When CNN hired actress-turned-journalist Andrea Thompson (#19) to spark up their newscasts, we don't think this is quite what they expected.
The onetime star of NYPD Blue switched careers last year, leaving the highly-rated drama for a career in journalism at a local station in New Mexico. After just a few months, she's been chosen for an anchor job at CNN's Headline News channel.
This did not sit well with a number of ex-CNN employees who feel their ex-employer is being dumbed down. They responded by posting on the Internet some nude photos of Thompson from the 1986 Italian film Manhattan Gigolo as well as the photography magazine Black and White (not to be confused with the computer game currently at #42).
Of course, if they really wanted to get back at CNN they would post some nude photos of Robert Novak, but luckily it has not yet sunk to that level.
Despite the controversy, CNN says they are sticking with their new hire, and Thompson says she is sticking with her new profession without apologizing for her old one.
AT THE TOP: Searches for the Ellis Island website drop 61 percent but it is still the #2 topic on the Lycos 50. Dragonball regains the #1 spot for now, with almost twice as many searches as Ellis Island or Britney Spears (#3).
Dragonball's return to the top may be short-lived once again, as Survivor moves up to #6. The first edition of the show last summer made #1 in its final week, and this week we'll see if Survivor II can do the same.
G'DAY BIG BROTHER: Speaking of reality shows, you may wonder what Big Brother (#13) is doing on the Lycos 50 again. It is yet another example of the international reach of Lycos, as the show is now the hottest thing in Australia.
The Australian producers have created a much different show than the one aired in the United States. The houseguests are primarily in their twenties, wear very little clothing, and include a professional dominatrix who has promised to "shag at least five people before I leave the house."
REGIS REVENGE: One of the strangest queries we've ever seen can be traced directly back to Mr. Millionaire himself, as Carol Brady Maiden Name was more popular than Michael Jordan or South Park this week.
Last week on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the million-dollar question was the following: "On The Brady Bunch what was Carol Brady's maiden name? (a) Martin, (b) Tyler, (c) Nelson, or (d) Franklin." The contestant phoned a friend and then actually spelled out "CAROL-space-BRADY-space-MAIDEN-space-NAME" so his friend, in the allotted thirty seconds, could type it into an Internet search engine.
That sent thousands of Americans to their computers to do the same search. The eighth site listed on Lycos is this page, which will reveal that the answer is Tyler. The contestant's friend could not get it in the time allowed so the contestant had to walk away with $500,000.
GREATEST GENERATION: We're still running under the assumption that interest in World War II (#23) , Adolf Hitler (#37), and the Holocaust (#28) is connected to students who are finishing the year with twentieth history. But that doesn't explain why all three topics reached their highest-ever rankings this week.
BOY BAND BATTLE: 'N Sync (#41) returns to the Lycos 50 after last week's historic dropout, but boy band competitors O-Town drop off the list. After only two episodes of its second season, their show Making the Band has been shelved by ABC until the summer.
PAID UP: Although last-minute filers kept them high last week, searches for taxes plunge 82 percent this week to drop off the Lycos 50. The IRS drops a similar amount but holds on to a place at #33.
ALL WOMAN: Just missing the Lycos 50 this week was Miss France 2001, Elodie Gossuin, thanks to rumors that the blonde beauty was actually born a man. She wasn't, but I'm not so sure about that Pamela Anderson character?
SHORT SUBJECTS: Mother's Day (#41) will be the next holiday to run up the Lycos 50? Janet Jackson (#39) makes her first-ever Lycos 50 appearance as her new album All For You tops the charts? With swimsuit season approaching, diets (#36) are once again a hot topic? Interest in prom hairstyles (#12) is getting just plain ridiculous? Skateboarding (#18) and Gnutella (#22) each rise inexplicably this week? The NBA (#43) gets hot thanks to the playoffs and the start of draft buzz?. After 27 weeks on the list, say goodbye to the game console Playstation 2.
NEW THIS WEEK: Big Brother, Andrea Thompson, diets, Janet Jackson, Mother's Day, NBA, and the return of prodigal musicians 'N Sync, The Beatles, and Limp Bizkit.
DROPOUTS: Taxes, the late Joey Ramone, Easter, Boston Marathon, Playstation 2, Star Wars, O-Town, Carmen Electra, Diablo II.
BIGGEST RISE: Skateboarding, up 11 places to #18, and NASCAR, up 11 places to #30, tie.
BIGGEST DROP: The IRS, down 30 places to #33.
ONE YEAR AGO: WWF pinup Trish Stratus peaks at #19, while Elian Gonzalez makes it to #4.
