John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston's relationship worries friends
BUDDING ROMANCE | Aniston falls for a lothario, worrying her friends
With all the buzz about Jennifer Aniston's involvement with John Mayer, it's not surprising a number of the actress' closest friends -- including the ones from "Friends" -- are concerned.
"It's not that we don't like John, it's just that he does have that reputation as something of a serial dater who never sticks with one woman very long,'' said a close buddy of Aniston.
(AP files)
PHOTO GALLERY
John Mayer's ladies
News of a romance between John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston broke last month when the Miami Herald spotted the duo acting "all cozy" during lunch at a restaurant there. Aniston was in Florida filming "Marley & Me." In Touch reported Mayer checked into the Four Seasons hotel but spent hardly any time there, hanging out instead at Aniston's suite at the Mandarin Oriental.
No question about it, the singer has been linked to a long list of stars, including the Pussycats Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Simpson and Cameron Diaz -- with whom he's remained so close, he attended her dad, Emilio's, recent funeral.
Aniston herself reportedly is worried -- mainly because she really likes Mayer. "It wouldn't be a big deal if this was just a casual thing,'' said the friend. "But Jen isn't into 'casual'. ... She wants a real, solid, genuine relationship.''
STILL OBSESSED: Then there's this new development: Just when we thought Aniston had let go of the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt thing, recent press coverage of Brangelina being in the South of France "has made Jen brood about all that all over again,'' another Aniston source told me Tuesday.
MAYER'S SECRET: As for the dark-haired crooner, Aniston -- like many of the women Mayer's dated -- finds the music man attractive for several reasons. "For one thing, when he's with a woman, he makes her feel like she's the only person in the room -- even in the middle of a crazy, busy, loud nightclub,'' said a longtime music industry associate of the singer.
While he's reportedly a very considerate, knowledgeable lover who's very attentive to a woman's physical needs, it's Mayer's charm and sparkling personality that seem to really hook the ladies in his life.
"He's very old-fashioned about a woman -- opening doors, standing when a woman comes to the table ... things like that,'' said the music industry source.
"Even when it comes to bringing or sending flowers. John doesn't just grab a bunch of roses. No, he will pick out individual flowers and create his own personalized bouquets. I've heard him spend 45 minutes on the phone with a favorite florist, methodically describing exactly what he wants.''
ABOUT THE RUMORS: While Aniston discounts most of the gossip reports -- of Mayer making out with a model here or smooching with a club-hopping party girl there -- "after a while, you have to admit that there's a pattern,'' added the Aniston insider.
Unless she gets a firm commitment from him -- regarding faithfulness -- that Aniston-Mayer hookup could come unhinged.
• Supposedly even Sheryl Crow -- who introduced Aniston to Mayer -- is having second thoughts about her matchmaking. I hear she's phoned Aniston to say she's a fan of Mayer but thinks he's not yet ready to be serious with just one woman.
HE KEEPS TRACK: A source who has worked with Mayer confirms the singer is very attracted to women who make headlines. Apparently he keeps a "fame book,'' a fairly detailed diarylike album of all the celebrities he's bedded. Along with personal photos he's snapped of Simpson, Diaz and the rest, he includes notes sent him by the women, clippings of celebrity magazine articles linking him with them and printouts of e-mail messages they've sent him.
"Just think what that would go for on eBay,'' quipped a Mayer pal who claims to have seen the "fame book.''
• While Mayer has been pretty cagey about the Aniston romance, he was a bit more forthcoming at the annual Costume Institute gala at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art Monday night -- telling A.J. Calloway of the TV show "Extra,'' "I don't mean to deny it, but sort of deflect it,'' when asked about dating Aniston.
"You have the photograph," Mayer said, apparently referring to the In Touch photo spread of the couple lunching and lounging together in Miami. "You think it's Photoshopped?''
Clearly any recent shots of the couple together are the real deal.
Bill Zwecker is seen at 5:50, 6:25 and 11:25 a.m. weekdays on WBBM-Channel 2.