Feb. 27, 2008

What does an attention-addicted starlet with no discernible skill set have to do to get some media love these days? For Paris Hilton, the answer lies with the guy who has the distinction of being known as the Madden twin who didn't knock up Nicole Richie.

Paris, apparently unhappy with the coverage generated by her recent rumored saliva-swapping sessions with Jared Leto, Simon Rex, Elisha Cuthbert (denied) and Kristin Cavallari, has suddenly been making a major show of her apparent hot-and-heavy new romance with Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, who, until a few weeks ago, was engaged to Australian popster Sophie Monk.

"Yes, they are dating. It's pretty serious," an insider informs People of the insta-squeezes, who over the last few days have acted touchy-feely everywhere from a club in St. Louis (Benji was playing DJ) to tony retailer Fred Segal in Los Angeles.

Hilton and Madden also polished each other's tonsils during a stop last week at Los Angeles hot spot Villa, with a bystander relaying to Life & Style, "She walked over and gave him a huge kiss. It was over the top and lots of tongue was involved," as well as a Sunday night Oscar viewing party at the Polo Lounge.

"It was as if the Academy Awards were not on," a spy tells Us of the PDA-disposed duo. "They clearly didn't care!"

PageSix.com, for its part, has decided to skip right over the paparazzi-documented courtship phase and jump right to engagement talk, claiming that Paris has been sporting a Benji-supplied Tiffany ring on her all-important finger.

"She's the one," Joel's look-alike brother has purportedly been telling pals.

So, how does new mom Richie feel about her sometime BFF making a play for Harlow's uncle?

"She loves it," a Richie friend tells E! Online. "Paris and Nicole are like sisters! And now that they are dating brothers, it's just a great setup. Plus, everyone thinks Benji could be really good for Paris. He's very mature and grounded, like his brother."

Meanwhile, in one of those amazing coincidences that always seem to happen to Paris (e.g. the leak of her sex tape just before the debut of "The Simple Life"), it turns out her new romance comes just as news breaks that she has another TV show in development, which makes sense given that her big-screen dreams are dust after "The Hottie & the Nottie" earned less at the box office than her weekly dog food budget.

"The show is going to be about her searching for a new best friend," a mole helpfully explains to Us. "Paris is tired of the haters and she's looking for someone new. She's looking for someone new and cool who she can trust."

(And really, what better place is there to find a friend you can truly rely on than a reality show?)

According to In Touch, Hilton will hole up in a house in Los Angeles with a gaggle of girls, who will compete to be her new BFF (drama, backstabbing and feuding to follow).

"I never got to go to college," Paris tells the mag, "and this will be my chance to be in a sorority and have that experience."

Plus, she doesn't have to bother with any of that pesky book learnin'.

Next: Smiling Penn Smitten With Younger Model?