VINDICATION
MCCAIN: 'AHA! I TOLD YOU OBAMA WAS JUST A CELEBRITY'
Britney Spears was the most popular search term on Yahoo for the fourth year in a row. Spears bested World Wrestling Entertainment, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus and the online game "RuneScape" as the five most-searched terms of 2008.

MEMORIES
HE'S HOPING FOR ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT WORLD MAPS
Mario Lopez is in negotiations to once again host the Miss America Pageant. TLC said Monday that the 35-year-old "Extra" host is in negotiations to serve as the MC for the Jan. 24 ceremony in Las Vegas.

CASTING
REMEMBER MY NAME
A remake of the musical drama about students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, "Fame," has been greenlighted. In the teacher's lounge: Debbie Allen, pictured, returns as Principal Simms. She'll be joined by Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Charles S. Dutton and Bebe Neuwirth.

PREMATURE
RINGS? LORD, NO
A representative for "Lord of the Rings" star Orlando Bloom, 30, denied reports on Sunday that the British actor is set to marry supermodel Miranda Kerr, 25. Australian media reported that the couple celebrated their engagement in Venice last week when Kerr was shooting a fashion campaign in the city, but the rep told People.com the story was "completely false."

SOLO
BOBBY BROWN HIT REMIXED AS 'HANGIN' AROUND'
Whitney Houston has issued a statement refuting rumors of a reun-ion with singer Bobby Brown, calling them "a complete fabrication." Houston and Brown divorced in April 2007 after 14 years of marriage.

REVENUE
THIS IS WHY THERE ARE THINGS CALLED CONTRACTS
A Los Angeles judge has ordered Mel Gibson to sit for a deposition in a battle over money from his megahit "The Passion of the Christ." Screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald claims he is owed $10 million from the 2004 blockbuster. According to court documents, Gibson got the writer to accept a lower-than-normal fee by insisting it was a very low-budget indie production. About $600 million later, Fitzgerald wants some payback.

CLARIFICATION
'ALTHOUGH, THE DRESS IS IMPORTANT. REALLY IMPORTANT'
Beyonce (who is hitched to Jay-Z) says she doesn't have a fantasy view of marriage. That's because she's seen her parents struggle but stick through it. Says Beyonce: " I learned that it's a lot of hard work, that it's more than a dress."

IN COURT
POPPED COLLARS ARE 2008'S CHIC CONTRITION STATEMENT
A court rejected an appeal by Amy Winehouse's husband against his sentence for assault and obstructing justice. Blake Fielder-Civil was released earlier this month on condition he go to rehab. Judges denied a plea to ax all charges.

2004
SO NOT FLEETING
The FCC has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the indecency case over Janet Jackson's 2004 Super Bowl performance. The FCC appealed a ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, saying that court was wrong to throw out the case. The appellate court cited the FCC's practice of not considering objectionable images indecent if they are "fleeting."

DETOURS
CIVIC PLANNING DERAILED BY DEVILISH GOOD LOOKS
Wisconsin is holding the bag following a movie shoot involving Johnny Depp. During filming of "Public Enemies," highway traffic was diverted away from the center of Columbus. The detour road couldn't stand the load and collapsed.

FUNDRAISING
ALSO DISCOURAGED: BRUTAL CHARITY MUGGINGS
Michael Lohan was to fight in a charity boxing match until parole officials stepped in. The board frowns on Lohan's participation because he spent 20 months in prison for attempted assault.

HUSBANDS
UNDETERRED BY SPOUSE'S STALKER, ACTOR ROAMS WILD
Ben Affleck is talking to children and aid officials in refugee camps in war-torn Congo in an effort to raise awareness of the conflict that has displaced at least 250,000 people. The actor has visited the country four times since 2007.

ACCOLADE
'OCEAN'S THIRTEEN' CAST LOBBIES HARD FOR RECOUNT
Hugh Jackman says his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, teased him after finding out he'd been named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive." Jackman says: "She said, 'Obviously, Brad [Pitt] wasn't available this year.'"

REASSIGNED
CABOT BAGELS ARE ''TOO BREADY' FOR MEGASTAR
Casting is nearly complete for the Broadway revival of Noel Coward’s "Blithe Spirit," which will bring Angela Lansbury back to Broadway and will also star Christine Ebersole and Rupert Everett. The production will begin on Feb. 26.

ARRAIGNED
CHARACTER WITNESS T.J. HOOKER FAILS TO IMPRESS
Prosecutors in Santa Barbara have charged Heather Locklear with misdemeanor driving under the influence, citing prescription drugs. Locklear is scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 26.