Best & Worst 2008: Surprise! It didn’t stink!

Wii Fit

At first, using a video game not called Dance Dance Revolution to lose weight didn’t seem like a good idea. But here we are just months later and more fit than ever. The computerized coach scares the bejeezus out of us. It tells us we’re “overweight” and gives our Miis a belly when we’ve put on a few. And if you skip a day, get ready for a scolding.  (Tina Fineberg / Associated Press)

Latex pants

Lindsay Lohan and Nicky Hilton were early converts to the latex pants trend, but at the time, we still had our reservations.

Would a full-figured woman, stuffed into such a garment, evoke images of sausage casings? Believe it or not, no. Fergie, Rihanna and others have since adopted the look, with dazzling effect. Latex pants for all!  (David Goldman / Associated Press)

Miley Cyrus’ “Breakout”

This may have been the summer of Jonas – what with “ Camp Rock” and a mega-selling album, but Miley – a veteran in the tween pop world – is not out of the picture just yet. Her “Breakout” was a fast and spunky affair, and kept the focus on teen life, offering a devilishly bratty cover of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and griping about such nuisances as having to get out of bed early. And she absolutely killed it at the American Music Awards, with a spry, almost sinister rundown of “Fly on the Wall.”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)