Jennifer Aniston is playing the field and loving it, if this week’s Star Magazine is to be believed. Most of this story seems to be based on some brief friendly encounters she had with various single men at recent parties, but that still counts to some. Aniston was seen flirting with singer Josh Groban and actor Josh Hopkins from friend Courtney Cox’s sitcom, Cougar Town, at separate events. Star also claims that Aniston is quietly dating actor Sam Rockwell, with whom she’s been linked in the past. I tend to believe the Sam Rockwell story before the other two, as Aniston is a friendly person and tabloids are quick to link people together when they’re talking for more than two minutes. Still, this is Star so the whole thing could be made up.

“Jen’s mood has changed so much lately – for the best,” an insider tells Star. “She’s gushing about all the guys she’s dating and about how much fun she’s having!”

At the release party for her yoga instructor Mandy Ingber’s DVD Yogalosophy… on Dec. 3, Jen cozied up to Josh Groban.

“Jen was glowing when she hugged Josh,” a source reports. “They chatted for more than 20 minutes, and she smiled the whole time, ignoring everyone else. You could tell she likes him.” While Josh is 12 years younger than 40-year-old Jen, he’s “mature beyond his years,” the source adds. “Jen and Josh have been speaking on the phone and e-mailing. He’s smitten, and she loves the attention!”

But Josh is just one of Jennifer’s Mr. Right Nows. On Dec. 6, BFF Courtney Cox brought another Josh, her Cougar Town costar Josh Hopkins, 39, to Jen’s annual holiday party at her Beverly Hills pad – and the pair hit it off!…

“Josh arrived kind of late, and when Jen saw him, she grabbed his hand and gave him a tour of her house. She was playing hostess to the max. The next day, the insider adds, Jen told Courtney that she liked Josh and wants to see him again.

“Josh had given Jen his cell number at the party and told her to call him. Courteney asked, ‘What are you waiting for?’ So Jen picked up the phone and asked Josh to come to her chili cook-off party.”

Busy Jennifer has also been quietly seeing Sam Rockwell, 41… “Jen and Sam have been on a couple of low-key dates in L.A., including a dinner at the Sunset Tower,” says a source. “Sam’s been concerned about them getting photographed – he wants to keep their dates under the radar for now.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, January 4, 2009]

I think Jen is just happy to be hanging out with her friends, throwing parties and having a good time. She’s rich, single and loving it. If something happens for her, so be it, but I don’t think she’s really looking hard for a committed relationship at this point.

Wouldn’t it suck to have to hide your dates from the press and worry that they’re going to pick apart your every move? It’s like Aniston is damned no matter what she does. If she doesn’t date anyone she’s lonely and if she is dating someone she’s desperate. She’s probably working to keep things quiet. If she is involved with actor Sam Rockwell then he has the right idea by laying low and not courting the paparazzi like cad John Mayer.