2008 as it was

Ok, 2008 is almost over so it’s time to sum up what we’ve seen, enjoyed, got crazy or furious at during the year. Think making another list of mine, the last one this year.

TEEN OF THE YEAR

Let’s begin with teens. The Teen of the Year is definitely Miley Cyrus. She’s made a way from a Disney Channel star to one of the most influential women in entertainment. She’s been different, shocking and amusing. She made a stir with her Vanity Fair shoot and she’s celebrated her sweet 16 in Disney Land. She’s # 1 teen of 2008.

Although, I do belive we must praise the Jonas Brothers, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato for the great work they’ve done. Though not on the top, they are surely among the best teens of the year!

Celebrity of the Year Finalist #5: The Stars of High School Musical

As 2008 winds down, it's time to reflect upon those - from household names to relative unknowns, from A- to D-list - who made this year so memorable.


The Hollywood Gossip is unveiling 10 finalists for its 2nd Annual Celebrity of the Year award. They've given us their best, their worst, even their nude pictures in some cases. Now it is time for us to give something back with this moving tribute.

We previously profiled the expensive, Governor-seducing call girl, Ashley Dupre. Today, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #5 … the High School Musical Cast!

It was a huge year for Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and company... literally! While previous installments of this Disney franchise scored solid ratings, High School Musical 3: Senior Year was released on big screens across the country, breaking records and making names in Hollywood for all its stars.


Efron has received the biggest career boost from the film.

Previously compared with temporary teen icons such as Brody Jenner, Zac is now being discussed in the same breath as A-list actors such a Leonardo DiCaprio. In 2009, he'll star alongside Matthew Pretty and Leslie Mann in 17 Again.

Hudgens, meanwhile, gets to have sex with Efron. She also has overcome the biggest nude scandal of 2007 in order to resurrect her burgeoning resume. Like her delicious boyfriend, Vanessa has broken free from the teen mold: she'll be included among Maxim's Sexiest Stars of 2009.

As for Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman and others associated with this franchise, they may very be included in our Celebrity of the Year profiles for years to come. Go Wildcats!

Dakota Fanning Raps About Rape

Dakota Fanning has made a career out of playing wise-beyond-their years characters. It's not surprising that she's taking the controversy over her recent film Hounddog in stride.

The film raised eyebrows when it was reported that Fanning, 12 at the time, filmed a rape scene for the Deborah Kampmeier-directed flick, without the use of a body double. Activists even launched a petition to have Fanning's mother, Joy, brought up on child-pornography charges.

But Fanning, now 14, tells British newspaper the Telegraph that the wailing and gnashing of teeth were unwarranted.

"It's a movie and it's called acting," Fanning counters. "What drew me to it was that my character shows people that you can overcome adversity in life and it doesn't define you...just because something terrible happened to [Fanning's character] doesn't mean that she can't have a great life. I wanted to do the film because I thought it might help one person that has happened to and help them overcome adversity in their lives."

In the film, Fanning plays Lewellen, a 14-year-old girl who is raped but finds solace and strength in the music of Elvis Presley.

The brouhaha was hyped out of proportion upon the film's September release. Back then, a certain blogger reported that the movie had been yanked from more than 5,000 AMC theaters—a claim that proved to be an extreme mathematical improbability.

Carrie Underwood Leads Team of CMA Fashion All-Stars

Talk about an impressive evening.

Carrie Underwood co-hosted, performed live, won big and looked stunning at the Country Music Awards last night. Here she is with co-host Brad Paisley ...

This is just one of her many beautiful dresses, however. Click to enlarge some bonus photos of the fashionable Carrie Underwood - along with other celebrity gossip favorites like Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and more - from the 2008 CMAs ...

"Secret Life of Bees" explores the power of love

The Secret Life of Bees may have an explanation for the mysterious decline in the bee population: Bees just aren't getting enough love these days.

They're smothered with it in the big-screen adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's best-selling novel. Bees are like family to these characters. However, the film is set in 1964, decades before bees started disappearing, so love may not be enough to repopulate their world.

It certainly is a life force for Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), who's dying from a lack of it in her small Southern town. As she turns 14 in July 1964, she's haunted by memories of her mother's tragic death 10 years earlier and plagued by questions her cold, menacing peach-grower father, T. Ray (Paul Bettany), won't answer.

After racist whites beat up Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), the Owens' black housekeeper, Lily sneaks Rosaleen out of a hospital room under the nose of a deputy. Lily knows her mother had some connection to Tiburon, S.C., so they head there and find refuge with the Boatwright sisters, August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys) and May (Sophie Okonedo).

The sisters have a gracious home and thriving honey business; cellist June teaches music at a school. August makes Lily her bee apprentice and has Rosaleen help May in the kitchen. The newcomers begin to feel comfortable and safe, but Lily still won't reveal the real reason she left home.

The plot doesn't so much twist as undulate; there are no huge surprises. That's not what "The Secret Life of Bees" is about. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who wrote the screenplay, has crafted an insightful, warm human story that incorporates a sensitive girl's coming of age, the complex dynamics of family, the egregiousness of racism, the efficacy of the civil-rights movement, the uplift of religion and the power of love.

All the actors are on target, but Fanning is superb as the teen tied in knots of guilt, and versatile Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda") gives an inspiring performance.

Latifah, Hudson and Keys all have segued into acting from music, and their natural, honest performances prove this side of their talent. The director doesn't go out of her way to remind us where the three came from, but at one point they're standing side by side and it hits you: Latifah. Hudson. Keys. It's a summit of superstars.

While the film is female-centric (Hilarie Burton plays Lily's mom in flashbacks), the men shine, too. Bettany fights the impulse to explode as he makes T. Ray something besides a monster. Tristan Wilds is winning as Lily's new friend, Zach, and Nate Parker commands respect as June's beau, Neil.

The Secret Life of Bees is a reminder that humans have a long way to go, but they'll get there faster if they work together. Kind of like those buzzing insects.

Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale: Retail Romp

Keeping with the American tradition of Black Friday, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens were spotted doing a little day-after-Thanksgiving retail therapy November 28.

The “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” co-stars were spotted getting the royal treatment as they arrived at a Los Angeles mall to get their shop on.

According to an eyewitness, Vanessa’s Audi was parked in the ‘No Parking’ zone while mall security escorted both ladies safe entry to and exit from the shopping center, where they both picked up items from Bloomingdales.

Both ladies appeared to be in the mood for knee-high black boots, with Ashley opting for a black sweater/black trousers combo while Miss Hudgens donned a plaid shirt and black jeans. Following their pampered shopping excursion, they headed back to Miss Tisdale’s LA-area home.

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Selena at British Academy Children’s awards

Cutie Selena Gomez made her way overseas for BAFTA show held in London on Sunday.

Selena looked gorgeous as she arrived at the British Academy Children’s Film and Television awards at the London Park Lane Hilton hotel.

The Wizards of Waverly Place actress wore Matthew Williamson black and violet dress to represent Disney’s Horton Hears a Who which was nominated for the Feature Film Award.

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