Jennifer Aniston Watch

Pictures have surfaced of Jen and John Mayer leaving Miami - together! While some have thrown around phrases such as “getting serious” regarding the extent to which Jen and John have enjoyed one another’s company, let’s focus on the real star of the show . . .

Norman Aniston, star of many adorable paparazzi pictures, was spotted on Tuesday boarding a plane to leave Miami. While his owner, Jennifer, spoke to personnel about necessary accommodations for the canine, the four-legged star was seen hanging out with musician John Mayer (above). Witnesses tell me that Norman, while generally pleasant, did at times bark demands at his companions; these demands included a water bowl filled with Smartwater and hourly belly rubs. He did, however, gladly oblige when fans approached him for pictures and pawprints.

Where was Norman headed? Well, if Jen’s whereabouts are any indication, he was headed to Orlando, where John performed last night. People reports that Jen was seen backstage at John’s concert, taking photos all the while and even sneaking a kiss:

While Mayer, 30, played an hour-long set at the convention center, Aniston, 39, wearing a tank top and jeans, shot pictures of him from backstage. At the end of the concert, he came back for a kiss before he went out for an encore and played “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty.

Pictures of John onstage can be found here at PopSugar. It is rumored that Norman will next travel to the Philadelphia area, where Jen is set to continue filming Marley & Me. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Owen Wilson has already begun filming in Philadelphia with costar Eric Dane (Inquirer newsroom scenes are set to begin tomorrow), while Jen is due to begin filming her scenes next Tuesday. When asked for comment, Norman chased his tail.

Want more? Check out Christy’s latest entry on Superstar Couples!

It started with a sighting. A little birdie, and by a little birdie I mean Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink general manager Charles Bell, told People that Jen shared a meal with John Mayer on Friday night. She had a salad, he had a sandwich, and they shared a dessert. Stop the presses, stars are just like us! They share dessert!

So of course this led to whisperings all weekend about what this could possibly mean. I read exactly squat into it. After all, past sightings of Jen dining with certain male companions have proved to be, if not completely off the mark, at the very least off on some details. So for me, a bit of photographic evidence would be necessary before I could draw any conclusions. After all, it might have been an appetizer that they shared. Wouldn’t that just change everything?

Well, In Touch has the snaps of Jen and John enjoying some sun together! While this doesn’t necessarily shed light on Friday’s sighting, it is pretty clear that the two are cozy together. The mag goes on to say that John spent a long weekend in Miami, spending time with Jen around town and in her suite at the Mandarin Oriental.

What do we think? I know that there have been reports of Mr. Mayer being something of an interesting character, but let’s not forget that there have been some real doozies spread about Jen without any real basis. The vast majority of us will never really get to know him, but Jen does have that opportunity and as of right now, has chosen to take it, which I think says something. What is apparent is that he is a talented, attractive younger man who has chosen to spend some time with Jen, which to me says that at the very least he has excellent taste. Time will tell where this goes . . . stay tuned.

Go back, way back, to nearly a year ago, when word got out that Jen would be the face of Glaceau’s Smartwater. Think back also to the last time one of her ads appeared in a magazine or on a billboard near you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Well, not to fear - E! Online has revealed that Jen is set to appear in a new series of advertisements for the beverage. Check out a preview here - doesn’t she look gorgeous?

This relaxed, earthy-looking photo, along with others yet to be seen, were taken by photographer Craig McDean near Los Angeles. The photos will appear in magazines and on billboards; sample ad copy reads, “I love the reflection of water, but what I drink is a reflection of me.” If this sneak peak is any indication, this campaign will be a beautiful reflection of Jen! I, for one, cannot wait to see more.

Just a reminder - check out Oprah’s Big Give at 8/7c tonight to catch Jen’s special appearance! Word is that Jen appears to deliver some big news; wonder what that could be?

Miami reader JK wrote to me with details on a Sunday night sighting at Mandarin Oriental’s Martini Bar:

“I was at the bar polishing off my second lychee martini when a group of about five people came in and sat down. As they ordered their drinks one of the voices sounded awfully familiar - sure enough, I looked up and it was none other than Jennifer Aniston, surrounded by friends. One tall, dark, and extremely handsome man had his arm around her - at first, I was willing to dismiss this as simply, you know, friends being friendly.

“However, as they sat down the two of them kept giving each other knowing glances, and once their drinks arrived, the entire party raised their glasses in a toast. Then another gentleman at the table asked Ms. Aniston if he could see ‘it’ again, at which point she extended her left hand towards him. After looking at something on her hand for a moment, he made an inaudible comment on it and then asked her when the ‘big day’ would be, so that he could clear his schedule. After glancing at Tall, Dark and Handsome for a moment, she said that it wasn’t set in stone but that he’d be the first to know, since obviously, she’d need his help. Then a woman at the table raised her glass in another toast . . .

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It was recently reported that Jen attended the opening of Eva Longoria’s restaurant Beso on Tuesday night. As it turns out, the event was a fundraiser for Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, an organization that Jen and Courteney have both supported for a long time. The event’s proceeds supported the foundation’s objectives of research and treatment for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare and extremely painful skin condition characterized by extreme blistering and chronic sores. Many notable names showed up in support of the cause, including Orlando Bloom, Kate Beckinsale, Ken Paves, and Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. In Style has a gallery of photos of the event - Jen can be seen in two of them, wearing something rather familiar . . .

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Attention Jen fans: On April 20, be sure not to miss our girl delivering some “big news” on Oprah’s Big Give. According to Us Weekly, Jen makes her appearance at a pivotal moment in the competition, which urges its contestants to “give big or go home.” Judge (and longtime Jen pal) Jamie Oliver found it hard to keep mum about Jen’s participation in the project:

“What can I possibly say that won’t get my ass kicked?” judge Jamie Oliver told Usmagazine.com before the season started. “I not allowed to say anything — but believe me, I’d love to!”

For those who haven’t already been watching the show (which airs on Sunday evenings on ABC), I do have to say that I recommend it strongly. While the Big Givers aren’t entirely exempt from the pitfalls that befall many reality show contestants (cue the “I don’t want to be eliminated” confessional), it ultimately is inspiring to see the creative, thoughtful ways that the contestants find to better the communities that they visit.

Variety has reported some casting news that will make Grey’s Anatomy fans like myself very, very happy. According to the publication, Eric Dane, who plays Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloane on the show, has been cast in Marley & Me! He will play a friend of John (Owen Wilson) who encourages him to get a dog. That dog, of course, being Marley.

Speaking of such matters, it appears that another role has been filled in this production - that of the dog himself! According to Pet Pourri, a yellow Labrador Retriever by the name of Clyde has been cast as Marley. I can literally say that that is one lucky dog! Follow the above link for some insights on the unique challenges that are inherent in getting a dog to misbehave on cue. Also, those who have read the book might recognize shades of Marley in this article by Susan at My Friendly Pets - for that matter, I think that any dog owner can relate!

Any Floridians in the crowd? According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Lori Wyman Casting is looking for extras of all ages and ethnicities to work on this film. Follow the link for details. As I know that my own experience working on a Jen film was truly an unforgettable one, I would love to see another Jen fan have the opportunity.

Finally, although it has been reported that filming will begin on March 10, it seems that Jen and Owen are in Miami already. According to the Daily Mail, they are both in town for the Miami International Film Festival. Although the linked article includes a pic of Owen soaking up the Florida sunshine, no such pics have surfaced of Jen yet. To be continued . . .

As many anticipated, Jen did attend this weekend’s Night Before The Oscars party, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday night, as one of the event’s hosts. According to Variety, the evening was a huge success, raising $6 million for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Abiding by the motto “taking care of our own,” MPTF is an organization dedicated to meeting the health and social needs of those working in the entertainment industry and their families. Jen was one of many, many stars in attendance that evening, and she kept company with many friends and costars at the bash; in fact, the evening’s guest list read like a game of Six Degrees of Jen! Some notable faces in the crowd:

Christina Applegate (Amy on Friends)
Courteney Cox & David Arquette
The Break-Up costar Jason Bateman
James Burrows (director of some early Friends episodes)
Sacha Baron Cohen
Kristin Davis (Erin on Friends)
Laura Dern
Cameron Diaz
Traveling costar Aaron Eckhart
Melissa Etheridge
He’s Just Not That Into You costar Ginnifer Goodwin
Former Plan B partner Brad Grey
The Good Girl costar Jake Gyllenhaal
The Object of My Affection costar Allison Janney
Universal exec Ron Meyer
Along Came Polly costar Ben Stiller
Derailed executive producer Harvey Weinstein

Meanwhile, the gossips among us have already discussed who was not there, so it would be redundant of me to discuss that as well. Ultimately, what matters is that a lovely time was had by all, as money was raised for a wonderful cause.

Special thanks to Caity for the heads-up!

It seems like it’s been ages since we first heard about Jen’s involvement in Oprah’s Big Give; indeed, a look through the archives confirms that it has been the better part of a year, and with other recent excitement, it is one project that seems to have fallen off the radar of some Jen fans. However, a recent advertisement and addition to the ABC website confirms that the show is set to premiere on March 2nd, with Jen making a special appearance; check out the commercial here.

This advertisement also clarifies any confusion about the format of the show, which in early news items was somewhat unclear; some seemed to suggest that Jen and other celebrities would actually be among the contestants, when in fact her role in the program is slightly different. The premise of the show is to “give big or go home”. Contestants will be given a sum of money, with the task of finding the most effective way of helping others with it. It seems that Jen, along with other celebs including John Travolta and Jada Pinkett Smith, will be on hand to surprise the contestants as they progress through the competition and participate in escalating challenges across the country, while Jen’s friend Jamie Oliver is on the judging panel. At the end of the show, the biggest giver will be surprised with one million dollars!

Looks like a unique premise, and definitely something to look forward to! Be sure to tune in! More screencaps of the advertisement under the jump.

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Production on Traveling continues to roll on, as an abundance of photographic evidence proves. Jen looks gorgeous as always, even as she bundles up amid increasingly chilly temperatures. PopSugar has even more set pictures; not the first time she’s made me really want a trench coat!

News has also surfaced regarding additional cast members in the flick, via The Hollywood Reporter. Notably, John Carroll Lynch, whom Jen fans remember as Retail Rodeo manager Jack Field in The Good Girl will appear as a reluctant seminar guest. Dan Fogler and Martin Sheen are slated to play manager and father-in-law, respectively, to Aaron’s self-help guru, while Judy Greer plays an employee and confidante of Eloise. Joe Anderson of Across The Universe fame also appears - as Eloise’s musician boyfriend. The plot thickens . . .

In other news, Jen is slated to cohost the Night Before The Oscars party, as she has in years past. Details about the full list of cohosts can be found here, and I think that it’s safe to say that anything that can be said about that has already been said. So let’s focus on the important stuff - as always, the event benefits the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and it is entirely plausible that a good time will be had by all.

Speaking of a good time . . . here are a few other pics of Jen and Aaron on the set. As the temps drop (they’re positively frigid here in Chicago), just a little something to keep ya warm. Enjoy!

Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Traveling, Joe Anderson, Judy Greer, John Carroll Lynch, Martin Sheen, Dan Fogler, Night Before The Oscars party

So by now, many celebrity watchers have heard photographer Rik Fedyck’s allegations that in his attempts to take pictures on the Traveling set, he had a run-in with security personnel whom he accuses of using racially-charged language in reference to his companion. Many gossips have also been quick to attach Jen to the occurrence, as it is assumed that the man in question was in her employ, and given her high level of name recognition, any newsworthy occurrence on the set is bound to be reported as an incident on the set of a “Jennifer Aniston movie,” thereby implicating her her by association.

First of all, I’d like to make it clear that even if this man was employed by Jen and not by others associated with the movie, this does not mean that Jen in any way condones such unacceptable behavior. In so many instances, employees show one face to their employers and another when the boss has his or her back turned. So the implication that Jen somehow approves or encourages this is entirely unfair, and makes a bad situation worse. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Secondly, TMZ is now reporting that it was not Jen’s personal security detail that was involved in the incident, but set security, as Jen and her personnel were not present on the set at the time. Furthermore, the report goes on to state that while Fedyck was involved in a confrontation with security at the time that he claims, no racial epithet was used. As this story continues to develop, I do hope that a measure of objectivity can be maintained; while what happened is unfortunate, it would be best for all involved (including media) to focus on the truth of it and not the fact that it just so happened to take place on the set of a Jennifer Aniston movie.

Jennifer Aniston, media bias, Traveling set, photographer, Rik Fedyck

This weekend has brought an assortment of Traveling-related activity; I of course refer both to travel itself and to Jen’s new film. First, Canadian gossip blog Is This Happening reported (most likely separate) sightings of Jen and Aaron Eckhart in Vancouver, where, as we have known for some time now, Traveling has been set to film. In other Canadian news, the blog reports that Jen’s Friends costar Matthew Perry was spotted in Ottawa; given that he spent some of his childhood there, could he have been visiting with family?

Anyway, back to Jen. The blog later got more specific, reporting that Jen was spotted enjoying the fine Italian cuisine at Cioppino’s in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighborhood. Much like she did during her location shoots for Management (Oregon), Derailed (Chicago and London), and The Break-Up (Chicago), she is already avidly sampling local cuisine and culture, setting the stage for an extended stay.

And they’re rolling! Pictures have begun to surface of Jen looking free-spirited and gorgeous in the role of the florist whom Aaron Eckhart’s protagonist meets in his travels as a self-help guru. So far, pics can be found at Just Jared (whose collection is particularly extensive), Flynet, and Faded Youth. The cast and crew were spotted filming at the Hyatt on Sunday - check out that van! From the sounds of it, this film will provide Jen with the opportunity to really tap into her intuitive nature and give a performance that is above all deeply human. I look forward to watching this production progress.

Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Vancouver, sightings, Traveling, Matthew Perry, Cioppino’s, Italian cuisine

As Vince has said, Jen has “Elvis dust”, and it is understandable that any fan would want a bit of the magic. However, very few would go to the lengths that one Oregon woman did. Recent reports indicate that things got a bit exciting on the set of Jen’s recently wrapped film Management. According to this report from KGET, one of Jen’s costumes went missing when a woman broke into Jen’s trailer, posing as a wardrobe assistant. The woman was caught when costar Woody Harrelson saw the woman dancing around in the wedding gown. Jen tended to the woman while others on set contacted local mental health professionals, and presumably, order was soon restored.

In other news, there has been a casting update for another upcoming Jen project; Alan Arkin has been cast in Marley & Me. Arkin, who was recently seen in Little Miss Sunshine, will play the editor of the newspaper where John (Owen Wilson) works. According to Variety, the project is set to begin filming in the spring, and it is already shaping up to be a very exciting prospect. Now the question remains - what lucky dog will play Marley?

Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Management, Alan Arkin, Owen Wilson, Marley & Me, casting

Prior to the start of 2007, Jen had said that she would take some downtime. Well, I don’t know about you, but my downtime doesn’t look like this! This year, our girl made some smart business decisions and won praise for her work both in front of and behind the camera. Furthermore, she has set herself up for a very exciting 2008, with two movies in the can and at least two more lined up. Here’s a rundown of what Jen’s been up to in the past 365 days:

People’s Choice! Jen started the year on a high note, winning the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female Movie Star. She gave a gracious speech with just the right amount of good humor and showed why she is the people’s favorite.

Room 10 makes the rounds Jen’s directorial debut, filmed in the summer of 2006 for Glamour’s Reel Moments series, made its way around the festival circuit, earning a great deal of praise along the way. The film showed at venues that included SBIFF, Aspen Shortsfest, CineVegas (where it won the Short Film Jury Prize), and Palm Springs. This will without a doubt open up many behind-the-camera opportunities for Jen, should she choose to pursue them.

A Smart Move Early in the year, Jen watchers noticed that in many candids, Jen was seen carrying a bottle of Glaceau’s smartwater. In June, we found out that Jen was turning her passion into profit, appearing in billboards and magazine ads for the drink. Jen also invested in the company just before its sale to Coca-Cola, a move that landed Jen on the Forbes list of 2007’s savviest businesswomen.

GLAAD to be Dirty In March, Jen appeared on Courteney’s show Dirt in the Season 1 finale, titled Ita Missa Est. Jen played Tina Harrod, a rival magazine editor with whom Lucy had once had a “four-time thing.” This portrayal, along with Jen’s long history of participation in projects that challenge heteronormative convention, earned her this year’s GLAAD Vanguard Award.

Back On The Set The second half of the year brought a flurry of activity, film-wise. She joined the star-studded cast of He’s Just Not That Into You, and filmed her part in September. She then made her way to Oregon to film a very quirky part in the comedy Management. She has also signed on the dotted to star in Traveling with Aaron Eckhart and Marley & Me with Owen Wilson. Both are set to begin production in early 2008.

With that, I’d like to wish my readers a happy and healthy new year. See you in 2008!

Jennifer Aniston, year in review, films