Milo Ventimiglia
Gossip

This week, Heroes concluded its latest "chapter" on NBC as the writers strike has apparently cut the lackluster second season of the sci-fi smash short.

That said, we can return to focusing on the love life of Hayden Panettiere... or lack thereof. Spotted by TMZ this week, a curt Hayden sort of put to rest rumors that she has been dating co-star Milo Ventimiglia... or that she even knows who he is!

When Hayden and mother / friend of Mario Lopez, Leslie Panettiere, were spotted leaving Orso, the hot TV cheerleader was asked by celebrity news media if she was going to spend the holidays with Peter Petrelli (Milo's character on Heroes).

Her initial response: "Who?" Well, we'll take that as a no.

  Hayden Panettiere: She's on the market, people!

She's also not getting back together with Laguna Beach alum / ex-boyfriend Stephen Colletti, so now's your chance, guys. Time to make your move! Psst... tell her you care a lot about the safety and protection of marine mammals.

Who needs McDonald's or Burger King when you can pull up to your very own personal Hayden Panettiere Drive-Thru. Right, Milo Ventimiglia? Man. We can only imagine what sort of delights they serve over at that place...

Hayden Panettiere: Service with a smile!

Since cozying up and practically pawing each other at an Emmy Awards party back in September, Heroes stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere, a.k.a. Halo, have been the subject of rumors regarding the nature of their relationship.

Two months later, the duo is still close, and was seen hanging out together again at Wednesday's Race in the Fight Against Epilepsy fundraiser, in Calabasas, Calif. But are these two the Heroes of each other's love lives?

When asked about the reports of romance, Milo Ventimiglia, 30, laughed and then paused. After a few seconds, he answered, "Hayden and I are very close friends. It's only natural that people are going to couple us together."

Halo in action earlier this fall. They make a cute couple!

Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere, 18, hung together outside the bash while awaiting their fellow Heroes costars. And while they spoke closely in a shadowy corner, they remained strictly hands-off. But for how long!?!?!

Once inside, the two were quickly ushered into a private VIP room. They are so getting it on, who are they kidding!? Enough with the secrecy, peeps! So what if Hayden rolls over and sees Milo Ventimiglia shirtless every morning?

Masi Oka and James Kyson Lee, who play Hiro and Ando on the NBC series, have both chimed in on the prospective pairing in recent weeks, saying rumors aren't true and that Milo and Hayden are just friends. Lies.

In any case, they were getting together for a very good cause. Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia attended Wednesday's party to support a Heroes co-star, Greg Grunberg, whose son Jake suffers from epilepsy.

Creator Tim Kring may admit that the second season of Heroes eats ass, but if there's a silver lining to be found amid this dark (and mind-numbingly boring) cloud, it's been the abundance of Milo Ventimiglia shirtless!

During last night's episode, Milo's embattled character, Peter Petrelli, was on the run from Elle (Kristen Bell) and The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis).

Hey, if all you're gonna be doing is hauling ass trying to escape from the evil minions of The Company, what the hell do you need a shirt for?

Here are a couple of Milo Ventimiglia topless (or shirtless, whichever term you prefer) pics from last night's somewhat respectable episode of Heroes ...

All we have to say is damn. While a nude Hayden Panettiere may be able to roll over and see this every day, the rest of us need Heroes for our Milo Ventimiglia fix. At least a sub-par - and soon to be truncated - Season 2 has provided that.

They may deny any sort of romance, and Heroes co-stars James Kyson Lee, Masi Oka and Kristen Bell have all said on the record that they're not hitting it.

But Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere are SO hitting it.

Deny it all you want, Halo and friends. You're not fooling The Hollywood Gossip. Remember, Heroes fans. Masi Oka is a time-traveler, not a fortune teller.

The latest Halo proof - evidence that Milo Ventimiglia has been showing Hayden Panettiere his affections in a manner not consistent with mere friendship?

He bought her a ring.

A ring from Tiffany & Co.

According to In Touch Weekly, Milo, 30, gave Hayden an 18-karat gold ring - one karat for each year she's been alive! The ring is worth $1,950 and is her belated birthday present.

The sultry Hayden Panettiere, of course, became able to legally have relations - with voting machines! - back in August.

The ring Milo bought Hayden, called Somerset Heart, features a woven band and a heart, and according to the magazine, is inscribed:

"Sweet like Hayden."

Awww. We think it's sweet. And sexy. Frankly, we're not sure what the scandal is here.

Co-workers date all the time. Hayden's an adult, and should be able to see Milo Ventimiglia shirtless all she wants. If Woody Allen can marry his adopted daughter, we don't see the problem in 18 and 30-year-olds tanging it.

Go Halo!

Don't worry, ladies, The Hollywood Gossip isn't reserved for photos such as Alicia Machado naked.

We wanna please the fairer gender, as well, which is why our staff has come up with the following topless tussle between TV stars.

On the left, Patrick Dempsey is looking McDreamy in black, white and nary a shirt. The Grey's Anatomy star is featured in this week's Entertainment Weekly photo issue - and it's easy to see why.

On the right, Heroes' Milo Ventimiglia appears to be overwhelmed by his hands. Most women are focused on other body parts of this half-nude hunk, however.

Which shirtless stud do you prefer?

Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are not dating, okay? They're just spotted together, a lot, and can't take their eyes off each other.

Then again, if the alternative is watching NHL action, perhaps that doesn't mean as much as we think it does. After all, what are they supposed to do? Count on the L.A. Kings game Saturday night to entertain them?

But come on. You can't deny the exchange of "I am going to tear your clothes off in a cheap motel later" looks between Halo in the picture below.

Hayden Panettiere, 18, and Milo Ventimiglia, 30, attracted lots of attention from fans and cameras throughout the game. Including this woman who just wants them to knock it off with the PDAs so she can watch in peace! Gosh. 

Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere: Big fans of the NHL. And each other.

Regardless of whether or not they are anything more than friends, Heroes returns tonight with an all-new episode, entitled "Kindred." Hayden, Milo and their host of talented co-stars will be prominently featured!

Unlike Heidi Montag, someone's nose is growing.

When celebrity news reporters broached the topic of romance rumors between two stars of Heroes - Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere - all they got were emphatic lies denials.

A co-star of Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia quickly shot down the recent rumblings (as well as a video closely analyzed by fans) that the 18-year-old actress and her 30-year-old co-star were excitedly, undeniably getting busy on the dance floor.

"Let's just end it here. The rumor is not true," co-star James Kyson Lee, who plays Ando, said to People at Tuesday's Lift Up America Meet Me in Miami premiere in Hollywood.

Riiiiiiight. And O.J. Simpson didn't not not kill nobody!

James Kyson Lee added about the romance talk:

"I think we were just surprised because they're 12 years apart - for people to even conceive that... I know there have been a lot of jokes, Hayden turning 18 and whatnot. At some point, you just have to let it go, and respect their privacy."

Mmm hmm. Expect us never to start rumors based on video evidence - he's all over her in the damn video - about celebrities ever again at T.H. Gossip.

Hayden Panettiere has been 18 for a whole month now. In that time, she's ditched boyfriend Stephen Colletti and, apparently, taken up with her co-star on Heroes, Milo Ventimiglia. We really think so now. Up until this point, such rumors were mere celebrity gossip - fun allegations based on circumstantial evidence.

That was then. This video - shot at a Duran Duran concert in downtown Los Angeles at an official after-party of the Emmy Awards - is now. Well, Sunday.

Point being, Hayden and Milo - or Halo, as we like to call them - seem to be more than friends as they cozy up to each other and snap photos as the band rocks out. Three minutes in, Hayden spots the Hollywood TV camera which captured it all!

Look away, Stephen Colletti.

Just a few days after the Laguna Beach alum had his heart broken by Hayden Panettiere, a possibly revealing picture of the Heroes actress and her co-star has popped up.

Based purely on this photograph, Hayden looks quite chummy with Milo Ventimiglia, doesn't she? The pair may be related on Heroes... but they may be relating between the sheets in real life. If you know what we mean!

It's okay. We can make that joke now because Hayden is 18.

Pssst: I'll show you my super power if you show me yours.