1. “SNL” raised the roof on its ratings. “I can see Russia from my house!” Tina Fey debuted her impersonation of Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live.” The show scored its highest ratings in 14 years when it snags the ultimate prize: Palin herself. The VP candidate proved a game cast member, obliging when Amy Poehler shouted out: “All the mavericks in the house, put your hands up!”

2. Tragedy struck when actor Heath Ledger died at 28 years old of an accidental prescription drug overdose in a New York apartment, cutting short a brilliant career. His performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” earned him a posthumous Golden Globe nomination and potential for an Oscar nomination.

3. Yeah, yeah, Barack Obama got elected, but we’ll reserve the pop-culture prize for Oprah Winfrey. Weeping on the shoulder of a stranger at Obama’s victory rally, and gushing uncontrollably on her postelection show, the talk-show queen can surely claim a little credit for the triumph of her “favorite guy.” Some economists even claim she brought Obama a million votes in the primaries.

4. Britney — after a year in which she seemed to reach the depths, this famously durable young woman is in the midst of an astonishing comeback, with Circus, her latest CD, reaching No. 1 on the album charts. At 27, she seems to be not only “the world’s pop princess,” (as her manager says) but the world’s pop-culture princess, too.

5. David Cook, 25, wins “American Idol” over the baby-faced 17-year-old, David Archuleta, breaking the hearts of countless tween girls.

6. “Joe The Plumber” made his debut, as a constant reference in the third presidential debate. Later, Joe, aka Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, 34, campaigned for McCain and Palin.

7. Harrison Ford returned as Indiana Jones — at age 65! We doubt Hollywood would be so kind to a 65-year-old actress.

8. After four years and endless buildup, the “Sex and the City” gals returned in a feature-length film. Would Carrie find happiness with Mr. Big? Yes, but even happier were producers, after a $55.7 million opening weekend — unprecedented for a chick flick.

9. Madonna turned 50! And the chiseled superstar was hardly alone. Also hitting the half-century mark this year: Michael Jackson, Prince, Ellen Degeneres, Michelle Pfeiffer, Viggo Mortensen.

10. Miley Cyrus is a genuine superstar at age 15. So what’s the problem? A few pesky photos shot by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair. They showed the Disney princess, aka Hannah Montana, in a come-hither pose, with a bare back and shoulders. {AP}

love/tainted love of 2008
JAY-Z AND BEYONCE: Jay-Z liked it, so he put a ring on it. The rap mogul and the singing superstar finally tied the knot after six years of unconfirmed dating in an April ceremony.

LINDSAY AND SAM: After a string of go-nowhere relationships and bad choices, Lindsay Lohan is going strong with disc jockey Samantha Ronson. The inseparable duo ignited an are-they-or-aren’t-they media frenzy when they were photographed getting cozy at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

JEN AND JOHN: John Mayer has dated everyone from Jessica Simpson to Jennifer Love Hewitt, and this year, Jennifer Aniston’s body was his wonderland. Despite Mayer’s player reputation, a shockingly smitten Aniston followed Mayer on tour, not trying to hide under her trusty pashmina.

MARIAH AND NICK: Mariah Carey found love again with Nick Cannon, an actor 11 years her junior. She married the “Drumline” star in April after just weeks of dating.

MADONNA AND GUY:
Madonna and Guy Ritchie weren’t fooling anyone when they denied rampant rumors of marital strife. The pop star and the British filmmaker announced in October they were divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage.

2008 babies
BRONX MOWGLI: This year’s most unusual moniker, courtesy of Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. He grew up near Chicago and she hails from Texas — yet, inexplicably, the rock-star couple named their son after one of the toughest boroughs in New York City. And Mowgli was inspired by the hero of “The Jungle Book.”

SUNDAY ROSE: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed their baby girl on a Monday, then named her for the day before. The baby’s second name is a tribute to Urban’s grandmother, Rose.

ZUMA NESTA ROCK: When he’s old enough, Gwen Stefani’s baby boy might want to change his first name to something that sounds less like a certain clear malt beverage. Then again, a child raised by Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale might fully embrace the unique moniker.

HONOR MARIE: An honorable mention (ha, ha) goes to the daughter of Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Warren. Honor will get a lifetime of instant respect, based on her first name alone.

BUSTER TIMOTHY: The name Buster goes back to the silent film era with comic actor Buster Keaton. The name struck a chord with Jonny Lee Miller and Michele Hicks, who named their son Buster Timothy. {AP}

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