New Dating Trend: Why Stars Hook Up With Agents

By Deborah Schoeneman Posted Mar 17th 2010 01:00PM

Britney, get back together with your boyfriend!

E! broke the news that Britney Spears and agent Jason Trawick, who she's been dating since last summer, have split. Mistake!

Ever since Spears started dating Trawick, her agent at William Morris Endeavor (WME), she's been looking better than ever. Her hair is back to its original color, there's been nary a vag shot of her getting out of a car or any public meltdowns. Lately, Spears has been looking downright classy -- except she still chain smokes, but no one's perfect.

Trawick was a major improvement from her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, a former backup dancer turned contestant on VH1's 'Celebrity Fit Club.' And remember the crazy eyes on her most recent ex -- that weird paparazzi guy, Adnan Ghalib -- who was totally with her just out of love?

But Britney's not the only starlet to get cozy with her agent.

For the past few months, Hollywood's been buzzing about Reese Witherspoon dating Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent Jim Toth, a handsome man around town who was once engaged to a model. Toth doesn't personally represent Witherspoon, but she is represented by his power agency. (He reps top-tier talent like Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and Tobey Maguire.) Lately, Witherspoon and Toth have been spotted dining at romantic Italian restaurants in LA, including Pace and Locanda Verde. There's no question about who's the star in this relationship -- unlike her last one, with a certain leading man named Jake Gyllenhaal.

Perhaps Witherspoon was inspired by fellow Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank, who shacked up with her CAA agent, John Campisi, after leaving her actor husband, Chad Lowe. Campisi no longer works directly for Swank; he represents Award-winning writers and directors like 'Mad Men' creator Matthew Weiner and director David O. Russell. It's hardly a secret that Swank needs a little extra agency love after her last star vehicle, 'Amelia,' tanked last year. Perhaps her recently-landed role in 'Betty Anne Waters' had something to do with her attentive boyfriend?

A well-respected talent agent at one of the top three firms in LA says that a starlet dating her agent could benefit her career because agents tend to work 24-7 -- but it's rarely a good coupling. "Your career is based on how much your client works, so distracting them from work is not necessarily where you want to go," says the agent, who requested anonymity for job protection. "It's usually just a business relationship."

While Alyssa Milano did marry CAA agent David Bugliari at his family's home in NJ last summer, she's repped by another agent at CAA. They may very well be the first starlet/agent to close deal.

Let's hope it lasts.

The top agent said the client/agent relationship could really sour post break-up, like Spears' may. "I don't know what it's like after the relationships fall apart," said the agent, adding that while there's no official company policy about not dating clients, it's customary to inform a superior if the situation arises.

Stars dating agents is a trend that could end badly for the agency, particularly now that WME and CAA are in a full blown poaching war for top talent. But for now, it looks like guys in suits are the "it" accessory for starlets, right up there with the newest Balenciaga bag. Maybe it's the recession, but starlets seem to be find something hot about a guy with a steady paycheck whose job it is to help them earn the most money.

Are you listening, Lindsay Lohan?

Tags: Alyssa Milano, britney spears, hilary swank, jason trawick, reese witherspoon

Comments

(32)

Wednesday 24 March

By Terry

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Give Sandra Bullock all the time she needs to "get through" this change in her life. To be so happy winning an Oscar and then have all that happiness taken away by a cheating husband is quite a roller coaster ride. She really loves his children. She didn't deserve to be cheated on. And have the total "skank" that he cheated with. She is gross with all those tattooes, silicone boobs, and a fried brain. Jesse James really screwed up big time with this. He may lose the best thing that ever happend to him because he couldn't keep "it" in his pants.

By amount

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Witherspoon looks more like a duck as she ages.

By ROY

That porn star Alyssa Milano is ugly, is she a MEXICAN BY CHANCE ?

By Ralph Novak

another important scoop for AOL!

By christopher m russo

Who gives a rats ass!!! lol Everybody's got dating issues... including yourself! You know what say, and I'm sure you do: " Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. "

Thursday 25 March

By Carol

Who the heck are Kim and Reggie? And who actually cares?

By johncorsino

THE SAD THING IS IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY....SWANK IS CUTE, BRITTANY IS A NUT AND ALYSSA IS A HAS-BEEN,,,,WITHERSPOON CAN ACT, BUT THE POINT IS,,,,,,,,, ALL THOSE GUYS...DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY ARE HANDSOME? HEY,GUYS, THE 3 DAY DON JOHNSON BEARD WENT OUT IN THE 80S!!

By What?!!!

Where were all of you when I was going through my divorce???! HUH??? You people all suck!

By richard gordon

It doesn't really matter, because in a little less than 3 years it's all gonna change anyway!

By Bubba Rump

Forget about these people and live and enjoy your own life...

By JC

Dating one's pimp is nothing new.

By Tina

OMG!!! I did not even know about Sandra and Jessie. Man he SOOOO messed up!! Sandra is beautiful and SO real. and i havent even seenthe girl that he cheated on sandra with. But i do not know how he got sandra to start with. He is such a loser. Well... Sandra... girl you rock!! Just consider yourself LUCKY!!! I know it hurts but you will be just fine. I love ya lots. In a friend way im a chick too but im stright. I LOVE your movies!! IF you should ever see this. Just keep your head up and just keep onkeepin it real like you always have. And as far as KIM KARDASHIAN>..... for REAL "WHO CARES" whats up with her and Reggie!! I am SOOOOO sick of hearing about them and her wining and cryin about him. I myself dont think he cares about her like she does him. And im NOT saying that to hurt her feelings or anything. But ALL the DRAMA they have ALWAYS had!! God... ENOUGH!!!

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