Top Entertainment Stories of 2015
It was ironic that one of the biggest songs of the year, "Shut Up And Dance," featured the line, "Don't you dare look back." In the world of entertainment in 2015, that is pretty much all we did: look back, reflect, remember times past. From the 1976 Olympic hero who stunned the world by revealing he desired to be a she, from the pop princess who said "Hello" after a five-year absence, to the blockbuster movie from a galaxy far, far away that brought back characters from 1977, we celebrated the past. That's a little understated. We reveled in it. Even the year's biggest catchphrase and Internet putdown -- "Bye Felicia!" -- came from the 1995 movie "Friday." Go figure. It was a landmark year for Tracy Morgan, the comedian who literally came back from the brink of death in 2014. The best season of the 20-season "Survivor" in years? It featured castaways making a comeback. Two big tours? Spandau Ballet from the '70s and Backstreet Boys from the '80s. Comebacks were everywhere. Presidential candidate Donald Trump was fired by NBC but even he made a comeback to host "SNL" a few months later.
— Alan Carter
Trans Woman Bruce Jenner Debuts Caitlyn In Vanity Fair
After months of rumors and speculation, Caitlyn Jenner, born Bruce, debuted to the world as a woman. The iconic image of the former Olympian on a Wheaties box almost overnight became a blur in June. The cover image of Caitlyn in a sexy Vanity Fair cover and a probing prime-time interview with Diane Sawyer set the country on a new awareness for some about what it meant to be transgender. The debate over whether Caitlyn was courageous or not would build to a crescendo when she was given the Arthur Ashe award by ESPN in July. Meanwhile, Caitlyn's family didn't exactly stay out of the public eye either. READ MORE
Kanye West's Bible
In April, a Bible with verses all about Kanye West was published. Fans were able to read passages that mentioned God with Kanye's name instead. READ MORE
Lamar Odom's Near-Death Experience
Former NBA star Lamar Odom was said to be in critical condition after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel, according to multiple published reports. Dennis Hof, owner of the Love Ranch, says the 35-year-old Odom had been staying there for days. Odom reportedly went on a drug and alcohol binge and came close to death. He has since been moved to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Kanye and Lamar weren't alone in snagging headlines: Kris's love life, Kylie's lips, Khloe's new hair color, Kourtney hooking up with Justin Bieber!, Scott Disick -- Kourtney's ex -- going to rehab, leaving rehab and going back to rehab all were clicked on and major Internet fodder. READ MORE
Charlie Sheen Reveals He Has HIV
Charlie Sheen went on "The Today Show" in November to reveal he was HIV positive. He's insisted he told all of his sexual partners about his status. TMZ reported in December that a half dozen women say he never revealed his positive status to them and that the women planned to sue him for emotional distress, fraud and sexual battery. READ MORE
Amy Schumer's "Crusade on Guns"
One of People's Most Intriguing of 2015 starred in "Trainwreck," a romantic comedy about one woman's quest to find a decent guy. But on a serious note, Schumer and her cousin, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, started a crusade on guns. Schumer said she was definitely moved to action after two people were shot and killed at a "Trainwreck" screening in Louisiana. READ MORE
"ET": Bobbi Kristina Brown Dead At 22
As shocking as loss is, always is, it becomes increasingly shocking, more shocking, when death claims someone so young. Fred Thompson, Jackie Collins, Frank Gifford, we lost them in their 70s and 80s. Tragic. But nothing was more tragic than losing someone young just starting life. Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's only child, Bobbi Kristina, died in July at 22. The fact she hung on for months only seemed to prolong the agony. The fact she died under eerie circumstances similar to how her mother died -- unresponsive in a bathtub -- only added more cruelty to the sad tale. READ MORE
Musicians Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale File For Divorce
Celebrity breakups hardly come as a shock. If nearly half of all couples end up divorced, the rate seems to be much higher in show business. Still, when the couple of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale broke up in August, people were shocked because they seemed so blissfully happy. She's even known for love ballads! By the end of the year, Gwen moved on with "The Voice" co-judge Blake Shelton, who earlier in the year was involved in his own divorce from country cutie Miranda Lambert. READ MORE
Actress Sofia Vergara Opens Up About Fight Over Frozen Embryos
The "Modern Family" actress and her former fiance, Nick Loeb, spent the early part of the year fighting over frozen embryos. The fight came to a head in May. The year ended on a much more positive and extravagant note with the actress tying the knot with "True Blood" and "Magic Mike" star Joe Manganiello in Palm Beach in November. The wedding is rumored to have cost mega-millions -- and you weren't invited. READ MORE
James Corden Makes Debut As 'Late Late Show' Host
Critics were lying in wait. Audiences were wondering "who?" Even Cordon himself made jokes about coming from nowhere. "I know what you're thinking: 'Oh, look, Andy Richter's got his own show,' " Corden said as he strode onto the CBS Television City stage in March. Stephen Colbert as successor to "Late Show" host David Letterman was a no-brainer. But who was the British-born Corden? Given his success with viral videos (often with stars doing wacky things in cars as they ride along with him), late-night has a new player. READ MORE
Terminally Ill 'Star Wars' Fan Dies Days After Getting His Wish To See 'The Force Awakens"
A "Star Wars" fan in Texas died days after Disney sent him a copy of the "The Force Awakens" in advance of its December release. Daniel Fleetwood, 32, was diagnosed with a terminal case of spindle-cell carcinoma, a connective tissue cancer, and told in July he only had two months to live. A lifelong fan of the "Star Wars" franchise, Fleetwood was afraid he wouldn't make it to the Dec. 18 release. His wife, Ashley, created a Twitter campaign called #ForceforDaniel requesting Disney let him see the film early. The posts were re-tweeted by other fans and "Star Wars" cast members Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew and John Boyega. The fan's touching story was among the top trending stories in Southern California all year. Director J.J. Abrams granted the wish and even called Fleetwood. The film quickly broke worldwide box office records for December and holiday releases and was also the fastest film to ever reach $1 billion in box office revenue. READ MORE
Ariana Grande Gets In A Hole Lotta Trouble
Who knew the pop princess even ate donuts!? To be fair, eating a donut didn't get attention, but licking one did. She was caught on a video that went viral licking a donut in Wolfee Donuts, a Lake Elsinore bakery, and slamming America -- on July 4 no less -- for its eating habits. She then went on an apology tour that included several online mea culpas. In one four-minute clip, the 22-year-old said: "I feel like the apology that I posted, I kinda missed my opportunity to actually sincerely apologize and express how I was feeling because I was too busy preaching about my issues with the food industry" READ MORE
Brian Williams Recants
Now former NBC Nightly News anchorman Brian Williams in July recanted an often-told story that suggested he was aboard a helicopter that was attacked and downed during the Iraq war in 2003. He was on another aircraft that wasn't shot down but he reportedly told the story for years. He was later suspended for six months without pay. He returned to the anchor desk but on MSNBC. He lost his prestige nightly news gig to Lester Holt. READ MORE
Full House Star Faced Going To The Big House Following DUI Arrest in Beverly Hills
John Stamos was pulled over for a DUI in June. He ended his year on a high note: three years of probation and contrition. The 52-year-old star of "Grandfathered" and "Fuller House" bared his butt for Paper Magazine in November. What DUI arrest? READ MORE
Harrison Ford Crashes Plane
Actor Harrison Ford crashed a small, two-seat airplane on a Venice golf course just west of Santa Monica Airport on March 5. Fortunately, the actor was not seriously hurt. No word on whether he's taken up flying again. READ MORE
Tracy Morgan Goes Back To Work After Nearly Dying In Car Crash
The near-fatal accident for Morgan happened in June 2014, but 2015 represented his comeback year. In addition to hosting "SNL," Morgan appeared on several talk shows and relayed his brush with death, his lawsuit and his return to comedy. READ MORE
Celebrity Hairstylist Faces Lawsuit After Customers Blame Product For Hair Loss
Celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean was at the center of a lawsuit involving people from all over the country who have come forward to claim that WEN, his line of popular hair-care products endorsed by a ton of female celebrity models and actresses, have caused them scalp irritation and hair loss. Attorney Amy Davis is representing nearly 200 plaintiffs from over 40 states who are part of a mass-action lawsuit against Dean, his company and marketer Guthy-Renker. READ MORE
Police Search Home Of Rock Icon Gene Simmons
Police conducted a raid on Gene Simmons' house in August looking for evidence of child porn. Officials quickly pointed out that neither Simmons or any of his family members were the targets of the probe. Officials asked Simmons and his family not to discuss the investigation, and they never have. It still remains unclear who the target of the probe was or even if the investigation is continuing. READ MORE
Cosby Accuser Reacts To Newly Unsealed Court Documents
Supermodel Janice Dickinson was one of Bill Cosby's most vocal accusers. She reacted to the unsealed court documents in which the comedian admitted to giving quaaludes to at least one woman before sex. "The haters. The haters that came forward that didn't believe me," said Dickinson. She accused the 77-year-old Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1982. "I will not feel vindicated until Cosby personally acknowledges to each and every one of us what he has done with his sins," she said. At year's end, Cosby was suing Dickinson claiming she cost him business. More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of sexual battery, assault, sexual impropriety or rape. The year ended with Cosby being arrested in Philadelphia for an alleged sexual assault in 2004. His lawyer called the arrest politically motivated. READ MORE
Former Subway Spokesman Jared Fogle Expected To Plead Guilty To Child Porn Charges
Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle pleaded guilty to child-pornography charges in an Indiana courtroom in August. The plea came six weeks after investigators seized his computers and other electronic items from his home in Zionsville, an upscale Indianapolis suburb. Subway suspended its association with Fogle after the raid. The company declined to comment after the plea, saying only that the chain had "already ended our relationship with Jared." READ MORE
Suge Knight Collapses After Judge Sets Bail At $25 Million In Murder Trial
Suge Knight had all kinds of medical issues that culminated in March when he appeared in court. Upon hearing his bail was $25 million, Knight passed out. His lawyer said being locked up has taken a toll on client, who did not take his medication or eat anything since the day before. The 49-year-old has been held without bail since Feb. 2, when $2 million was revoked shortly before he was charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder, along with two hit-and-run counts. He is accused of deliberately running down two men in a fast-food restaurant parking lot in Compton near the set of Universal Pictures' "Straight Outta Compton." Terry Carter, 55, was killed and actor Cle "Bone" Sloan, 51, suffered injuries to his foot and chest, authorities said. Knight's attorneys claim the co-founder of Death Row Records acted in self-defense during the accident. READ MORE
