Karen Thomas

With Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston dethroned as Hollywood’s reigning golden couple, is it time to crown a new duo? Not yet. Since Pitt and Aniston called it quits in January, weekly mags have been searching for a replacement pair who has enough red-carpet finesse, glamour, good looks and appeal to take their place. The three celebrity magazine editors rank, on a scale of 1 to 5 (lowest to highest), some of the couples who might have what it takes to take over for Pitt and Aniston. — USA Today

Ben, 32 and Garner, 32

Rating: 4 out of 5

Berk: “They’ve both had public heartache. It’s a really romantic story, and you want it to have a good ending.”

Majewski: “They’ve got the looks and the fame, but it’s almost like they’re too much like us to be Brad and Jen.”

Lee: “They’re probably the most similar to Brad and Jen, but they don’t have the same glamour, and they don’t show up on the red carpet.”

Cameron Diaz, 32, and Justin Timberlake, 24

Rating: 4 out of 5

Berk: “Like Brad and Jen, they’re both very much in the public eye as individuals and as a couple. But they seem like an unlikely duo.”

Majewski: “Somewhere along the way, Justin decided he wanted to be a bad boy. And you’ll never see Jennifer throwing punches at a paparazzo. They don’t have the halo above their heads like Brad and Jen.”

Lee: “They’re such a private couple. Brad and Jen were private, but not all the time.”

Spears, 23, and Federline, 26

Rating: 1.8 out of 5

Berk: “When you think of a royal couple, you think of glamour. Britney’s been dressing down, so it’s hard to think of royalty.”

Majewski: “She married a civilian. They’re not going to be the next Brad and Jen.”

Lee: “I can’t see them being Hollywood’s golden couple. They go to convenience stores and gas station port-a-potties.”

Nick Lachey, 31, and J Simpson, 24

Rating: 4 out of 5

Berk: “They’re not quite the caliber of Brad and Jen in terms of notoriety, but they’re rising up the ranks. If they hang together and stop bickering, they could be the next ‘It’ couple.”

Majewski: “They have the looks and the fame, but they’re not up on a pedestal like Brad and Jennifer.”

Lee: “They don’t have the same caliber of stardom individually.”

Beyoncé, 23, and Jay-Z, 35

Rating: 2.8 out of 5

Berk: “She’s definitely glamorous. I just wish they would open up a little bit about the relationship.”

Majewski: “They’d have to admit they’re actually dating. They have the glamour, but you never hear them speak about their relationship. That’s missing, so we can’t enjoy it.”

Lee: “They could be the music world’s golden couple, but in terms of widespread appeal, they’re not quite there yet.”

J Lo, 35, and Marc, 36

Rating: 3.3 out of 5

Berk: “She’s been so public with her relationships, and he’s divorced. They almost have too much baggage.”

Majewski: “While Jen has A-list quality, he’s not a true A-lister.”

Lee: “Everybody’s obsessed with J Lo, but Marc’s not that huge.”