More pop culture highlights and lowlights from 2008
Celebrities who got their day in court Stargazing at Los Angeles courthouses is common, but most of the A-list celebrity justice action took place away from Hollywood in 2008.
Jurors in Florida, Chicago and Las Vegas decided the fates of top celebs in criminal cases, while New York played host to the year's messiest divorce. Los Angeles wasn't completely left out, thanks in large part to Britney Spears. Here's a recap of stars who kept attorneys flush in billable hours:
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Thirteen years after his acquittal for his wife's murder, jurors in Las Vegas pronounced judgment on O.J. Simpson. Guilty. The conviction came after authorities charged Simpson with spearheading the robbery of a sports memorabilia dealer in a hotel room.
Attorneys for the former football great and occasional actor claim jurors were out to punish Simpson for his murder acquittal and plan to appeal his conviction. A teary apology during sentencing didn't change his fate. Chances are that for at least the next nine years, and possibly as many as 33, Simpson will spend his days at a prison 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas — just outside the glow of that city's lights and his former fame.
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER: Former model Christie Brinkley's 10-year marriage to fourth husband Peter Cook may have ostensibly ended in 2006, but the couple's weeklong divorce trial burned hotter than a heat wave. A week's worth of testimony provided embarrassing details of Cook's affair with an 18-year-old woman, his porn predilections and a psychiatrist's assessment that he was "narcissistic." Cook's attorney likened the trial to a public flogging and, sure enough, it ended on a theatrical note. The couple settled the case after an all-nighter, with Brinkley gaining custody of her children and some property in the Hamptons. She left court carrying a dinosaur diorama she helped one of her children prepare. Cook walked away with about $2.1 million and very little dignity.
IT'S BRITNEY, YOUR HONOR: Not all comebacks involve courtrooms and a cadre of lawyers, but Britney Spears' sure did. The singer started out the year in meltdown but seemed better within months of a court awarding her father control of her personal and financial affairs. Along the way, Spears landed in just about every court possible: criminal, probate, family law, federal, appeals. All that to establish a conservatorship, settle a custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline and avoid a conviction on a misdemeanor driver's license charge. The deal with Federline grants her more time with her children, and she managed to avoid further legal woes. None of this came cheap: she increased her monthly payments to Federline, paid his hefty attorney fees and continues to pay thousands of dollars a month to keep the conservatorship going. Is it any wonder her new album is called "Circus"?
THE TAXMAN COMETH: "Passenger 57" got a new identifier in '08 — a federal prisoner ID number. A federal jury acquitted Wesley Snipes of tax fraud and conspiracy charges in February, but found him guilty of three counts of failing to file income tax returns. Snipes stopped paying taxes in 1999, and was convicted of failing to file returns for that year and 2000 and 2001. Government prosecutors wanted to make Snipes a poster child for why paying your taxes is essential. The "Blade" actor avoided more serious penalties, but a judge sentenced him to three years in federal prison — and that was after Snipes gave the government $5 million. He was also ordered to repay the costs of his prosecution. The credits haven't quite rolled on this one yet: Snipes is appealing his convictions and remains free on bail.
Former Hollywood has-beens who turned it around Who woulda thunk it? After downward spirals, former Hollywood pariahs Britney Spears, Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr. managed to turn it around this year. And file under TV turnaround: NBC's "Saturday Night Live" became culturally relevant again.
BRITNEY SPEARS: What was more stunning — the fact that Spears snagged three MTV Video Music Awards (including video of the year) or that she looked like a million bucks while doing so? Either way, the pop star — sporting a glittering silver dress and a slimmer body — pulled a remarkable 180-degree turn from last year's fiasco at the video awards, when she trudged through a performance of "Gimme More." It was a striking example of how far the 27-year-old mother of two has risen since her father, Jamie, took control of her financial and private affairs in February. Spears, who famously shaved her head during one of her public meltdowns, continues to gain career momentum and stability in her personal life. Delighting her fans, the "Womanizer" singer will kick off her first tour in five years this March.
MICKEY ROURKE: The 52-year-old actor more or less scrapped for major Hollywood roles after squandering his early potential with bad-boy behavior. But thanks to his leading role in "The Wrestler," Rourke is reliving the critical acclaim of his work in films such as "The Pope of Greenwich Village," ''Diner" and "Rumble Fish." Director Darren Aronofsky fought to cast Rourke against the concerns of financial backers; Aronofsky forged a comprise by settling on a lower budget of $6 million. So far, so good: Rourke is getting strong Oscar buzz, and the poignancy of his heartbreaking turn as a down-and-out celebrity wrestler itching to make a comeback isn't lost on him. As he told The Associated Press: "There were some broken pieces I didn't know how to fix that made me behave a certain way. ... I wish I knew differently, because I put myself and a lot of other people through a lot of hell that I regret."
ROBERT DOWNEY JR: The charismatic actor went from cautionary tale to bankable movie star last summer for his performance in the Marvel Studios blockbuster "Iron Man," which grossed $318.3 million domestically. He also got raves for his risk-taking role as an actor in blackface in "Tropic Thunder." Like Rourke, Downey had trouble finding plum roles that exploited the depth of his talent after some personal trouble — and Downey's dark path included a crippling battle with addiction that led to stints in jail and rehab. Now clean, Downey proved he could draw millions to the multiplex last summer as billionaire genius-turned-superhero Tony Stark. That's something new for Downey, who previously acted in smaller-scale movies. And he'll do it again: Marvel has tapped him to star in "Iron Man 2" and "The Avengers," respectively slated for 2010 and 2011.
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": The NBC sketch-comedy show returned to sharp political satire this year — and the payoff was big. Dogged by dwindling ratings, "SNL" experienced a much-needed boost, finding inspiration in the presidential campaign and a savior in the multitalented Tina Fey. Fey's spot-on impression of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin helped resurrect the show as appointment television for viewers who couldn't get enough of her winking send-up of the Alaskan governor. Don't rule out Amy Poehler's brilliant Hillary Rodham Clinton or Jason Sudeikis' teeth-baring Joe Biden. Time will tell if "SNL" can continue its winning streak.
CLORIS LEACHMAN: The bitingly funny actress gained a new generation of fans with her crowd-pleasing run on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." At 82, she wore sparkly dance costumes, sat in judges' laps and cussed during the live television broadcast — displaying 1,000 times more personality than beauty queen Brooke Burke, who waltzed away with the mirror-ball trophy in the Nov. 26 finale. After her early dismissal, Leachman declared: "I'm not leaving." Here's hoping the star, who nabbed an Oscar for her supporting role in 1971's "The Last Picture Show," will be here to stay.
Celebrity hookups and breakups
Finding a mate in 2008: That was the theme for many celebrities as they hooked up with new partners and sealed the deal in undercover weddings. Here's a look at four notable couplings and one split we all saw coming:
JEN AND JOHN: John Mayer has dated everyone from Jessica Simpson to Jennifer Love Hewitt and this year, Jennifer Aniston is his love interest. Despite Mayer's player reputation, a shockingly smitten Aniston followed Mayer on tour as his Public Groupie No. 1, not trying to hide under her trusty pashmina. The musician and the movie star have been on and off since last spring; during a break, the loose-lipped Mayer blabbed to the media about how he ended their romance. And yet, she's taken him back, telling Vogue: "Love just shows up and you go, 'Oh, wow, this is going to be a hayride and a half.'"
LINDSAY AND SAM: After a string of go-nowhere relationships and plain bad choices, Lindsay Lohan is still going strong with disc jockey Samantha Ronson. The inseparable duo ignited an are-they-or-aren't-they media frenzy when they were photographed getting cozy at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Lohan eventually confirmed the romance in a radio interview, saying she'd been dating Ronson "a very long time." The celeb disc spinner has shown fierce loyalty to the actress as her once-bright career founders (following a trip to rehab and run-ins with the law). Tabloids report they're on the rocks, but Lohan denied breakup rumors on her MySpace blog, posting the song "Happy Together" to drive the point across.
JAY-Z AND BEYONCE: Jay-Z liked it, so he put a ring on it. The rap mogul and the singing superstar finally tied the knot after six years of unconfirmed dating in an April ceremony at his Manhattan apartment. The newlyweds tried to keep the lavish affair under wraps, but paparazzi made that impossible, catching arriving guests including Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Though Beyonce refuses to dish too much about her personal life, the "Single Ladies" singer told talk-show host Oprah Winfrey that marriage feels great, but "the most important thing is to make sure you have your own life before you're someone else's wife." Cue applause.
MARIAH AND NICK: Mariah Carey found love again with Nick Cannon, an actor 11 years her junior. And Mimi wasted no time when it comes to affairs of the heart: She married the "Drumline" star at her Bahamian estate in April after just weeks of dating. Like many celebrity couples, they shared (ahem, sold) their wedding album in People magazine, where they talked about tattooing their love for each other. Carey, who sports a "Mrs. Cannon" tattoo on her back, has said that she and her so-called soul mate didn't consummate their relationship before tying the knot.
MADONNA AND GUY: The least shocking split of the year, hands down. Madonna and Guy Ritchie weren't fooling anyone when they denied rampant rumors of marital strife, thereby stoking that golden rule of celebrity gossip: Where there's smoke, there's fire! The pop star and the British filmmaker announced in October they were divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage and two children. Ever the workaholic-provocateur, Madonna has poked fun at Ritchie on her "Sticky & Sweet" world tour, and has been spotted with New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez. As she told The Associated Press, "It would be horrible if I was just thinking about getting a divorce and had nothing to do."
Celebrity baby boom expands in 2008
The celebrity baby boom expanded into 2008 with the arrivals of newborns belonging to A-listers like Halle, Nicole, J.Lo and — most anticipated of all — the magnetic force known as Brangelina.
BRAD AND ANGELINA: Like Demi Moore raising the glass ceiling for actresses earning a $20 million paycheck, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt hit a new record payday selling their baby photos. Last summer, People magazine and the British tabloid Hello! paid $14 million in a joint deal to publish the first shots of the Jolie-Pitt clan with twins Knox and Vivienne, born in July. As is their custom, Jolie and Pitt traded media access for a donation to charity. The couple have said they hope to expand their brood — now six kids and counting.
JENNIFER AND MARC: Some people think Brangelina stole J.Lo's twin thunder — actually, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had them beat by four months. The married performers welcomed Max and Emme last February, waiting only weeks after Lopez gave birth to display the twin boy and girl on the cover of People. The magazine reportedly burned a $6 million hole in its pocket for rights to the photos.
HALLE AND GABRIEL: The daughter of Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry will certainly grow up to be competition for future hotties like Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. A two-time divorcee, Berry ultimately found her Prince Charming — and impossibly gorgeous physical equal — in Aubry, a model she met while shooting a Versace ad two years ago. The Oscar-winning actress gave birth to Nahla Ariela Aubry in March. Berry has said she will never sell pictures of her children to the press, following in the footsteps of Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, who've turned down their own offers.
NICOLE AND KEITH: Two years after tying the knot, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed baby girl Sunday Rose in July. The 41-year-old Kidman has called Sunday "a miracle baby," crediting an unexpected fertility source: the waterfalls of the Australian Outback. According to Kidman, she and six other women who took a dip in the waters of a small town during production of the epic romance "Australia" became pregnant.
JAMIE LYNN AND CASEY: It's tough to top Britney Spears in the "OMG — no she didn't!" category, but the pop star's teenage sister, Jamie Lynn, did just that when she announced her pregnancy last December. The 17-year-old former "Zoey 101" star swiftly became engaged to the baby's father, Casey Aldridge, a pipe layer from Liberty, Mississippi. A baby having a baby, Jamie Lynn gave birth to their daughter Maddie Briann in June; a Spears being a Spears, she sold the photo rights to OK! magazine for a reported $1 million.
2008's quirkiest baby names, from Bronx to Sunday
Remember the uproar over Gwyneth Paltrow naming her daughter Apple? That seems downright quaint in 2008. Check out the new additions in the category of quirkiest baby names:
BRONX MOWGLI: This year's most unusual moniker, courtesy of Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. He grew up near Chicago and she hails from Texas — yet, inexplicably, the rock-star couple named their son after one of the toughest boroughs in New York City. Giving some insight, Wentz revealed the middle name Mowgli was inspired by the scrappy boy hero of Disney's "The Jungle Book."
SUNDAY ROSE: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed their baby girl on a Monday, then named her for the day before. Kidman has said Sunday is the couple's favorite day of the week because it can be both lonely and happy depending on whether "you've got your family" around. They also found inspiration in Aussie art collector Sunday Reed, whose first name Kidman's father suggested as a possibility. The baby's second name is a tribute to Urban's grandmother, Rose.
ZUMA NESTA ROCK: When he's old enough, Gwen Stefani's baby boy might want to change his first name to something that sounds less like a certain clear malt beverage — and lose the other two names altogether. Then again, a child raised by music royalty — Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale — might fully embrace a moniker that spells nothing but embarrassment for regular kids. Stefani grew up in Southern California and loves Jamaican culture, which might explain her choice of Zuma (a beach in Malibu) and Nesta (the middle name of reggae legend Bob Marley).
HONOR MARIE: An honorable mention — sorry, we couldn't resist — goes to the daughter of Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Warren. Honor should get a lifetime of instant respect, based on her first name alone. Latin in origin, Honor means "woman of honor" and denotes glory, dignity and high rank.
BUSTER TIMOTHY: The name Buster has been around a long time — all the way back to the silent film era when comic actor Buster Keaton used sight gags to get laughs. The moniker struck a chord with married actors Jonny Lee Miller and Michele Hicks, who chose to name their son Buster Timothy. The couple balanced the quirkiness with a way more traditional second name
Amy, Janet among celeb train wrecks
Surprisingly missing in action from celebrity trainwreck-itude: Britney, Lindsay and Paris. With those three behaving themselves, other stars angled for the title of Hot Mess of the Year. Here are five who made the cut:
AMY WINEHOUSE: The acclaimed soul singer continues to unravel in the public eye. Winehouse's long list of problems — drug use, run-ins with the law and a dramatic marriage — seemingly multiplied this year after she won five Grammys for her 2006 album "Back to Black." Concerns about her health grew as the 25-year-old Brit checked in and out of a London hospital, most recently for an allergic reaction to prescribed medication.
GARY BUSEY AT THE OSCARS: Nobody brings the crazy quite like Gary Busey. The actor turned the Academy Awards' red carpet into a danger zone this year when he ambushed Ryan Seacrest's interviews with Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney. He stunned Garner with an unsolicited bear hug. He horrified the unflappable Seacrest, who ended the awkward moment by politely suggesting they catch up later in the evening — yeah, right. Busey, 64, is now on the second season of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab," where he tried to say he was part of the staff — until Dr. Drew Pinsky clarified that he's a patient. When you don't realize you have a problem, then you have problem.
JANET JACKSON: The pop star — or is it pop has-been? — sank further into irrelevance as her new album tanked and she cut short her first North American tour in seven years due to health problems. In February, Jackson released the low-selling "Discipline," which failed to reclaim the success of her previous multiplatinum albums; a month later, she dropped out of her performance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" because she had the flu. Mariah Carey replaced her in the telecast. The 42-year-old sister of Michael Jackson made headlines again when she canceled a string of dates on her "Rock Witchu" tour. Why? She had been suffering from a bout of migraine-associated vertigo, which is characterized by dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms.
HEATHER LOCKLEAR: The 47-year-old actress has had a tough year. Locklear, who divorced Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora in 2007, checked into an Arizona rehab facility to get treatment for anxiety and depression last summer. In September, she was arrested in Montecito, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Locklear was later charged with a misdemeanor DUI incurred by prescription drugs, and is scheduled for arraignment next month. There may be hope yet: Looking fresh in a white dress, Locklear recently joked about her troubles on NBC's "Tonight" show, telling host Jay Leno: "I am really looking forward to 2009."
THE O'NEAL FAMILY: Oh, what a mess. What a hot mess. Actor Ryan O'Neal and his children ran into trouble with the law for a series of drug busts. O'Neal — who was arrested in February following a scuffle with son Griffin — found himself embroiled in scandal yet again in September when police discovered drugs in his Malibu, California, home during a routine parole check on Redmond O'Neal, his son with Farrah Fawcett. Father and son were arrested and released on $10,000 bail; O'Neal's lawyer denied any wrongdoing by the 67-year-old actor and asked a judge for more time to review evidence in the felony drug cases. O'Neal's daughter, Tatum O'Neal, was arrested for allegedly buying cocaine near her New York apartment last summer; she attributed the slip-up in her sobriety to a moment of weakness. In a statement of support for her father and Redmond, she said: "Addiction, if untreated, can lead to jail, institutions and death. I love them both and I am sorry to hear about this."
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