Jimmy Kimmel really does love Ben Affleck.

The talk show host – who memorably declared “I’m F—king Ben Affleck” in a music video Sunday night – cannot stop singing the actor’s praises.

“Ben could not have been more sporting,” he told PEOPLE of his video costar. (The song was designed as a retaliation against Kimmel’s girlfriend Sarah Silverman for her clip, “I’m F—king Matt Damon.) “He told us, ‘Listen, if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it right. I don’t want you guys to worry about my image.’ ”

In the video (available online), Affleck and Kimmel declare their love while backed by an A-list gospel choir including Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams, Ashlee Simpson and Don Cheadle.

There are also non-singing cameos by Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, who blows the new couple a kiss before driving off in his convertible – revealing a “Honk if you’re f—ing Ben Affleck” bumper sticker.

“That was his real car,” Kimmel says of the legendary Indiana Jones star. “He’s still got that [sticker] on there!”

So what did Silverman think of the new song? “I suspected Jimmy was on the down low for a long time now,” she deadpanned to the New York Daily News. “I wish I could say I was surprised by this.”

If she’s plotting another salvo, Kimmel isn’t quaking in his cut-off denim shorts. “I suppose it’s possible that Sarah and Matt Damon are huddled in a cave somewhere planning their revenge,” he said. “But one thing I know is, if they are, they won’t tell me about it!”

Last week, the dreams of four young wannabe singers were crushed on Thursday during the American Idol show. Garrett Haley, Amy Davis, Joanne Borgella and Colton Berry were the unfortunate participants who were sent home. The remaining 10 performed yesterday: David Archuleta, Robbie Carrico, Jason Castro, David Cook, Chikezie, David Hernandez, Michael Johns, Luke Menard, Danny Noriega and Jason Yeager.

The young David Archuleta managed to steal the night with a stunning performance of John Lennon’s Imagine, a very, very daring song choice. Few people if any manage to make it sound alright, besides ol’ John, even if they are far more experienced than Archuleta. However, he somehow did it.

“Dog,” judge Randy Jackson said, “that’s one of the best vocals I’ve ever heard on the show. You’re singing with maturity way beyond your years… that was brilliant.”

“That was one of the most moving performances I’ve ever heard,” Paula Abdul continued, on the same note. “You’re destined for superstardom.”

Oh, and even Cowell had something nice to say: “very, very risky to do a John Lennon song, particularly that one, but it worked,” he said. “Right now, you’re the one to beat,” Simon continued.

The other good performance was from gymnast David Hernandez, who nailed good the Temptations classic “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” and won both the viewers’ and the judges’ appraisal. Chikezie also improved, which was noted by the judges: “You looked better, you sounded better,” Cowell said of Chikezie’s strong performance of Donny Hathaway’s I Believe.

Today it will be the ladies’ turn. The Top 10 girls (Kristy Lee Cook, Asia’h Epperson, Alexandréa Lushington, Kady Malloy, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Amanda Overmyer, Carly Smithson, Alaina Whitaker and Brooke White) will compete tonight. Tomorrow night we will find out who the four contestants that will go home are.

The Vote for the Worst campaign has selected this season’s male contestant: Danny Noriega. They still haven’t decided which one of the girls is the worst contestant. The Votefortheworst.com site was started in 2004 to support “the entertaining contestants who the producers would hate to see win on American Idol.”

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch could be headed for the chopping block.

A San Francisco-based title company said Tuesday that the 2,500-acre property in Los Olivos, California, might be sold at a public auction scheduled for Mar. 19 unless the financially beleaguered singer can come up with $24 million he still owes on the estate.

Financial Title Co. filed the notice of trustee’s sale in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Jackson’s people have not yet commented on this latest turn of events.

His rep issued a statement in November denying he had defaulted on a massive home loan and was in danger of losing his extravagant abode.

The erstwhile King of Pop has been living mainly in Las Vegas since returning to the United States a little more than a year ago following extended stays in Bahrain and Europe. He hasn’t lived at Neverland, which he bought in 1988 for $17 million, since 2003, when police first raided his home while building a child molestation case against him.

Jackson was acquitted of all charges in 2005 and immediately left the country.

Per court documents obtained by Fox News, the auction would really bleed the property dry. It would include not just the grounds and buildings on the property, but all of the furnishings, appliances and various child-friendly accoutrements Jackson has added over the years, including “all merry-go-round type devices.”

The list is mighty thorough:

• “Generators, engines, boilers, incinerators, building materials, appliances and goods of every nature whatsoever…including…those for the purposes of supplying or distributing heat, cooling, electricity, gas, water, air and light…
• “plumbing, bathtubs, water heaters, water closets, sinks, ranges, stoves, microwave ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, disposals and any other kitchen equipment…
• “all trees, shrubs and plants, sculptures, statuary and other outdoor artistic creations and displays…
• “all railroad equipment, trains, locomotives, rail cars and other rolling stock…
• “all Ferris wheels, carousels, merry-go-round type devices, indoor and outdoor gymnasium and athletic equipment…”

Etc.

In March 2006, Jackson’s camp made good on $300,000 in back wages owed to Neverland employees after California’s Department of Industrial Relations ordered the workers to quit working until they were paid. The issue came to their attention after Jackson’s workers’ compensation insurance lapsed.

At the same time, Jackson was also taking heat from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which implored him to allow their organization to find new homes in “legitimate sanctuaries” for the various animals living on the property.

On a lighter note, Jackson is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of his 1984 masterpiece Thriller with the release of Thriller 25, all nine original tracks plus a bunch of remixes and additional vocals wrought by the likes of Fergie, Will.i.am, Akon and Kanye West.

The piper always comes calling for payment.

Mischa Barton was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor DUI and pot possession in connection with her December arrest in West Hollywood following a traffic stop. 

Per court documents obtained by E! News, she is facing a count apiece of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while having a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher, driving without a valid license and possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana. (View the complaint.)

“We are pleased that the District Attorney’s Office has very carefully reviewed all the evidence in Ms. Barton’s matter and has chosen to file only misdemeanor charges against her,” Barton’s attorney, Anthony Salerno, said in a statement released by her publicist to E! News.

“The D.A.’s Office is to be commended for treating this case the same as it would any other matter; Ms. Barton has received no special treatment, and they have done the same diligent review that they do in every case.

“As previously stated, Ms. Barton has taken full responsibility for any mistakes in judgment that she may have made.  We will, of course, conduct a full review of all evidence received from the D.A.’s Office before making any final decisions on the resolution of the legal issues, but we are confident that this matter will be handled by both sides in a professional and respectful manner.”

The former OC star was busted Dec. 27 shortly before 3 a.m., when police pulled her over after spotting her white Range Rover straddling two lanes. She then failed to signal before making a left turn, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Barton was booked at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and released at 10:10 a.m. later that morning after posting $10,000 bail.

The 22-year-old later told E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest that she was fully aware she had messed up.

“Obviously, I’m 100 percent responsible for my actions in this case, and I’m really disappointed in myself,” Barton said during Seacrest’s KIIS-FM morning show. “I don’t know what to say about it, except I’m not perfect. I just don’t ever intend to do something this stupid again.”

Barton’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.  Salerno says he’ll appear on her behalf.

Dilemma: Paris Hilton is developing a new reality show in which she looks for a new best friend, and she’s also stepping out with her new boyfriend, Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, who just split from his fiancee less than two weeks ago. Which item do we lead with? They just don’t teach you this in journalism school.

We’ll go with the one that lends itself better to cheap jokes. A source tells Us Weekly that the reality show will reveal a new side of “The Simple Life” star. Like the back of her left earlobe? Because we think we’ve seen Hilton from just about every other angle.

“Paris is tired of the haters, and she’s looking for someone new,” the source says. “She’s looking for someone new and cool who she can trust.” Yes, because reliability, stability and loyalty are hallmarks of reality show contestants. Us reports that the show, still untitled, is probably going to air on MTV or VH1.

Meanwhile, Hilton has been out and about with Madden, who is the twin of Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden, who also happens to be the baby daddy of Hilton’s onetime BFF and “Simple Life” co-star, Nicole Richie.