the buzz log

Below the purple haze of American politics, beyond the sheer historicity of Election Day, were events of passing significance. In other words, other things happened besides the U.S. elections. Take a breather from gloried events and muse over monsters from Mexico, excessive palimony payments, and literary figures who said goodbye.

The Creature From the Lake Resort
The axolotl: so elusive, so slimy, so near extinction. USA Today examined the possible fate of Mexico City's water monster, aka the Mexican walking fish. Scientists aim to save the creature, which has so far survived conquistadors, fishing, pollution, tourism, and singing gondoliers. The salamander has been the stuff of Aztec legend and Ogden Nash poetry, but may survive only another five years without help. People need way more time than that to practice pronouncing ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl.

The Realities of Romance
Reality TV pseudo-celebrities decided this week "yes we can" and "no we can't" when it came to matrimonial alliances. "The Bachelorette" DeAnna Pappas, once publicly rejected, did the spurning this time when she ended her engagement to Jesse Csincsak. The move also resulted in Pappas (metaphorically) shoving aside Rahm Emanuel as the fastest moving search term in the last seven days (+136,990%). "Girls Next Door" star Kendra Wilkinson, obviously so on the rebound from Hugh Hefner, announced her engagement to NFL wide receiver Hank Baskett. Lastly, Simon Cowell's longtime gal pal Terri Seymour dumped the "American Idol" judge last week, but she burst into Buzz for getting a nearly $10 million parting gift. This should re-inflate Simon's ego: The New Republic suggests Cowell "saved American democracy." Now that's surreal.

Epilogue: Literary Farewells
Michael Crichton was the latest literary figure to pass on in the past few weeks. Cinematical honors the thriller author's best seven onscreen translations. The author, who died of cancer at age 66, follows the departures of oral historian Studs Terkel, mystery writer Tony Hillerman, and New Age instigator Marilyn Ferguson.

Also buzzing...
• Soap star Lisa Rinna admits to plastic surgery overload.
• New Hampshire wants kids out of high school and into college by their sweet sixteen.
• OK, for the political junkies: Election Day search by search, John McCain's elegant concession, and a linguist's take on Barack Obama's speech.

Filed under: Celebrities, Celebrity Couples, Authors, Science, Fish

Three months may not seem like a long time, but then again, things always move quicker in Hollywood. This may help explain the recent announcement that Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are planning a "trial marriage."

Translation: no wedding, but plenty of time to decide who gets control of the remote and takes out the trash. After three months together, Mayer and Aniston are playing house. And hey, in another three months, if things go well, then they can talk wedding. If not, they can always get trial divorced.

Speaking of not-so-happy endings, after their three-month romance, Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong decided to end it. According to Us Magazine, "There was no drama or ugliness - they just decided to end things...There is no hatred, just sadness."

No ugliness or drama? No, that only happens in six-month relationships.

Jamie Lynn Spears clearly believes in trials. First beau, then baby, and now the former "Zoey 101" star is reportedly planning a wedding by year's end to her finace and baby daddy, Casey Aldridge, according to OK Magazine.

The magazine also reports that, despite pesky tabloid rumors that Sarah Jessica Parker's husband Matthew Broderick, cheated on her, the two are said to have an "unconventional but successful union." Maybe they should have had a trial first.

Filed under: Celebrity Couples, Jennifer Aniston

Ever since word hit that Hollywood’s hunkiest bachelor is free, free, free, Buzz has been aglow with articles about George Clooney. “Clooney loose,” cried the New York Post. “George is back on the market,” declared the New York Daily News. “Time to take up cocktail waitressing,” crooned Shine. Searchers were so eager for more on the split that lookups for Clooney’s ex, Sarah Larson, rose a staggering 9,582% yesterday.

While Sir George was breaking up, other celebs were hooking up – or at least, enjoying the attention of such rumors. David Cook, the newest winner of “American Idol,” stirred searches with speculation that he might be dating another ex-Idol, Kimberly Caldwell. Queries for the lucky lady promptly posted a 9,446% gain.

Cynthia Nixon, meanwhile, sparked a flurry of attention by appearing publicly with her long-time girlfriend, Christine Marinoni. Search logged a slew of queries for “cynthia nixon girlfriend,” while New York Magazine pondered how this attention plays in to the publicity for the “Sex and the City” opening.

Actors and singers aren’t the only public figures to grab attention this week with news of their significant others. Among the week’s fastest moving “girlfriend” searches, athletes also scored points for driving searchers to the Web for more on their love...

Filed under: Celebrity Couples