The 10 biggest events 0f 2008
By: Kitty Raymond
Special to The Examiner
December 26, 2008
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| Good genes: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie added twins to their family when Jolie gave birth to a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne Marcheline, at a French hospital in July. (Getty Images file photo) |
1. Brangelina’s twins are born
We didn’t think anything could top Shiloh’s birth two years ago. But the most glamorous power couple in the world giving us a $14 million two-for-one deal on celebrity babies? The tabloids couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect story. (Which probably explains why they keep trying to insist it’s happening again.)
2. Britney’s VMAs comeback
Of all the recent signs that the pop princess was back to her old self, her appearance at September’s Video Music Awards was the most poignant. OK, so she didn’t perform — but she symbolically came full circle after her disastrous, career-threatening spectacle at last year’s ceremony.
3. Lindsay’s Cannes kiss
We kind of had a feeling that Samantha Ronson was someone special to LiLo — after all, they went everywhere together. But seeing them sneak a romantic smooch on a yacht in May was all the unofficial confirmation we needed that they’re a couple. Afterward, their relationship seemed to blossom in the public eye.
4. Beyoncé and Jay-Z marry
News of the supposedly top-secret NYC nuptials of Shaun Carter and Sasha Fierce quickly broke in April. And after their long courtship, it was about time Jay stepped up and put a ring on it!
5. ‘The Dark Knight’ is no joke
Despite the beyond-frenzied hype over Heath Ledger’s final performance, the film didn’t disappoint. Though it was bittersweet seeing the great talent we lost earlier in the year, it was great watching him come back to life, however briefly, onscreen.
6. Clay Aiken comes out
After years of him sidestepping speculation, we were super-happy for the "American Idol" alum to finally accept himself for who he is — and get tons of support from fans.
7. Tina Fey’s return to ‘SNL’
The role of then-veep hopeful Sarah Palin was one that Tina was born to play, and she exceeded expectations. The "30 Rock" star’s uncanny impression actually became a talking point in the presidential campaign.
8. Anne Hathaway dumps her man
The fan consensus on Anne’s shady beau Raffaelo Follieri was, "What does she see in him?" We were all relieved when she got smart and ended things — days before the FBI busted him for financial scamming.
9. Ellen and Portia wed
During the brief period when same-sex marriage was legal in California, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi took each other as brides. The ceremony was a touching celebration of love and equal rights — which made it all the more heartbreaking when those rights were later taken away.
10. The NKOTB reunion
Before Miley Cyrus was a twinkle in Billy Ray’s eye, we had the original tween idols, the New Kids on the Block. With underage Disney stars dominating pop culture, their re-emergence was a welcome dose of nostalgia.
And 5 we could have lived without
1. ‘Twilight’
We get it. "Twilight" is hot. We really didn’t need to hear Robert Pattinson’s endless string of anecdotes about fans asking him to bite them.
2. John Mayer
The singer’s impromptu paparazzi conference announcing he had dumped Jennifer Aniston, not the other way around? Tacky.
3. Jessica Simpson
Just like his ex — announcing to anyone who would listen that she loves new beau Tony Romo madly.
4. Nick Hogan
The TV personality’s release from jail was hard to celebrate, considering friend and car-crash companion John will never leave the hospital.
5. Britney Spears
The pop star’s driving-without-a-license mistrial was a waste of taxpayer dollars — and an unwelcome reminder of her bad old days.
5 priceless celeb quotes
1. "I’m like, I’m a smart person. What the hell was I thinking?" — Britney Spears
2. "I always felt this crazy connection to God." — Heidi Montag on her faith
3. "We got tribal on it, we danced to it!" — Matthew McConaughey on his son’s birth
4. "What Angelina did was really uncool." — Jennifer Aniston to Vogue
5. "I’m, like, totally ready to lead." — Paris Hilton, spoofing John McCain’s campaign ad
Kitty Raymond is an entertainment writer and astrologer. She welcomes feedback at kitty@mediadarling.com.
