FROM THE NEWS DESK: Another Telling Autopsy

By McKay Heim and George Larrimore

SUICIDE OR NOT: We’re expecting autopsy results as early as this afternoon on the death of comedian Richard Jeni, a death that left Hollywood shocked and puzzled. The girlfriend of the 49-year-old comic called police early Saturday morning to report that he had shot himself in the face.He was pronounced dead a little while later at Cedars Sinai Hospital. At least from the outside, his career had been a string of nothing but successes, from the Tonight Show appearances to cable specials to film work. One friend did tell us that he found Jeni’s Christmas card in 2006 a little unusual. In it Jeni made a donation in the name of each of his friends to the American Cancer Society.One ironic and somewhat macabre twist; his production company was called Flesh Wound Productions.

UNDER THE KNIFE: Always lively, even at 75, Regis Philbin will undergo heart bypass surgery this week.Had suffered shortness of breath among other symptoms. Surgery to be performed by Dr. O. Wayne Isom, who also performed the bypass op on Regis’ buddy David Letterman.Reege predicting he’ll be up and gabbing again in 5-6 weeks.That would be just in time for… May Sweeps.

THE GOOD EX: Kevin Federline is getting a lot of “props” (as the hip people say) for getting the boys over to visit their mom while she’s in Malibu rehab. He’s looking like the dutiful ex-husband.Would like to put the “air quotes” around the word “rehab” too, since we’re not convincedthat substance abuse is why Britney’s really resting in Malibu.

300 TIMES X IS…..: The story of Leonidas of Sparta and his battle against the Persians at Thermopylae may be almost 2,500 years old but it’s smokin’ hot in Hollywood.“300,” based on that epic tale, drew $70 million at the box office over the weekend. Biggest March Opening Ever, they say.All this with a cast in which there is not a single star whose name you would recognize unless you are family, a friend or an agent.Bet there a bunch of development execs down at the Public Library today looking for more potential Sword and Sandal epics.

TOTALLY FOOLED: Have to confess that we got completely fooled last Friday by a piece from Charles Tatum in the Phoenix New Times.It’s a wonderfully written story under the headline “Move over, Dannielynn; Anna Nicole’s Native son is alive and well on the Tohono O’odham reservation, and he may be the rightful heir to the tabloid temptress’ millions.“Tatum gives an extraordinary re-counting of how Smith met a young man who lived on the Tohono O’odham reservation, they had a brief but hot fling, she got pregnant then hid it from everyone, then gave the kid up to his dad. The little boy is adorable, as you can see from his photographs.We were frantically searching for the boy’s dad when someone advised us that Mr. Tatum was pulling our leg. It’s a really great read.

We need news! E-mail us with your Star Tales, [email protected]