The Awful Truth

Is Zac Efron really steppin' into Kevin Bacon’s dancing shoes for Footloose? It’s not a done deal after all...wonder why! Plus, Rachel Bilson hosts a soiree solo, we speculate on comebacks waiting to happen and Catherine Zeta-Jones' actual age! Adolescent girls everywhere got their panties in a bunch last week when it was announced Zac Efron, of High School Musical and Hairspray, is thisclose to signing on to reprise Kevin Bacon's role in a big-screen musical version of Footloose. Paramount is resurrecting the classic 1984 dance flick and Kenny Ortega, who directed Zac in HSM, is reportedly slated to direct.

But not so fast, say industry insiders. "It hasn't even been greenlighted," says a source close to Ortega. "As far as he knows, it's still just in the idea stages and nowhere close to casting. And Zac hasn't even been approached about the role, much less cast."

Hmmm...personally, we're not sure how we feel about the adorable yet underage Zac steppin' into Kev's shoes ourselves. He seems a little too young, a little too innocent...a little too unf--kable, perhaps?

Of course, we're crassly alluding to the infamous casting couch history that went down over Bacon with the original Footloose. You remember that one, right? Dawn Steel, the former prez of Paramount Pictures, was waving around a pic of Kevy and declaring him un-ef-able. Everyone knows the Industry's a bitch, but this was one of the first times the word was tossed around so freely, let's say—and by a gal, nonetheless! Obviously, audiences and horny gals everywhere disagreed with her sentiments.

As for Efron, we'll reserve final judgement on whether he fits the part till we see him in Hairspray. After all, he actually does his own vocals this time around (he had some help with them in HSM, remember?). 'Cause who wants to sit through a musical adaptation of Footloose if the star's warbling can't cut the musical mustard? Not moi.

Rachel Bilson was the hostess Wednesday evening for denim designers Chip & Pepper's thang for C7P, their new, lower-priced line for JCPenney. Rach hit the Sunset Tower shindig without her main whatever, Hayden Christensen, whom she's been seen canoodling with from Canada to Cali. Maybe affordably priced fashion just isn't Hayden's cup o' tea, huh?

A couple that did make the scene together was Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy. The lovey-dovey duo shared a table with designers and yukked it up over cocktails.

Must say, Jim's lookin' not so hot these days. He needs a haircut and a facial peel, pronto. Jen-doll was cute and blond as evah, though. Other primo partyers got busy makin' their own tees at the silk-screening booth outside.

But all the good, clean fun came to an abrupt halt around 10:30 peeyem. Not only did the bar run out of glasses, causing peeps to recycle their tumblers (ick), but a hotel bigwig ended up shutting both bars down and they ran outta gift bags. Big-time bummer! Luckily, most of the celebs were gone by this terrible time, having imbibed their share of cocktails and picked up their swag bags, not sure if Debra Messing was one of them.

Who said the '80s were dead? Transformers is now a hit, Scott Baio came out of nowhere to star in a reality TV show (he's no Paula Abdul, I must say) and now newly slim Valerie Bertinelli will write a memoir titled Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time. The book depicts growing up in front of the camera, her marriage to Eddie Van Halen, battling depression and how she was finally able to take control of her life, ultra-Oprah stuff.

So, the '80s seem to be the decade peeps most like to gab about when exchanging all of their back-in-the-day stories, but I say we're ready for a change. We gossip girls are tired of the '80s comeback, so let's make the transition into the '90s already, 'kay? I'm talkin' fashion with a twist, legit grunge bands and, most important, childhood actors.

The person I'd most like to see emerge from the old-school woodwork has to be Saved by the Bell hottie Mark-Paul Gosselaar. He is lookin' good nowadays, kinda like a hotter, buffer, less scruffy version of Shane West.

Gosh, just what would be a good project for MPG's debut? Open a restaurant and call it the Max! I'm talking jukebox, delish bad-for-you food, old-fashioned booths and waiters who perform magic tricks. Instead of a hangout for Bayside kids, it could be a low-key spot where all the young stars can have some clean fun in H'wood. Postrehab, obvs.

Readers, what the hell would you all most like to see back from the previous decade, eh?

Yuck. My pal Jeanne Wolfe, of movie.com, one of the broads who's often backstage at all these awards shows I attend and who says much nicer things than do I, is, infuriatingly, at it again.

J.W., who sometimes pens for the McDonald's of journalism, Parade (hey, I live for a Big Mac once in a while, no thanks to Morgan Spurlock), recently interviewed one of her big, splashy kahunas, Catherine Zeta-Jones. And as Jeanne, who's really a wicked wit (in person), sometimes throws me her saltier insights, I shot her a question about Cathy-poo's age rumors. Practically everybody says CZJ—who claims to be, what, 14?—is much older than she says she is. I think so, too—at least, a bit.

I asked Jeanne, who saw Michael Douglas' other half without makeup while getting ready for her fancy-schmancy photo shoot, if she thought that, yes, perhaps she was a tad older?

"I think the age thing is a mean myth," J.W. snapped. "She started onstage when she was 10 in England."

You mean in 1970? Kidding, Jeanne! (Kinda, sorta, not really.)

Thanks, Ms. W., you are reliably benevolent to the end.