Hollywood Hits and Misses: 2009’s best and worst moments

Was he sucking on Kristen Stewart‘s snow white skin behind the scenes or not? The tabloids attempted to get confirmation on their hidden love affair for a year, and all we got were pictures of them at restaurants, concerts and hotels. Someone needs to speak up. “Yes! We’re dating!” The sooner they fess -- or deny, we’ll take either -- the sooner we can all get back to watching “New Moon” in the theaters again. MISS

--Denise Martin, latimes.com  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Is there a music comeback manual floating around the industry? One may think so since Whitney Houston‘s highly anticipated return was strikingly familiar to Britney’s return to the stage. 1) Reunite with your mentor or manager who launched you to superstardom in your teens. Check. 2) Lose the husband who’s dragging you down. Check. 3) Triumph over your personal demons and unhealthy relationship with substances. Check. 4) A GMA concert performance. Check.

Houston’s new effort “I Look to You” debuted to mostly positive reviews and landed at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Despite some blogosphere-haterade and harsh criticism about the state of her live performance voice, it’s obvious her fans globally are happy to have Whitney back as if she “never left.” HIT
Joseph Anthony Kapsch, Zap2it  (Larry Busacca / Getty Images)

Try as he might, not even “queen of all media” Perez Hilton could keep the Black Eyed Peas down this year. The group’s singles “Boom Boom Pow” followed by “I Gotta Feeling,” became the inescapable hits of summer 2009. We’ll admit both songs were heavily overplayed, but the Billboard prowess of both radio-friendly tunes proved to be lethal, killing Usher‘s previous 2004 record of 19 consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. A slew of Grammy nominations have followed, including nods for Record of the Year for “I Gotta Feeling” and Album of the Year for “The E.N.D.” HIT

-- Kate Stanhope, latimes.com  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Nadya Suleman’s 15 minutes of fame came and went, apparently before her “Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage” could even hit the airwaves. Only 4.17 million viewers tuned in to Fox to watch as she dodged the paparazzi, argued with her mother over having so many babies and tried (with the help of nannies) to care for all 14 children. MISS

Meanwhile, TLC’s Jon and Kate Gosselin couldn’t escape the spotlight this summer as fans watched their relationship disintegrate onscreen and in the tabloids. Once the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” couple called it quits and went on hiatus (from TV, not the tabloids), America took a break too and a backfire ensued. HIT and MISS

--Emily Christianson, latimes.com  (Fox / AP)

Mariah Carey seems on the never-ending pursuit to duplicate the massive success of comeback album “The Emancipation of Mimi.” Her follow-up “E=MC2” was a solid effort but mostly a clone of “Mimi” with different variations of “We Belong Together” and “Don’t Forget About Us.” This spring, Mariah hyped the release of next album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” with the usual publicity to fans and industry. The first single “Obsessed” debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard charts, and she then subsequently phoned in a performance of the song on husband Nick Cannon’s show “ America’s Got Talent.” Then the announcement that the album release date was being pushed back to Sept. 29 emerged. We’re sure varying factors contributed to the delay -- perhaps she was resting before she had to participate in the “Precious” Oscar juggernaut? -- but then why all the summer build-up for nothing? Mimi, don’t lead your lambs astray. MISS

Joseph Anthony Kapsch, Zap2it  (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

The former “American Idol” judge was right about one thing: Paying her less than Randy Jackson (at the very least) is totally unfair. Her decision to leave the country’s biggest TV show, however, was totally insane. She had exhaustion issues working two days a week, and then she hoped for a daily talk show? Or, worse still, a Vegas show? Some new career advisors might be in order. MISS

--Denise Martin, latimes.com  (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Liberals applauded the notorious blogger when he trashed Miss California Carrie Prejean for bashing gay marriage. Despite the good karma, Hilton’s reputation slipped when he accused Michael Jackson of faking a collapse to get out his “This Is It” tour, only to find out later that the pop star had died (the post was taken down). Things got worse when he got into a heated argument with Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am. in Toronto. Although the blogger was hurt, not everyone was sympathetic after they learned he had called the frontman a “faggot.” HIT and MISS

--Emily Christianson, latimes.com  (Mark Ralston, AFP / Getty Images)

This year proved to be a banner year for Green Day. Their new album, “21st Century Breakdown,” received a warm reception from both fans and critics when it hit shelves in May. Their tour sold out to packed arenas and a Green Day musical, based on their 2004 hit EP “American Idiot,” is expected to head to Broadway. HIT

-- Kate Stanhope, latimes.com  (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

The summer’s 50-city “American Idol” tour started in Portland, Ore., and continued through September, andthe concerts were a critical hit. The latest “Idol” crop delivered more during their individual performances than their group numbers (See Matt Giraud’s version of “Georgia on My Mind.”)

Thank goodness they struck Kara DioGuardi’s victory song “No Boundaries” from the set list. HIT

--Lora Victorio, latimes.com

RELATED:
VIDEO: AI Tour
PHOTOS: AI Tour  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Despite our first look at the Fab Four video game being positive, sales, well, weren’t. Even Ringo Starr admitted that he’d never played the thing, saying “I’ve tried, but I get too crazy with that guitar arm and the things coming toward you,” he said gesturing wildly with his hands.”

MISS.  (AFP / Getty Images)

Has anyone ever had a really bad thing to say about Bruce? OK, scratch that. Pop & Hiss was mixed on Springsteen’s Super Bowl performance, which saw the artist hamming it up for the NFL. But on the flip side, Springsteen gave us “Working on a Dream,” his 16th studio album, and won positive reviews for his latest tour. He may be 60, but The Boss is still experiencing glory days.--HIT

-- Heather Robertson, L.A Times  (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)

The death of polygamist patriarch Roman Grant, played by the beloved Harry Dean Stanton, was a shock to fans, but what a smashing way to end the season. Even Stanton doesn’t know how to follow up the series, which experienced something of a groundswell in its surprising third season: “I can’t answer to that. I have to wait and see what happens,” he told The Times. He won’t have to wait long; the new season begins Jan. 10. --HIT

-- Jevon Phillips, latimes.com  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

First, a disclaimer: We like “Raising Sand,” the haunting 2008 country effort from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. It’s a terrific album, and deserved to be recognized at the Grammys. But album of the year? Not when an envelope-pushing effort from Radiohead was in the mix, as the band’s “In Rainbows” brought newfound warmth to electronic experimentation. MISS

-Todd Martens, L.A. Times  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Ms. Hilson, who released her debut album “In a Perfect World” on March 24, already has all the markings of an A-list pop star. She knows what makes a jam (as a member of the hit-making collective the Clutch, Keri has written songs for Britney, Omarion and Usher); Timbaland produced her record; and, if that weren’t enough, both Ne-Yo AND Kanye appear on her single, “Knock You Down.” It’s early, but so far, she can’t lose.--HIT

--Heather Robertson, L.A. Times  (Jeff Christensen / Associated Press)

With her “ Hannah Montana: The Movie,” pop star Miley Cyrus has pulled a slight Taylor Swift and gone all country. Well, sorta country, at least. Her single “The Climb,” a determined self-esteem-boosting ballad, has given Cyrus her first hit as a solo artist on Billboard’s country charts. Additionally, the cut sold more than 500,000 digital downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan, in its first month of release. The soundtrack may not have debuted at No. 1, but Cyrus is now set up for a country makeover, if she wants it. HIT.

-Todd Martens, L.A. Times  (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

The right best picture nominee won, the Golden Globes actually happened, and ratings for the Oscars, Globes and Grammys were all up, so that’s a HIT. The less we talk about the big MISS that was the Oscar telecast itself, though, the better.

-- Rick Porter, Zap2it.com   (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Lindsay Lohan debuted her fashion line for Emanual Ungaro to a resounding EPIC FAIL from critics. How did things go so wrong? Four words: Bad Eighties, Heart Pasties. MISS  (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

It’s pretty crazy what a bit of booze can do on a already-overinflated rap star ego, but there it was, Kanye West interrupting poor lil’ Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech for Best Video of the Year at the MTV awards. The only good thing about the Kanye incident is that it diverted media attention away from this story. Thank you, Kanye. No, really, thank you. HIT for Taylor, but MAJOR MISS-step for Kanye.

-- By Kate Stanhope, latimes.com.  (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

In less than 24 hours after announcing the cancellation of her co-headlining tour with Kanye West, the fashion-forward pop star has announced on Twitter that she’ll be striking out on her own. Apparently, Kanye’s gonna let her finish... her tour, that is. HIT  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

After revealing his in-office sexual dalliances and the alleged extortion attempts, Letterman attempts to lighten the mood, resulting in somewhat bizarre bursts of laughter from his studio audience. Blackmail is rather awkward, isn’t it? MISS or perhaps ... OOPS.

-- Ramie Becker, latimes.com  (John P. Filo / Associated Press)

Country superstar Garth Brooks is back in the saddle, ready to revive his record-breaking career. Brooks, now married to Trisha Yearwood and raising three children in Oklahoma, kicked things off with a 5-year engagement at Wynn in Las Vegas that started Dec. 11. How will Garth make time for his family? Easy, he’ll be jetting into Nevada on weekends in his private plane, courtesy of Steve Wynn. Sounds like Brooks really does have some friends in high places. HIT  (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)

According to a YouTube spokesman, U2’s Rose Bowl concert (which had more than 100,000 in attendance), pulled in approximately 10 million streams on the video-sharing site, where the concert was streamed in its entirety. HIT  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Ms. O made it official -- the grand dame of daytime TV will be ending her syndicated talk show on Sept. 9, 2011. Ending the show only four months before 2012? That’s cutting it pretty close, Oprah ... LOSS?  (Rich Schmitt / AFP, Getty Images)

From that suspicious car crash, to the multiple (alleged) affairs, to his seriously scandalous texting, there’s no doubt Tiger Woods’ terrible, no-good, very bad month will be sticking to his formerly spotless image for some time to come. MISS, as in porn star MISStress.  (Alastair Grant / AP)