The year’s biggest new stories, entertainment, movies, music, television and more…
Top 10 News Stories: (according to The AP’s annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.)
1. GULF OIL DISASTER: The April 20 explosion at a BP-leased rig killed 11 workers and unleashed a deep-sea spill that ultimately spewed at least 170 million gallons of crude into the Gulf. Consequences included devastation for fishing and tourism industries, a huge and costly cleanup effort, a management change at BP, and creation of a $20 billion fund to pay for damages.
2. HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL: After bitter political wrangling, President Barack Obama was able to sign into law one of his major campaign promises -- a $1 trillion health care overhaul intended to expand coverage to more Americans. But Republicans used public misgivings about parts of the plan as a springboard for election gains, and the overhaul faced a welter of lawsuits challenging its constitutionality.
3. US ELECTIONS: President Obama called it a "shellacking" -- an election in which the Republicans surged to a majority in the House of Representatives, and gained more governor's offices and legislative majorities. The Democrats were able to hang on to their edge in the Senate, leaving the U.S. with at least two years of divided government.
4. US ECONOMY: Economists said the deepest recession since the Great Depression was over, and consumers began to spend more as the year neared a close. But the unemployment rate stayed well above 9 percent, and home prices were weighed down by foreclosures and sluggish demand.
5. HAITI EARTHQUAKE: Already the Western Hemisphere's most destitute nation, Haiti was shattered by an earthquake on Jan. 12 that killed at least 230,000 and left millions homeless. Crucial reconstruction projects were slow to get started; disease and political instability added to the woes.
6. TEA PARTY MOVEMENT: Though it lacked the trappings of traditional political organizations, the tea party movement had a profound impact on the 2010 election, influencing the stances of Republican leaders and enabling some maverick challengers to oust GOP establishment candidates in the primaries.
7, CHILE MINE RESCUE: In a year of disasters and squabbles, this was a miraculous feel-good story. Trapped nearly a half-mile underground for 69 days after an Aug. 5 mine collapse, 33 Chilean miners were freed one-by-one while an entranced global audience watched on television.
8, IRAQ: U.S. forces formally ended their combat role and looked ahead to planned withdrawal, while Iraqis endured months of bitter political haggling after an election that failed to heal Sunni-Shiite divisions.
9. WIKILEAKS: First came the online postings of a huge batch of U.S. military documents from Iraq and Afghanistan, Then WikiLeaks started releasing a cache of classified State Department diplomatic cables, creating embarrassment for Washington in its dealings with other nations.
10. AFGHANISTAN: After months of deliberation, President Obama ordered a troop surge in a major bid to turn the tide of the nearly 10-year-old war. Intense fighting pushed the Taliban out of some longtime strongholds, but the militants remained resilient, and Afghanistan remained beset by corruption and ineffectual government.
Top 10 Entertainment Stories (according to The AP’s annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.)
1.NBC Late Night Battle (Conan vs. Jay)
2.Avatar Makes History: Top grossing film of all time
3.iPad/tablets/apps
4.Internet/TV move closer (Netflix digital streaming/GoogleTV)
5.Simon Leaves American Idol
6.Beatles Come To iTunes
7.Prince William Gets Engaged
8.Bullock Wins Oscar, Divorces
9.‘Lost’ Ends
10.Larry King Retires
Most Covered Hollywood Stories :
1.Tiger Woods
2.Lindsay Lohan Rehab
3.Me Gibson Audio Tapes
4.Charlie Sheen Fiasco
5.Sandra Bullock/Jesse James Split
6.Heidi Montag’s Dramatic Plastic Surgery
7.Conan vs. Jay Late Night War
8.The Death of Brittany Murphy
9.Ashton Kutcher’s Alleged Cheating Scandal
10.Courtney Cox/David Arquette Split
Speaking of spilts, 2010 seemed to be THE year for them.Others included: Ryan Reynolds & Scalett Johansson, John & Elaine Mellencamp, Tony Parker & Eva Longoria, Sean Penn & Robin Wright Penn, Al & Tipper Gore, Jim Carrey & Jenny McCarthy, Mila Kunis & Macaulay Kulkin, Billy Ray & Trish Cyrus, Rachel Weisz & Darren Aronofsky, Marilyn Manson & Evan Rachel Wood, Elisabeth Moss & Fred Armisen, Melissa Etheridge & Tammy Lynn Michaels, Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter, Charlize Theron & Stuart Townsend, Laura Dern & Ben Harper, Kate Winslet & Sam Mendes, Barbara Hershey & Naveen Andrews, Jennifer Love Hewitt & Jamie Kennedy, Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron, Carey Mulligan & Shia LaBeouf as well as the end for marriages/relationships for Halle Barry, Noah Wyle, Christina Aguilera, Randy Travis, Kelsey Grammer, Ryan Phillippe, & Mel Gibson (yikes!)
Most Googled People:
1.Justin Bieber
2.Katy Perry
3.Selena Gomez
4.Kim Kardashian
5.Eminem
6.Lady Gaga
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Taylor Lautner
9.Megan Fox
10.Robert Pattinson
Top 10 Overall Artists:
1.Lady Gaga
2.Taylor Swift
3.Eminem
4.Lady Antebellum
5.Ke$ha
6.Usher
7.Black Eyed Peas
8.Justin Beiber
9.Rihanna
10.Drake
Top 10 Best Selling Albums (worldwide):
1.Lady GagaThe Fame Monster (5.8 million)
2.EminemRecovery (5.7)
3.Justin Bieber My World (5.6)
4.Lady Antebellum Need You Now (3.6)
5.Taylor SwiftSpeak Now (3.5)
6.Susan Boyle The Gift (3.0)
7.Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (3.0)
8.Michael Bublé Crazy Love (3.0)
9.Sade Soldier of Love (2.3)
10.Alicia Keys The Element Of Freedom (2.3)
Top 10 Best Selling Albums (US):
1. EminemRecovery(3.42)
2. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (3.09)
3. Taylor SwiftSpeak Now (2.96)
4. Justin Bieber My World 2.0 (2.32)
5. Susan Boyle The Gift (1.85)
6. Lady Gaga The Fame (1.59)
7. Sade Soldier Of Love (1.3)
8. Drake Thank Me Later (1.27)
9. Usher Raymond v. Raymond (1.18)
10. Ke$ha Animal (1.14)
Top 10 Songs (Sales & Airplay):
1.Ke$ha “Tik Tok”
2.Lady Antebellum “Need You Now” [Most Played Song]
3.Train “Hey Soul Sister”
4.Katy Perry f. Snoop Dogg “California Gurls”
5.Usher f. will.i.am “OMG”
6.B.o.B. f. Haley Williams “Airplanes”
7.Eminem f. Rihanna “Love The Way You Lie”
8.Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
9.Taio Cruz “Dynamite”
10.Taio Cruz f. Ludacris “Break Your Heart”
Most Downloaded Songs of 2010: 1. Katy Perry, “California Gurls” (feat. Snoop Dogg) (4.4 million) 2. Train, “Hey, Soul Sister” (4.31) 3. Eminem, “Love the Way You Lie” (feat. Rihanna) (4.25) 4. Taio Cruz, “Dynamite” (4.08) 5. B.o.B, “Airplanes” (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) (4.0) 6. Usher, “OMG” (feat. will.i.am) (3.76) 7. Eminem, “Not Afraid” (3.41) 8. Bruno Mars ”Just The Way You Are" (3.28) 9. Taio Cruz, “Break Your Heart” (feat. Ludacris) (3.25) 10. Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” (3.18)
Top 10 Top 40 Songs:
1.Ke$ha “Tik Tok”
2.Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
3.Jason Derulo “In My Head”
4.Taio Cruz f. Ludacris “Break Your Heart”
5.B.o.B. f. Haley Williams “Airplanes”
6.Iyaz “Replay”
7.David Guetta f. Akon “Sexy Chick”
8.Lady Gaga f. Beyonce “Telephone”
9.Katy Perry f. Snoop Dogg “California Gurls”
10.Taio Cruz “Dynamite”
Top 5 Rythymic Top 40 Songs:
1.Trey Songz “Say Aah”
2.B.o.B. f. Bruno Mars “Nothin’ On You”
3.Young Money f/ Floyd “Bedrock”
4.Usher f. will.i.am “OMG”
5.Rihanna “Rude Boy”
Top 5 AC Songs:
1.Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
2.Train “Hey Soul Sister”
3.Michael Bublé “Haven’t Met You Yet”
4.Colbie Callet “Fallin’ For You”
5.Kelly Clarkson “AlreadyGone”
Top 5 Hot AC Songs:
1.Train “Hey Soul Sister”
2.Script “Breakeven”
3.Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
4.Train “If It’s Love”
5.Daughtry “Life After You”
Top 5 R&B/Hip Hop Songs:
1.Alicia Keys“Un-Thinkable (I‘m Ready)”
2.Usher “There Goes My Baby”
3.Melanie Fiona “It Kills Me”
4.Monica “Everything To Me”
5.Trey Songz f. Fabolous “Say Aah”
Top 5 Alternative Rock Songs:
1.Muse “Uprising”
2.Rise Against “Savior”
3.Dirty Heads f. Rome “Lay Me Down”
4.Phoenix “1901”
5.Neon Trees “Animal”
Top 10 College Albums (CMJ)
1.Black Keys Brothers
2.Arcade Fire The Suburbs
3.Beach House Teen Dream
4.Spoon Transference
5.Vampire Weekend Contra
6.GorillazPlastic Beach
7.Hot Chip One Life Stand
8.Yeasayer Odd Blood
9.LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening
10.Wolf Parade Expo 86
Top 5 Dance Club Songs
1.Goldfrapp “Rocket”
2.Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
3.Kylie Minogue “All The Lovers”
4.Scissor Sisters “Fire With Fire”
5.Katy Perry “California Gurls”
#1 Country Song: Lee Brice “Love Like Crazy”
#1 Rap Song: B.o.B. f. Bruno Mars “Nothin’ On You”
#1 Rock: Rise Against “Savior”
#1 Urban AC: Usher “There Goes My Baby”
#1 AAA:Pearl Jam “Just Breathe”
#1 Folk Album/Artist:Mumford & Sons Sigh No More
#1 Dance Album:Lady GagaThe Fame
#1 R&B/Hip Hop Album:EminemThe Recovery
#1 Country Album: Lady Antebellum Need You Now
#1 Catalog Album:Michael JacksonNumber Ones
#1 European Album:Lady GagaThe Fame
#1 European Single:Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
Pop Artist: Ke$ha (Also Top New Artist)
AC Artist: Lady Antebellum
Dance Artist: Rihanna
R&B/Hip Hop Artist:Eminem
Rock/Alternative Artist: Muse
Rap Artist: Drake
Best-Selling iTunes Singles of 2010:
1. Train, “Hey, Soul Sister” 2. Katy Perry, “California Gurls” (feat. Snoop Dogg) 3. Eminem, “Love the Way You Lie” (feat. Rihanna) 4. B.o.B, “Airplanes” (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) 5. Taio Cruz, “Dynamite” 6. Usher, “OMG” (feat. will.i.am) 7. Taio Cruz, “Break Your Heart” (feat. Ludacris) 8. Ke$ha, “TiK ToK” 9. Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” 10. Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Tony Curtis, 85 Leslie Nielsen, 84 Rue McClanahan, 76 Gloria Stewart, 100 Dennis Hopper, 74 Eddie Fisher, 82 John Forsythe, 92 Dixie Carter, 70 Lynn Redgrave, 67 Tom Bosley, 83 Barbara Billingsley, 94 JD Salinger, 91 Peter Graves, 83 Lena Horne, 92 Gary Coleman, 42 Corey Haim, 38 Blake Edwards, 88 Art Linkletter, 97 Zelda Rubinstein, 76 Tina Marie, 54 Merlin Olsen, 69 Jimmy Dean, 81 Robert Culp, 69 Francis Reid, 95 Robert Bryd, 92 Richard Holbrooke, 79 Elizabeth Edwards, 61 Greg Giraldo, 44 Alexander McQueen, 40 Teddy Pendergrass, 59 George Steinbrenner, 80
