#10 Rihanna (Pop/Rock Singer)

2008 was monster for Rihanna. She tied Beyonce for the most #1’s in this decade. BET named her “Fashion Icon of the Year”.  Among her awards she won Billboard’s “Entertainer of the Year” and American Music Award’s “Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist” for the second year running. In addition she is currently featured on T.I.’s “Live Your Life” single, which has dominated the #1 spot on billboard’s rap chart. And as if all that was not enough the 21 year-old is dating R&B’s hottest guy in the game Chris Brown.

 #9 Candace Parker (Athlete/WNBA)

She is a beast on the basketball court. Drafted by the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks she is the first WNBA Player to dunk in consecutive games. She scored the most points in a rookie debut with 34. She is Candace Parker! Parker was the most heralded player to enter the draft in 2008 since her teammate Lisa Leslie. She not only dazzled her rookie season she soared to new heights. She set records by being taking home both WNBA’s MVP of the year and WNBA’s Rookie of the year. She was also named AP’s Woman Athlete of the Year! Basketball obviously runs in the family, her brother Anthony Parker is with NBA’s Toronto Raptors. And if her 2008 weren’t dazzling enough for Parker she quietly eloped with her fiancée Sheldon Williams of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings at the end of 2008!

 #8 Beyonce (Singer/Songwriter/Actress)

Beyonce is no stranger to success and 2008 was no different. After a break she burst onto the scene with a new album “I Am…Sasha Fierce”. The album immediately spawned two hit singles “If I Were a Boy” and “Put a Ring On It” which is currently number one on billboard’s Hot 100 chart. She also had acting roles in “Cadillac Records” and “Obsessed” the later opening this month. And if that wasn’t enough she earned a remarkable $80 million helping make her the number one Cash Couples in Entertainment along with hubby Jay-Z. Speaking of Jay-Z she finally married her Roc earlier in 2008.

#7 Lil Wayne (Rapper/Producer)

2008 was Lil Wayne’s Year. He released his “Tha Carter III” which sold 1 million copies in 1 week. A fete that hasn’t been done since 50 Cents did it in 2005. Lil Wayne was everywhere and everyone wanted Lil Wayne. If he wasn’t performing or appearing at award shows he was being featured on everyone’s singles from T.I. to T-Pain. His hit singles Lollipop, Got Money and A Million were billboard mainstays.

 #6 Jay-Z (Rapper/Mogul)

Jay has become one of the most financially successful hip-hop artist and mogul in America. He signed the biggest contract ever with Live Nation worth $150 million. He co-owns 40/40 club, The New Jersey Nets and still heads of Roca wear clothing line. He sells out concerts in 30 minutes, which is unheard of and wed the hottest girl in the game, Beyonce April of 2008. And to top things off he was the highest paid musician of 2008 bringing in over $82 million.

# 5 Michelle Obama (New First Lady/Lawyer/Wife/Mother)

She is an attorney, smart, fashion forward, a mom and wife to President-Elect Barack Obama. Michelle Obama will make history along side her husband when she becomes this countries first African American First Lady. She is Barack’s greatest asset and everyone predicts she will be a great First Lady. She has already done a good job raising her two daughters Malia and Sasha with Barack. Family is first and foremost. She is extremely close to her mom and her brother who is the men’s basketball coach at Oregon State University. In July of 2008, Michelle became an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The Chicago native will soon call the White House home.

 #4 Tyler Perry (Producer/Director/Actor/Studio Head) 

Tyler Perry wasn’t content to just sit back and make plays and movies. He got into television, developing the hit show “The House of Payne” which is a cable success. So hoping to strike gold twice in 2008 he went back to television to produce the series “Meet the Browns” which will premiere in 2009. His most impressive and historic move to date though was the launch of his motion picture studios located in Atlanta! Perry became the first Black to ever open and own a movie studio and lot. Tyler Perry Studios will develop all of Tyler’s projects and rent out space for other projects. Within months of opening the studio has employed over 200 employees.

 #3 Oprah (Studio Head/Publisher/Television Host/Actresses/School Matron)

She is simply Oprah. However there is nothing simple about her. She is arguably the most influential woman in the world. When she speaks the World listens. In 2008 Oprah brought in over $385 million with the help of her “Oprah Winfrey Show”, Harpo Studios, Oxygen Channel, her magazine O, her radio program and more. She is a philanthropist and raised her game by opening a school for girls in South Africa. She is credited for being the first Black Billionaire with her net worth estimated at 2.7 billion. She is at the top of everyone’s list. 

 #2 Will Smith (Actor/Producer)

Will Smith has become the #1 movie star in America surpassing even his buddy Tom Cruise. He is box office gold and in 2008 could do no wrong. Will made box office history by becoming the 1st actor to have count them eight consecutive movies hitting the $100 million mark. No small fete by Hollywood standards. He appeals to everyone and everyone loves Will Smith. Not one to sit on his success Will founded Overbrook Entertainment a production company that produces movies, music and television programs. In 2008 alone Overbrook Entertainment released the following hits The Human Contract, Lakeview Terrace, The Secret Lives of Bees, Hancock and Seven Pounds currently in theaters. Will is not only handsome and charming he is smart. Will makes $20 million per picture and also takes home a percentage of the box office receipts on the backend. Now that is a man who knows how to work it!

 #1 Barack Obama (44th President Elect)

Not many people beat out the likes of Oprah and Will Smith on year-end polls but one man did, President-Elect Barack Obama. With a simple phrase of hope he changed the course of America and brought inspiration to America and Countries abroad.  No one man brought so many people together and gave a nation a reason to hope and dream again in a country struggling through a recession and slipping in it’s international popularity.  “Yes We Can” became a theme of hope for millions and on November 3rd, 2008 “Yes We Can” became “Yes We Did”! President-Elect, Barack Obama is our Top Person of 2008 and soon our 1st ever-Black President as well as our 44th President of the United States of America!

The Queen of Talk Oprah Winfrey is currently in discussion with Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, the creators of the popular television reality series, The Amazing Race. Oprah is collaborating with van Munster and Doganieri with the aim of launching a charity-themed show called, The Big Give. The concept of the show is reminiscent of the novel “You Shall Know Our Velocity,” which was penned by acclaimed writer, editor and publisher Dave Eggers. The fictional work tells the story of two people who go around the globe to spend money in various charitable and innovative projects. Take the two people and multiply it by five, and you’ve got yourself Oprah’s new reality competition, with the winner, of course, being the most innovative of them all. The success of the show will still remain the hands of the viewers, but given that names like Oprah, Munster and Doganieri are behind it, it seems highly probable that The Big Give will be a big hit.

Given the recent controversy that Oprah has faced regarding the supposed overly strict system of her school in South Africa, one may feel that she is somewhat trying to lighten the situation by using a show to further highlight her charitable side. The issue came about after the students’ parents apparently complained about the school’s rigidity. However, Oprah has not responded to the issue with much defensiveness, and has calmly explained that the reason why she has imposed strict rules in her school is because she only wants the best for her students. She also said that she has already spoken to the parents, and told them that if they are unhappy with the school, they are free to withdraw their children.

On the other hand, Oprah may just want to further effect positive change by producing a show that rewards good and selfless deeds. After all, no matter what the reason may be, many people will surely benefit from The Big Give.

For more resources about The Amazing Race or especially about Creators of The Amazing Race to produce Oprah’s reality show please visit http://www.buddytv.com

Who would ever have thought that a slightly overweight woman journalist that also happened to be black would rise to the successful heights that Oprah Winfrey has? If you are one of the millions who watch her show regularly then you know that it should be no surprise at all.

Despite what many of those closed minded people in the world might think, being a woman and also being a minority in this country has nothing to do with ones ability to rise as far as they want to.

Oprah Winfrey has proven to millions that she is one of the most intelligent and gifted people on our planet. If there was ever a perfect example that gender and race has no bearing on one’s abilities, then Oprah is it.

Not only has she ascended from the meanest sorts of poverty and abuse during her childhood, but she has struggled her way through school and the ranks of the journalism world to become recognized for her talk show alone, which through satellite are aired all over the world, but she has built an empire from that same talk show that she has hosted for these many years. Yet she has remained one of the most charitable and most loved celebrities that we have ever had.

The appeal that Oprah has is that she really is still one of us even though she is probably wealthy beyond words. She has never lost the ability to sit down and talk with everyday people about their many difficulties and have as much genuine concern as with they were her own difficulties.

Over the past several years, she has gone to great lengths that others would never have done to help track down the low life predators that prey on our innocent children.

She realizes the extreme importance of finding as many of these criminals as we can and putting them where they belong, out of our society and away from our children. It is about time that someone started speaking out for the children that are affected by these tragic molestations and deaths.

The girl’s school that she has recently opened in Africa is just like something that she would do. It has provided a wonderful opportunity for these girls that they could never have even dreamed of.

It may very well help to reshape the future of that entire region by allowing intelligent young women who would have been overlooked otherwise, to become great additions to the society of the world and begin a new chain of education and a better way of life for them and their offspring as well.

So Oprah, wherever you are, those of us who admire you so greatly, salute you. It is just such a shame that there is not many more in the world just like you.

Creative ideas can only go so far in Hollywood, as they usually end up in the courtroom, battling it out on who had the original idea and for intellectual property rights. Shows and movies that have garnered success are usually the victim of these law suits, as someone suddenly shows up, claiming that the original idea was stolen from them. Recently, the victim was Disney’s Hannah Montana, which was sued for a couple of cases.

This weekend, a comedy writer filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company, stating that in 2001, he already had an idea for a show, however with a different title.

Taylor “Buddy” Sheffield, a veteran comedy writer, is suing for alleged breach of contract, breach of confidence, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. The show he came up with six years ago was entitled Rock and Roland, which was about a middle *********** who had a secret alter-ego as a rock star. Sounds too much like Hannah Montana, in which Miley Cyrus stars as Miley Stewart, a school student who also is teen star Hannah Montana. On the show, only her father and closest friends know about her being Hannah.

The Associated Press reports that Sheffield had previously written for The Smothers Brothers, The Dolly Parton Show, and In Living Color. He also created Nickelodeon’s Roundhouse. A CBS affiliate also reported that in the lawsuit, Sheffield states that, “The series revolved around a junior high school student who appears to lead an entirely unremarkable life, but is secretly a pop/rock star and the main breadwinner for his family,” adding that Hannah Montana is a “blatant copy of ‘Rock and Roland.”

These kinds of lawsuits are common in Hollywood, as such has happened in 1977, when a writer claimed that Aaron Spelling stole the idea for a show called Family. In 2005, two individuals filed suit against Simon Cowell, accusing him of stealing the idea for American Inventor, which they claimed was originally The Million Dollar Idea. In 2006, Rachel Ray was also in the news as a man claimed that she stole his idea for Inside Dish with Rachel Ray.

For more resources about Writer Claims Hannah Montana Was His Idea or for the full story of Hannah Montana please review this link http://www.buddytv.com

Hannah Montana’s very own Miley Cyrus will be appearing in tonight’s The Oprah Winfrey Show. This will be the first time for the 14-year-old actress to face the queen of talk herself. Surely, Oprah Winfrey has established herself as an icon due to her groundbreaking success with her daytime talk show, acclaimed books and magazines, philantrophic acts and other endeavors. But Miley Cyrus, at the age of 14 also has established herself as a tween icon, with her highly successful Disney series, Hannah Montana and sold out concerts.

Reports say that while on Oprah’s show, Cyrus will be talking about the series, where she plays Miley Stewart, an ordinary girl leading a double life as the pop singer, Hannah Montana. Her real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who plays her onscreen on the series will also be appearing alongside her on Oprah’s show.

Oprah has recently surprised a town on the “Favorite Things” special on yesterday’s episode, wherein she openhandedly gave away gifts and rewards. Tonight, she’ll be doing it again, as she has another surprise in time for Thanksgiving.

Coming from her Best of Both Worlds Tour, which has sparked controversy with its sky rocketing sales, ticket shortage, lawsuits and jacked up prices care of the scalpers, Miley Cyrus, with Oprah’s help, will be giving a lovely surprise to 100 of her biggest fans, who, without a clue, were waiting backstage.

Fans can catch more of their idol on Hannah Montana, which also features Emily Osment as Lilly Truscott/Lola, Mitchel Musso as Oliver Oken/Mike Standley, and Jason Earles as Jackson Stewart, airing at 7/6c on the Disney Channel.

For more resources about Hannah Montana or for the full story of Hannah Montana Stars to Appear on Oprah Today please review http://www.buddytv.com

Many American Idol contestants have lingered in the limelight even after their stint on the popular talent competition. Apart from a successful career in the music industry, former American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson has already graced the film world with the movie From Justin to Kelly. Jennifer Hudson, former season three finalist, has also established a career in acting, acquiring many awards for the 2006 musical film Dreamgirls. Now, another former Idol finalist will be penetrating the big screen and she comes in the form of Katherine McPhee.

McPhee has reportedly signed on to star in a new movie entitled The Last Caller, which is actually her second movie following her minor appearance in Crazy. As the lead character, she plays the role of a self-obsessed woman who searches for love and meaning.

Produced by Hit and Rub Productions’ Hilary Shor (Children of Men) and Zenith Film Group’s Nicholas Cokas, the indie film will fall under the budget of $5 million to $8 million range. Written by Michael Albanese, the dark comedy is scheduled to start in the fall in and around New York.

McPhee, a 23-year old native of Los Angeles, California, is best known as a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Despite not being hailed as the winner of the show, she has acquired a recording contract with Sony BMG’

s RCA Records. Apart from releasing her album, she has been on tour with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and has performed in three of his concerts. As an actress, she has appeared on shows like Ugly Betty, The Tyra Banks Show, Rachael Ray, Entertainment Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition, she has also co-produced a play entitled Red Herring. Prior to entering showbiz world, she has worked in numerous theater productions like Annie Get Your Gun, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and You Are Here.

For more information about American Idol or for the full story about American Idol’s Katherine McPhee to star in indie film please review this website http://www.buddytv.com