The spin cycle is going full tilt for Hayden Panettiere, 18, and Milo Ventimiglia, 30, who, after initially denying dating whispers, stepped out hand-in-hand over the weekend for a paparazzi-documented night at the movies. "They were tired of avoiding questions and of all of the effort of keeping it secretive," a source close to the starlet explains to Us Weekly. Besides, the snitch adds, "She didn't want people thinking she is a 'ho' because she jumped from one relationship into another." The outing came on the heels of People anointing the "Heroes" honeys an official item and Hayden's mom giving them her unofficial blessing, a stamp of approval that's reiterated to Us. "Milo is such a good guy, honest and sweet," gushes an insider, with another mole playing down the unsettling 12-year age difference between the on-screen uncle and niece by declaring, "She is really like a 30-year-old." (Except she can't legally drink, or rent a car, but anyhoo ...) According to the mag, Ventimiglia has been sweet on Panettiere for a while but waited until she parted ways with reality show beau Stephen Colletti late last summer to make his move. "He always had a crush," reveals a mole, "but really let her know the minute she broke up with Stephen." Coincidentally (or not), Hayden's uncoupling with Colletti came right around the time she turned 18, a date Milo had been waiting for. When asked in December 2006 what he found "attractive" about his teen co-star, he offered, "Ask me Aug. 21 [her 18th birthday], and I'll tell you a zillion things."

"Let's keep this thing private ... at least until after we break up."

Vince Vaughn preferred to keep his piehole pretty much sealed when he was dating Jennifer Aniston, but now that their romance is ancient history (in Hollywood time, anyway -- it ended in late 2006), he's happy to blab. "I have such a great friendship with Jennifer. Really. I still talk to her constantly," the puffy-eyed, barrel-chested funnyman tells Parade of his "Break-Up" co-star. "I have a real, genuine connection with Jen. And I have a real appreciation of her. That continues to this day." But does that appreciation extend to current leading lady Reese Witherspoon, with whom he's rumored to be feuding on the set of "Four Christmases" (for a plot summary, just refer to this old episode of "Will & Grace")? Despite rumors that the mismatched pair has battled over everything from acting styles (he supposedly likes to improvise while she's a one-take wonder) to the script (one report said she wanted to nix their sex scene), Vaughn insists everything is just ducky. "That couldn't be further from the truth. I adore her," he ever-so-slightly oversells. "She's not only a great actress, she's very funny. We've been having a really good time ... The two of us get along great."

Looks like John Mayer is back on the market, although it's likely his new solo status will have little effect on his socializing schedule. Us Weekly reports the comely, field-playing crooner has called it quits with "Friday Night Lights" actress Minka Kelly, whom he began seeing in the fall. "He just wasn't ready to commit to Minka or to anyone," an insider tells the mag. "She was disappointed to say the least. She was really happy but wanted a full commitment." A Mayer confidante offers up an opposing view of the relationship, explaining, "From his perspective, he is single and has been seen out with her. Nobody ever said he was planning a wedding with anyone." And judging by tabloid reports, no one was expecting one. Late last year, the singer-songwriter was reportedly spied in New York "dirty dancing" with summer fling Cameron Diaz and plying his charms on a low self-esteem-suffering blonde. Still, sources tell People that John and Minka are "still friends." No word on whether their breakup means Ricki Lake, whom Mayer recently fessed up to having a childhood crush on, is eagerly awaiting his call.

That sound you hear? It's fans of the New York Giants collectively groaning in disappointment over Jessica Simpson's decision to skip Dallas Cowboys beau Tony Romo's playoff game on Sunday. A rep for the alleged bad mojo-bringing blonde tells the New York Post she'll be a no-show at the stadium because she's working on her upcoming country album. As for the quarterback, who was recently snapped enjoying a Mexican getaway with his squeeze, her parents and a few of his teammates, he takes issue with claims the high-profile romance is causing him to lose sight of what's really important in life -- tossing that ball to victory. "I don't care about perception," he tells the Dallas Morning News. "People like to believe everything they read and hear and stuff, but I'm content in my own skin."

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