PopWatch: The Best of 2009

10. Joaquin Phoenix and late night: What's old is new again

''If you saw Joaquin Phoenix's hijinks on last night's Late Show With David Letterman and worried that the 'retired' actor and aspiring rapper is losing his grip, take heart: People were wondering the same thing nine years and two Oscar nominations ago.''

What you said: ''To the people who were 'uncomfortable' or 'embarrassed' watching the interview: Please go back to Leno's safe, sanitized interviews. You'll sleep much more soundly. Night night!'' —Coyote

9. Robert Pattinson. Shirtless. Filming 'New Moon.' Yes!

''I'm choosing to believe that no makeup artist was used in the development of those abs (but if there was, I do not even care).''

What you had to say: ''It's official: There is a god. And his name is Robert Pattinson. Guh. *faints*'' —Michelle

8. 'Bachelor' exec producer Mike Fleiss speaks out on controversial finale

Fleiss: ''It's a reality TV show about people falling in love. If you're going to go on a reality dating show, I think it's a safe assumption that some of this is going to be possible. These people that are saying, 'God, I would never want to go through something like that.' I agree. I could never do it, but once you've made the commitment to be on one of these shows you have to assume a certain level of emotional risk.''

What you had to say: ''It's still wrong, these are people, not just characters in a TV show. The breakup could and should have been done in a more sensitive way and still tell the viewers what happened. They milked it for ratings at Melissa's expense and Jason went along.'' —Amanda

7. Twilight Saga: New Moon': First look at the Wolf Pack!

''So how are we feeling about the Wolf Pack now? Seriously, I don't think I fully grasped how hot they were in the books. Stephenie Meyer really should have gone into more detail about how Paul's pants fall on his hips. If Taylor Lautner is lookin' anything like these guys, I will, for the first time, understand how some of you could be on Team Jacob.''

What you had to say: ''I'll welcome anyone aboard Team Jacob because I'm lonely here .... And this picture has proved to me that I picked the right team.'' —miglet

6. 'Britain's Got Talent' breakout Susan Boyle: Why we watch...and weep

''I'm pondering why the experience of watching and listening to Ms. Boyle makes so many viewers cry, me among them. And I think I've got a simple answer, at least for me: In our pop-minded culture so slavishly obsessed with packaging — the right face, the right clothes, the right attitudes, the right Facebook posts — the unpackaged artistic power of the unstyled, un-hip, un-kissed Ms. Boyle let me feel, for the duration of one blazing show-stopping ballad, the meaning of human grace. She pierced my defenses. She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective from time to time.''

What you had to say: ''Don't feel bad: I cried, too. Her debut is a beautiful triumph, and I hope her life is changed as a result. I wish her every happiness, and hope her talent and pluck are honored as they should be. How wonderful to see someone truly gifted, in such contrast to the manufactured 'singers' that dominate the airwaves. Susan, you rock!!'' —Kathleen

5. This week's cover: 'Iron Man 2' with exclusive photos!

''The question remains whether Iron Man 2 will soar like the first film or show signs of rust when it hits theaters. 'People are going to be more critical,' says Robert Downey Jr. 'That's their prerogative ... In a way, there's no way to win, except to win. Big.'''

What you had to say: ''Iron Man is my all time favorite comic book, and the first movie was awesome. I can't wait to see what Jon Favreau has planned for this one. I hope it has something to do with the Armor Wars storyline.'' —Bobby

4. 'Twilight': 'New Moon' set footage with Pattinson and Lautner

"Basically, we get confirmation that Edward (Pattinson) will be in the film more than you'd expect having read the book, and that Lautner (Jacob) has, in fact, put on 30 pounds of muscle."

What you had to say: "If they are going to make Edward scary and evil, then they are changing the entire story. In the books Edward is kind and romantic, and that is the reason that millions of women all over the world have fallen in love with Edward Cullen." —anita

3. Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor': The finale and 'After the Final Rose'

"My first thought was, Oh my god, he's going to do the unthinkable and make the switch. Turns out I was right. Jason knew he and Melissa were through and wanted another shot with Molly, who he had also fallen in love with."

What you had to say: "Well if that wasn't the suckiest ending ever. Don't know if I'm more disgusted with Jason or with Molly. I mean, have a little dignity woman!" —seattle_girl

2. Susan Boyle's 'Britain's Got Talent' audition gives Simon his second spontaneous O

"The never-been-kissed Scot blew away the initially sneer-mongering judges with her rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables, causing Simon Cowell to sort of shift in his seat a little bit while allowing one the most sheepish documented grins to date spread over his 'O' face."

What you had to say: "This totally made me weep, something I very rarely do." —stevenjaba

1. Jessica Simpson's weight gain: PW's inaugural 'ShePop' post

"When a star has made herself famous by selling her personal life, where will the public dissection stop? And if you're a conspiracy theorist (one who reads lots of tabloids), you might even wonder if she wants us to be having this exact discussion right now...."

What you had to say: "Come on, ladies. You're really going to criticize this? I'm not a JS fan, but let's give her a break. If we don't want to be held to impossible standards ourselves, let's not hold her to them, too. She's beautiful and she looks good." —indignant