Couple's dodgy strategy
Witherspoon, Gyllenhaal make paparazzi disappear like Prince William did by floating story of their split
Witherspoon reportedly was intrigued by the story about the British royal and his longtime girlfriend not really going their separate ways -- just making it look like it.
By faking the split, Witherspoon and Gyllenhaal, co-starring in the upcoming ""Rendition,"" found the paparazzi quickly lost interest.
Of course, now that the attractive couple have been sighted having romantic dinners together again, you can bet that all will change, and very fast.
WEDDING AHEAD: Yellow Pages heiress, philanthropist and ex-congressional candidate Shawn Donnelley and her classics scholar beau Christopher Kelly hosted a big dinner party Wednesday night at the River East Arts Center -- but it actually was something much more: an engagement announcement party -- without the prospective groom!
Sadly, Kelly had a very good reason. Only two days before, he had to rush home to London to be with his mother as she underwent emergency cancer surgery.
Undeterred, Donnelley told the crowd she and Kelly were tying the knot next Aug. 16 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Among those spied leaping up to toast the news were Nora Daley Conroy, Leslie Hindman, Abby O'Neil, Debbie Bricker, Rod Lubeznik, Les Coney, Neal Zucker, Desiree Rogers, Linda Johnson Rice, Julie and Fred Latsko, Susan and Bob Wislow, Susan and Lew Manilow, Sondra and Sid Epstein, George Ranney, Trish Rooney Alden, Scott Hodes, Clark Pellett and Robert Kohl.
SPORTS SHORTS: Even devoted Bears fans will be interested -- to say nothing of the many ''cheeseheads'' in our area -- in the news the National Football League is teaming up with a Hollywood production company to make ''Lombardi,'' a film about legendary Green Bay Packers coach and icon Vince Lombardi, whose name graces the Super Bowl trophy. It's the first time the NFL has ventured into this kind of feature film production.
* The AMC network is similarly joining forces with former L.A. Lakers star Rick Fox, ex-husband of actress and former Miss America Vanessa Williams, to develop an hourlong series about the on-and-off-court lives of pro basketball players on a fictionalized NBA team.
(But you can bet that ''fiction'' will be inspired by a lot of hard-partying true stories!)
LOLLAPA-PARTY: None other than Our Town's own Kanye West will be hosting and performing at the Summer VIP Lollapalooza party beginning at 9 tonight at the Underground -- a fun followup to Thursday night's big Lollapalooza kickoff bash, hosted by Billy Dec and Perry Farrell of Satellite Party, featuring a special performance by Mickey Avalon.
* In town for the big musical fest, West also was a surprise drop-in at the House of Blues Pepsi-Power 92 DJ battle Wednesday night -- performing a three-song gig.
SEEN ON SCENE: Fans of ''The Sopranos'' were happy to see Steve Schirripa (Bobby ""Bacala"" Baccalieri), Scottie Pippen, Richard Dent and William ''The Refrigerator'' Perry at the huge grand opening of the Four Winds Cassino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich. -- entertained by the Pointer Sisters. ... Bob Bryar, drummer for My Chemical Romance, checked out the new Lucky Strike Lanes in Lombard and bowled with a bunch of pals. ... Yes, that was Carrie Underwood and good pal Kelly Clarkson relaxing and doing the spa thing up at the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva.
Bill Zwecker is seen at 6:25 and 11:25 a.m. weekdays on WBBM-Channel 2.