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2008 was the year of the Comeback!

This year we witnessed not only the has beens but the never were's attempting Hollywood's toughest gig; The Comeback!

Throughout the years many have tried and failed to master The Art of the Comeback, 2008 was no exception. Some pulled it off with ease while others didn't even come close, let's a look at the Top 5 Celebrity Comebacks of 08'.

#5 It's Janet, Mrs. Jackson if your nasty!

This year Janet released her 10th studio album "Discipline" under Island Records. Though the album debuted on the Billboard 200 in the #1 spot it lacked radio support and received poor reviews from the critics and only sold about 450,000 copies. Jackson kicked off her Rock Witchu Tour in September of 08 and while the stage show was large, rumors of poor ticket sales and show cancellations caused her opening act LL Cool J to walk. Jackson later cancelled the tour officially due to illness.

While this Comeback didn't fair too well, don't feel too bad for Janet, she is still the ranked at the 11th best selling female artist in the U.S. and is still one of Billboards Top 10 best selling music artist in the history of contemporary music.

# 4 The gals from Sex in the City

I laughed, I cried, I watched the shower scene over and over again! It's no doubt that this show connected on so many levels with 30 something year old women everywhere. A cable show whose viewers were dedicated and devoted, it was truly the first of it's kind. After breaking our hearts with the shows finale, we were left wondering what did happen to Carrie and Mr. Big, did they break up again, get married? We got our answer to that question and others. The film was truly written for the fans, filling our bellies with a full helping of Sex while leaving just enough room for dessert! Here's hoping for the sequel.

# 3 New Kids on the Block

30 somethings weren't just excited for the gals from Sex in the City to make a comeback, this year we got a double dose of "Hell yeah!" After 14 years NKOTB makes a comeback! Myself along with about 30 female co-workers gathered around the small TV in the break room giddy with anticipation as they made their big debut on the Today show. I dusted off the old posters and cried myself to sleep that night. The album The Block debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard 200.

With an upcoming Cruise with Fans and more U.S. dates being added to their tour for 2009, the New Kids qualify as a certified Comeback!

#2 Mickey Rourke

After starting his Hollywood career on a high note starring in films like Diner, 9 1/2 weeks and The Pope of Greenwich Village Rourke's personal life soon began to affect his professional life. He turned down major roles and quickly became labeled as difficult to work with, he also battled addiction. As his acting career plummeted, he returned to boxing. In the early 2000's he had a few lackluster films and in 08 stumbled across a role that would turn his career 360 degrees. The Wrestler is a film about a washed up professional wrestler. Rourke's performance silenced critics and won him his first Golden Globe for best actor. He is also a nominee for an Academy Award. The wrestler proved a career-boost for Rourke and marks his entry into Comeback Kid History!

#1 Britney Britney Britney

After a nuclear war the only thing that will survive is cockroaches and Britney Spears' career. Just when you wrote this girl off as a certified loony tune, just when her 1st Comeback takes a nose dive as she stumbles through her peformance the MTV awards, just when you are sure she must have been related to Anna Nicole Smith and and her life will have the same tragic outcome, what do you know? She cleans up her act, puts together a hit record and dances her way out of the paparazzi flashes and into the spotlight. After a downward spiral that seemed to leave her shattered and mentally unstable, she put down the red bull, took off the pink wig and did what Daddy told her too! Papa knows best. She made guest appearances on hit TV shows, picked up a few MTV awards, charted two top-ten singles off her new album Circus and won back visitation rights of her kids all within the span of a year. Now that my friends is a Comeback and that is why Britney ranks my #1 Celebrity Comeback of 2008.

Learn more about this author, Karen Buckner.
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