WSVN — We begin the year in entertainment exactly where we left off. The year 2009 came to an explosive end for actor Charlie Sheen, who was accused of getting violent with his wife, Brooke Mueller, during a Christmas all-night bender.
Brooke Mueller: "He put his hands around my neck, and at that point, things began to rapidly fall apart."
Fast forward 10 months later: Charlie made headlines again after allegedly being so whacked out on cocaine that he trashed his New York City Plaza Hotel room, where he was hosting a late night party with porn star Capri Anderson. But the NYPD found no evidence to charge Charlie with any crime.
Mel Gibson: "Your logic sucks, because you're a mentally deprived idiot! Go look after my kid!"
But the ultimate bad boy, Mel Gibson, was caught on tape by his ex-girlfriend and baby's mother, Oksana Grigorieva, in a series of f-bomb-laced phone rants. Oksana claims the actor got physical with her: punched her in the face and knocked out two teeth. Gibson says she's exaggerating.
Oksana Grigorieva, Mel Gibson's former girlfriend, CNN's "Larry King Live": "He struck me twice with the fist, and he was choking me."
From some bad boys to some very bad girls. First up: Lindsay Lohan was still on probation from her 2007 DUI arrest. Lindsay skipped alcohol counseling, skipped court dates and lost her passport, and somehow set off her alcohol-monitoring anklet.
Lindsay Lohan: "Hello, Chelsea."
Chelsea Handler: "Hey, Lindsay.
Lindsay Lohan: "Have you been drinking?"
Chelsea Handler: "No."
Lindsay Lohan: "Then why is your ankle bracelet going off?"
Her honor not laughing, sentencing Lindsay to jail after she failed two drug tests. The judge later gave Lindsay a break and sentenced her to 90 days in rehab instead. Let's hope it sticks this time.
And another Disney queen was caught in a scandal. Miley Cyrus was busted with a bong. The 18-year-old former "Hannah Montana" star tripped on a hallucinogenic herb called salvia. The drug is legal in California, for now, but the video went viral and created a messy situation for Miley.
David Letterman: "Did they find it early enough for their liking?"
Michael Douglas: "I sure as (expletive) hope so."
A scary situation for Oscar winner Michael Douglas, who was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. The actor battled back to do limited promotion for his new movie "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps."
Donald Trump: "You're hired."
And "The Donald" may have hired him, but rocker Bret Michaels faced a series of health scares in 2010. First, a severe case of appendicitis, then a brain hemorrhage, even a mini stroke. Doctors also discovered a tiny hole in his heart but say the condition is operable. And Michaels is still rocking.
A royal wedding is announced when Britain's Prince William proposed to girlfriend Kate Middleton. Meantime, stateside, our own version of a royal wedding took place when former first daughter Chelsea Clinton got married over the summer.
And look who's having twins. Mariah Carey is pregnant.
Sandra Bullock: "Thank you so much for this opportunity that I share with these extraordinary women and my lover, Meryl Streep. Thank you."
Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for best actress and also took the prize for biggest break-up of the year by ending her five-year marriage to reality star Jesse James, after he was caught cheating. Sandra then adopted a 3-month-old orphan from New Orleans that she named Louis.
Other notable break-ups: Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria and her NBA baller Tony Parker; Christina Aguilera filed for divorce from her husband, music producer Jordan Bratman; "High School Musical" sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens are over; and after only two years of marriage, Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson pulled the plug. But maybe the biggest break up: NBC and Conan O'Brien. The peacock network fired Conan from "The Tonight Show" so they could bring back Jay Leno. Conan got the last laugh and now has his own late night show on TBS.
Big breakups and shakeups on "Idol."
Ellen in, Simon opts out. "Judge Nasty" announced he's leaving "American Idol" to produce a US version of his hot UK talent show, "X Factor."
Then, Ellen announced she wanted out, and Kara was kicked out. Are you following this?
After much speculation and backstage drama, J. Lo and Steven Tyler were announced as new judges. We'll see what happens when a brand-new "American Idol" debuts in just a couple of weeks.
Louis Aguirre: "Expect another exciting and unpredictable season. 'American Idol' premieres on Jan. 19 here on FOX."