Collected by Yahoo!
1 Britney Spears
The singer’s steep (急剧升降的) trajectory (轨迹,道路) to redemption (重获,恢复) restored her to the top of searches. Her year began with a police visit, hospital stay, and psych evaluation. She returned under her father’s shelter and, by summer, settled custody with her ex. Professionally, she guested on a sitcom (situation comedy 连续剧), won thrice (三次) at the MTV Video Music Awards, broke records with “Womanizer,” relaunched her site, and released a documentary detailing her fall and comeback…by age 27.
2 WWE
A June explosion destroyed a World Wrestling (摔跤) Entertainment stage and “injured” chairman Vince McMahon, unleashing (释放) a sweaty soap opera of chaos that included his kids appealing for cooperation in difficult times. The stunt (惊人表演, 绝技) could’ve symbolized the sporting empire’s battles against the economy’s fall and mixed martial arts’ [martial arts: 武术（指功夫、柔道、空手道等）] rise. WWE produced more events, video games, and movies to make up for fewer paying fans, and faithfuls kept track online to maintain its Top 2 status.
3 Barack Obama
The Illinois junior senator faced two hard-fought contests and nearly won a third-although toppling Britney Spears wasn’t on his list. He entered 2008 as a relative newcomer on the national scene and ended the year as president-elect. His campaign defied (挑战；刺激) political wisdom and made history at every turn. His Web strategy set the groundwork (基础) to make him the first wired president and, in an unprecedented Search surge, landed him at No. 3.
4 Miley Cyrus
Before 2008, the singer/actress had been better known-and searched-by her Disney persona, Hannah Montana. She appeared on shows like “Idol Gives Back” as Cyrus, but true name recognition came with scandal: a Vanity Fair (浮华世界, 虚荣无聊的社会,名利场) spread featuring the 15-year-old seemingly wrapped only in a bedsheet. Savvy Cyrus apologized, survived, and closed down Disneyland for a 16th birthday charity bash (【俚语】 庆祝，狂欢；聚会), and ended up at No. 4.
5 RuneScape
The multi-player role-playing game’s international popularity rests on its cheap access, ability to run on older computers, and compelling play. Its underground success has even led to a real black market, trading actual cash for RuneScape gold-and controversial restrictions to stop it. A new boss, graphics, and touted (吹捧) player-versus-player combat release signal the company’s power play to step up in the RPG battle…and take hold at No. 5.
6 Jessica Alba
Her movies fared none too well, following 2007 missteps that got her three Razzie Worst Actress nominations. Still, she earned Best Movie Actress at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and No. 6 in searches, buoyed (保持高水平) by her wedding and baby Honor Marie (who earned a reported $1.5 million in her OK! mag (杂志) debut 首次露面). The pregnant pause may have given her impetus to switch to more serious roles-something to watch for in 2009.
7 Naruto
The manga. The game. The anime. Whatever form Naruto Uzumaki takes, the awkward but accomplished young graduate of the Ninja Academy remains the Web’s most popular fictional character in seventh place. His peers and enemies also command their own followings, but the complex tale of Naruto (whose name translates to “maelstrom 大祸乱, 灾害 / 大旋流”), the orphaned misfit (不适应环境的人) who craves (恳求, 渴望) recognition, resonates (共鸣) with its generation of fans.
8 Lindsay Lohan
At No. 8, the actress made stumbling (蹒跚的) progress back from rehab (康复；恢复, 复原), revolving-door relationships, and rejected roles. On the upside, she settled down (with a monogamous twist), blogged about politics, and recreated Marilyn Monroe’s photo shoot. On the downside (下降趋势/缺点), she got booted from “Ugly Betty” and as World Music Awards host. Lohan has had celebs testifying to her talent, but a true comeback may have to wait for 2009.
9 Angelina Jolie
Leading power lists in Forbes and even Guinness World Records, the actress took her place among Hollywood’s elite (<法>[集合名词]精华, 精锐, 中坚分子). “Delicate” condition aside, she underscored her image as a tough-dame throwback with a 21st-century vibe (感应). She earned box-office (票房) bucks(美元) as an assassin and cartoon tigress (凶恶的女人), Oscar cred in “Changeling,” and karma by donating her and Brad Pitt’s twins’ $14 mil pictoral payout to charity-moves that muscled her in at No. 9.
10 American Idol
Judges kept declaring its 2008 singers their best ever, but while the Fox reality show ruled ratings, an audience decline since 2007 sent producers into a fit of self-examination. In a season beset with ( 为......困扰) complaints, “Idol” had the last laugh with a smashing (轰动的) finale and iTunes recordbreaker. The show also got “cougar 美洲狮” into household vernacular (习语；日常用语), unlikely credit for exposing youth to the democratic process, and a top Search 10 nod once again.