to sass ‘n’ screw around a little more than Jake can. Gyllenhaal’s career is still climbing and somewhat unproven, less so Reese’s.

That’s just one reason why a lotta Jakey’s buds have been getting increasingly miffed by the relationship between Reese and Jake (which People had the guffaw-inducing temerity to call “low-key,” after it ran any java-run pic of the two babes it could get its hot little Time Inc. hands on). Gyllenhaal’s friends—who really got tested by this whatever with Reese—feel J.G. was letting himself be used.

“He didn’t need to do this,” bitched one particularly frustrated companion to Jake. “His career was fine. His friends are fine. He has a family. I don’t know why he felt the need to attach himself to Reese like that. Well, I do. But he didn’t need to do it.”

Oh, whatev. Certainly wouldn’t be the first time two famous folks hooked up because they thought it would be a personal and professional tabloid shot in the arm. Hookin'-up hijinks usually don't work out that way. Don’t believe me? Ask Pam and what’s his name.

But back to R 'n' J. Think Jakey finally got sick to death of so many of his buds lampooning him, to put it very mildly, for being Reese’s bitch.

You two, could it possibly be true? Is dimpled paradise ending for you both?

Robert Downey Jr., rocking a man purse. "He actually made it look pretty darn cool," said our scrutinizing onlooker of the infamous Oscar-nominated actor’s black bag. Rob, who was also wearing rose-colored shades, was seen strolling through the Brentwood Farmers' Market hand in hand with his wife-unit, Susan, Sunday. The former Brat Packer looked "dang fit and damn happy" and breezily chatted up vendors, despite a lone paparazzi snappin' pics. Jeez, how that guy’s tabloid rep sure has changed. Looking just as quasi delish elsewhere was...

Chace Crawford, havin' a boys' night out in South Beach. The Gossip Girl hottie hit Kobe Club with JC Chasez and Shawn Pyfrom Saturday night. What, were they on their way to a hair salon for fab SoBe highlight tips, I wonder? C2 had on a black tee and the requisite by-the-sea scruff goin' on. Later, the boys headed to the Florida Room at the Delano, where newly single Dylan McDermott was hanging out with Diddy. Way to get back out there, bro! On second thought, not sure the Didster’s such a great idea for moving on in any kind of a lasting way, have to ask J.Lo about that one sometime. Hanging at a less flashy locale was...

Stephen Colbert, having a far less visible outing while lunching with his sons and niece. The cable funnyman was grubbin' with a beer at Poe's Tavern in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, going unnoticed by most diners. The failed presidential candidate was wearing a baseball cap and looked clean shaven and "like a total geek." It’s a wonder that alone couldn’t get the man into the Oval Office. Certainly worked before.

Oh, and on that newly single Dylan McDermott, he hosted a New Year's Eve bash at the Setai, where Oscar owner and chicken wing aficionado Jennifer Hudson was crooning. But apparently, Dylan failed to impress the crowd. "He was totally lacking in energy when he came on stage to introduce her," bitched one sandy, hard-to-please partyer. Thankfully, Jen Hudson knows how to work a crowd. She was rocking a tight red dress and a chic new bob for her performance and even invited a gay on stage to sing with her. And you know how we homos hyperventilate in sitches like that. Love it! So did those who were bummed by ho-hum man D.M.

Miz Hudson also took Q's from fans and made lotsa eye contact during her performance. And she made sure people got their money's worth for the event. She was supposed to go back to her suite, postperformance, but instead decided to stay and mingle 'n' masticate. And Jen was joined by her b-f, James Payton, whom she cuddled up to all night. Looks like the rumor a while back that she'd broken up with her man-toy of eight years was just that.