Hookup Rumors: George Clooney Checking Into Hilton?

Geez, here it is, just a few days into 2009, and we're all but ready to crown a winner for the least believable romantic rumbling of the year.

In what we assume is a belated Christmas gift to Paris Hilton from the tabloids, Life & Style and In Touch are both claiming the "down to earth" but increasingly relevance-impaired blonde has been cozying up to George Clooney.

(We'll pause for a second to give your rolling eyes a chance to return from inside your skull and refocus.)

Seems the Oscar-winning, typically brunette-preferring, two-time Sexiest Man Alive, 47, who split from Las Vegas cocktail waitress Sarah Larson in May, and Hilton, 27, who called it quits with "best friend" Benji Madden in November, were twice spotted out together in Los Angeles last month.

The first sighting took place on Dec. 19 at the Whiskey Bar, where George and Paris (that just sounds so wrong) supposedly chitchatted, downed drinks, flashed their pearly whites and maintained constant eye contact.

"They were laughing and smiling at each other throughout the night," a spy tells L&S, with another adding to In Touch, "They were gazing into each other's eyes and smiling and laughing."

The following night, the implausible pair was reportedly seen breaking bread at Dan Tana's with an eclectic group that included the starlet's ersatz BFF Brittany Flickinger; prolific, money-printing writer Tyler Perry; and director Ridley Scott, who presumably wasn't quizzing Hilton on how she got into character for "The Hottie and the Nottie."

"Paris was flirting big-time," an eyewitness recalls to In Touch. "And George was soaking it up."

While the now mercifully porn-stache-free George spent the holidays unnecessarily working on his perma-tan in Mexico with pals Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and Paris did her best to boost Australia's economy by going on a shopping spree before her New Year's Eve hosting gig in Sydney, a source assures L&S, "They definitely plan to get together in the new year."

We contacted Clooney's rep about the Hilton hookup tale but received the standard "we don't comment on his personal life" response.

Paris, for her part, was happy to blab to L&S, not so coyly downplaying, "George is a very nice guy. We're just friends."

Meanwhile, Drew Barrymore and Jason Segel are also playing up the pal angle, despite repeated public tonsil-polishing sessions.

Less than a month after the oats-sowing actress was seen "rubbing" and "kissing" the "How I Met Your Mother" funnyman at Los Angeles' Chateau Marmont comes word that they were joined at the lips during a night out at the Dresden Room on Dec. 20.

"Drew was making out with him for most of the night," a spy tells People, with another onlooker adding, "Jason pulled her chair closer and planted a kiss on Drew's lips."

Barrymore, 33, who pried said lips off Justin Long last July after nearly a year of nonstop PDA and was snapped sucking face with "Gossip Girl" star Ed Westwick in October, was also recently caught on camera warbling the Muppets standard "The Rainbow Connection" with Segel, 28, at a karaoke bar.

"They're friends with a little benefits," a source informs Us Weekly. "It's not serious."

But Segel's rep pooh-poohs any suggestion of romantic perks, insisting, "They are friends, simply."

Besides, Segel hit the town the other night with former "Office" looker Rashida Jones. People reports they were laughing "hysterically" while dining at the Chateau Marmont.

Jones was previously linked to "Office"-mate John Krasinski, who is now spending quality time with British actress Emily Blunt.