A NATIONAL LOOK BACK The entertainment year in review

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
It wasn't really an out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new sort of year in entertainment. Rather, the past 12 months have been a period where both the old and new got some licks in.
That was never more evident than in the field of music. Hip-hop dominated the scene with women, making tremendous strides up the charts.
But the music world also saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band return to the stage in support of their new album, "The Rising," built around a 9/11 theme. The Who made it back on tour, sadly without "Thunderfingers," bass player John Entwistle, who died days before the tour was about to commence.
Then, of course, there are the Rolling Stones and, as George Harrison once intoned, "the father of us all," Bob Dylan, plying their craft as if 40 years had not really passed.
Movies and television
The movies took a look back, with a twist. Hollywood has always looked to comic book heroes to make a quick strike -- remember the Superman and Batman serials? (Surely you don't, but believe us, they were there.)
So this year's example of back to the future was "Spiderman," based on the Marvel Comics character, which had a bigger box office take than any other film. Unlike its predecessors, Spiderman took advantage of the latest digital technology to the point where it actually seemed like the old web spinner was climbing up the wall.
Television was, of course, television. Despite the spate of so-called "reality" shows -- has there ever been a bigger plague? -- the boob tube is looking back in its vault for new ideas. The third incarnation of "Dragnet," the old Jack Webb series, is in the wings.
How does it go? The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Topten
Entertainment stories
1Hip-hop ruled this year, taking three of the chart's Top 10 seller slots, with performers like Eminem ("The Eminem Show" sold about 7 million units), Nelly and Dr. Dre pumping up the popularity of the beat-heavy, urban sound. Country performed well with an older audience.
2With major studios rabid for blockbusters, the independent film scene gained momentum through the release of celebrated movies like "Adaptation" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien," filmed at a fraction of the price.
3Winona Ryder, the talented star of films such as "Little Women," evaded much punishment on a shoplifting rap, but her career might be headed downhill.
4Network television continued its race to the bottom while cable TV, with four-star programs such as "The Sopranos" and off-the-wall offerings such as "The Osbournes," swiped more and more of the market.
5They killed Napster, but the recording industry still is trying to deal with listeners who download music off their computers and burn it onto CDs. Sales dropped 13 percent this year, costing any number of media empires millions of dollars.
6"My Big Fat Greek Wedding," a comedy made for $5 million, brought in more than $205 million in ticket sales and remains on the Top 10 grossing list for months.
7Told by a fan "We need you" in wake of the 9/11 disaster, Bruce Springsteen issued the inspirational "The Rising," premiering cuts of the CD on NBC's "Today" show and supporting it with a triumphant world tour.
8Spiderman set the latest box office trend of films featuring elements of fantasy and magic -- "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," even "Star Wars."
9Bad boy rapper Eminem expanded his horizons by taking on a starring role in the film "8 Mile," exhibiting enough ability to carry a movie and back it up with a big-selling CD.
10Reality shows continued to dominate the network line-up with "The Bachelor" and "American Idol," capturing viewers who, for some reason, have nothing better to do.
WINNERS
Jennifer Lopez: She's the hottest thing in the music industry, her films are awaited with rabid anticipation, she's engaged to Ben Affleck, the world's sexiest man according to People magazine, and she still has the best ... well, let's just say her clothes fit her well.
Nia Vardalos: Nia who? Have you seen "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? If you haven't, you're the only one. She starred in the film based on her stand-up comedy routine, which to date has brought in a cool $205 million. Break out the Ouzo.
Nelly: His debut CD, "Country Grammar," soared to the top of the charts, where it remained for several weeks, but it shrank in comparison to his latest offering, "Nellyville," which opened at No. 1 and produced two numbers atop the singles chart.
Ozzy Osbourne: A most unlikely folk hero, the former lead singer of Black Sabbath and court jester for the annual heavy metal tour known as Ozzfest has emerged as a television superstar playing "The Dad" on MTV's reality show "The Osbournes." His hands shaking from years of drugs and drink, his body heavily tattooed, his language facing constant bleeping from the censors, Ozzie nonetheless comes off as a lovable character who simply adores his family.
Kelly Clarkson: Having survived the snide jibes of Simon Cowell on "American Idol," Kelly Clarkson emerged the winner in fan voting, winning a major recording and management contract in the process. Her debut CD is now in stores.
LOSERS
Madonna: How many times, and in how many ways, can we all simultaneously cry "It's over!" Her film, "Swept Away," quickly became one of the biggest box office bombs of all time. It's been years since she had a hit record. She's on the Zsa Zsa Gabor celebrity track.
Michael Jackson: How many times, and in how m..., oh, we did that already. Can Jacko go any lower? His album, "Invincible," proved anything but, making its debut at No. 1 but plummeting after people actually heard it. He dangled his kid over a balcony and continues to appear in public like he's dressed for a Kabuki play.
Winona Ryder: Her next role could be as the lead in "Girls of Sing Sing." It's not like her career was on the fast track anymore anyway, playing second fiddle to Adam Sandler, but ripping off dresses from a Beverly Hills clothier isn't exactly the best way to energize the old career.
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown: There's embarrassment, then there's this pair. Bobby got picked up -- again -- for driving a car full of reefer too fast in Atlanta, and Whitney told interviewer Diane Sawyer that she's addicted to sex (so where does the line begin?). Ever thought about making a record that wasn't god-awful?
George Clooney: Nice guy, great film credit ("Three Kings"), but he's not exactly knocking 'em dead with is latest, "Solaris," which pretty much tanked in its first five days of release despite a big-studio marketing campaign.