From a Hitch on a Jury to the Hitching Post

Odd couples . . . Larry Flynt’s antiques . . . Beach Girls? . . . Uncandid cameras

Here’s a tale that will make you think twice about ignoring that summons to jury duty. Not only do you get free parking and $5 a day, sometimes you can find that thing called love.

Reliable sources tell us that the love rockets have erupted between Susan McDougal’s brother, Bill Henley, and Alternate Juror No. 1 from McDougal’s Santa Monica embezzlement trial last year.

Although the alternate had no hand in the Whitewater figure’s acquittal, Charlene Alexander is fondly remembered for her turquoise-hued cowboy boots.

During the trial, there apparently was some eye contact between the alternate and the brother. Nothing came of it at first.

But after acquitting McDougal, several jurors showed their support by traveling to Arkansas to watch her federal trial on charges of obstructing the independent counsel’s Whitewater investigation. Alexander was among the “McGroupies,” as amused Little Rock locals called them.

Apparently under the influence of springtime in Arkansas, Henley and the alternate fell hard for each other. We’re told they’re engaged. The nups are scheduled for New Year’s Eve. Of course, they’re in Arkansas, where once upon a time the groom-to-be won a seat in the state Senate by campaigning as “Friendly” Henley.

ODD COUPLE: For other people at our celebrity courthouse, love is a b----, er, female dog. Just ask Jack Klugman, who testified at his palimony trial that he felt more affection for his canines than for the woman he dated nearly two decades.

Former TV extra Barbara Neugass, 57, has hauled the actor-- famous for his roles on the 1970s television shows “Quincy, M.E.” and “The Odd Couple”--into Los Angeles Superior Court. She says he told her he loved her and promised to take care of her for life. He denies all of it. He says he never told her he loved her. He didn’t even consider her his girlfriend. She was a good companion. A friend. They had some laughs. That’s it.

In his cross-examination Neugass’ attorney, William Glucksman, got the 77-year-old actor to talk about his feelings for his dogs.

“You love your pets as companions, but not the woman you were dating for 18 years?” Glucksman queried.

“Now you got it,” retorted Klugman.

Don’t you just want to howl?

CONSIGN THIS: Publisher Larry Flynt is suing a West Hollywood antiques gallery that he claims sold a pricey Tiffany lamp for him on consignment, then pocketed the money.

Flynt seeks $34,000--the value of the rare “Dragonfly Tiffany”--plus punitive damages from the Toulouse Antique Gallery. The suit was filed in Superior Court in Santa Monica by Flynt’s longtime lawyer, Alan L. Isaacman, and alleges breach of contract and fraud.

Court papers indicate that proprietor John Toulouse told Flynt he kept the money to settle an old debt. Flynt denies owing the gallery any money.

“I’m going to settle up with him,” Toulouse said. “He had an outstanding debt, but we don’t have enough proof. I’m going to settle it in his favor, even though he’s not entitled to it.”

SUING, USA: Those battling Beach Boys are at it again, and it’s anything but fun, fun, fun. Brother Records, the band’s corporation, has sued band member Al Jardine in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles over the use of the Beach Boys name.

With New Year’s Eve fast approaching, Jardine and lead singer Mike Love, who no longer perform together, have competing concerts planned on opposite sides of the country. The former bandmates have been feuding since the death last year of Carl Wilson, who served as a peacemaker and the “glue” that held the band together, according to court papers.

The company, which holds the trademark to the Beach Boys, has licensed Love’s act but not Jardine’s “Beach Boys Family and Friends” tour.

The reason, say court papers: Jardine is not complying with strict standards designed to maintain the Beach Boys image--”i.e., cars, surf, girls and fun.”

Even though the group is known for its four-part male harmonies, Jardine’s band has three female lead singers, according to the documents.

Hel-lo. Beach Girls?

After a Jardine concert in Florida, the papers state, 1,700 angry ticket-holders who thought they were seeing the Beach Boys demanded their money back.

A hearing for an injunction against Jardine is scheduled for Dec. 13, said band attorney Ed McPherson.

SMILE, YOU’RE NOT ON CANDID CAMERA: Peter Funt, son of the late “Candid Camera” founder Allen Funt, called from Pebble Beach the other day to inform us that the HBO production being sued by a Santa Monica plumber is not the real “Candid Camera.”

Last week’s column reported that the plumber was not amused by a practical joke involving a clogged sink, a woman in a leopard print negligee, a naked paramour, a jealous husband and a candid camera.

The joke was staged by a knock-off show, says Funt, the host and executive producer of the real “Candid Camera,” which airs Friday nights on CBS.

“We’re always concerned about imitations of our show,” he said. “We’ve tried for five decades to be delicate and gentle in our use of hidden cameras. These are tools that are easily abused. We had nothing to do with this.”

No comment from World of Wonder productions, which is making the HBO show.