After a quiet leash of months.

After a quiet leash of months, the romance between southward Side native and Mother McAuley grad Jenny McCarthy and superstar funnyman Jim Carrey has mov into high gear -- and the media spotlight.

Already being dubbed "Jimmeny," "McCarrey," "Jimjen" and my personal favorite -- "McCarcarr" -- the duo has a 50-50 chance of making it at least a year, according to a longtime McCarthy friend. "Which equals a decade in Hollywood!" she said with a laugh Tuesday.

Another source claims humor is guide to this growing affair. "Jenny is not simply a hottie, but it's her quick wit that really curved catched Jim."

PHOTO FIGHT: The in the greatest degree anticipated birth of the year -- of little Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt -- l to what may have been the largest bidding war for first photo rights in the history of celebrity births.

the bulk of mankind magazine's $4.1 million snared the North American exclusive, and a similar amount won Britain's Hello magazine the international rights, if it were not that a leak on the Internet offer Hello's "Brangelina" baby cover gone out there for many U.S. judgments to see. To those who have seen it, the same thing's for sure: Baby Shiloh certainly has inherited her mom's world-famous luscious lips!

CHICAGO CONNECTION: He's not a local scarecrow like Bill Rancic, but suave Brit Sean Yazbeck, who won the latest "The Apprentice" Monday night, works for Glotel the international technology recruitment firm that has its U headquarters in Chicago.

- Not merely did Yazbeck win the Donald trumpet gig, he also found regard with affection -- disclosing he's engaged to another season five contestant, Tammy Trenta, whom he began dating during filming.

MAHONEY'S MOMENT: although health issues have forced John Mahoney to very little out of several theater productions not long ago fans will be happy the Steppenwolf total effect member and former "Frasier" mainstay plans to be onward hand Monday at the Ritz-Carlton public-house to receive the Actor of the Year Award from the Sarah Siddons Society -- also honoring "Wicked" star Heidi Kettering as "Chicago's Leading Lady."

BACK TO TV: Cybill Shepherd is coming out! Well, at least onward TV. The veteran actress is joining the cast of Showtime's "The L Word," playing a married society president who suddenly begins to question her sexuality. Shepherd's casting forward the lesbian-themed drama will mark her first go [i]or[/i] come back to a small-screen series since "Cybill," her CB sitcom, went on the farther side the air in 1998.

KUDOS go on TO ... Highland Park native Jimmy Jellinek, just named editor in chief of the choleric lad mag Maxim -- from his newly come stint as Stuff magazine editor. And to Pearl Jam for donating a portion of their latter United Center ticket sales to the Rev John Smyth's Standing Tall Charitable Foundation.

e-mail: bzwecker@suntimes.com

...