A warm welcome to William Shakespeare, who makes his first-ever appearance in the Lycos 50 this week. The Immortal Bard debuts at #47, just edging that other late bard, Tupac Shakur -- and topping famous doll Barbie and tennis pinup Anna Kournikova as well. Not bad for a guy who's been resting quietly in Stratford-Upon-Avon for the last 370 years.
Why the Shakespearean surge? We think it must be midterm report time in academia.
Meanwhile Halloween claims the top spot on the Lycos 50 for the second week in a row. The creepy holiday was on everyone's mind, generating nearly twice as many searches as previous top dog Pokemon. Two other hot Halloween-related terms: The Blair Witch Project at #5, and witchcraft at #11.
Blair Witch makes a stunning return to our top 5 thanks to the scary season, the flick's release on DVD and video, and a brand-new theatrical release in Britain.
Other notes on this week's Lycos 50:
THE BIBLE BEATS THE FORCE: Three weeks ago Star Wars at #36 just edged the Bible at #37. This week the tides have turned, with the good book (#30) one-upping Darth Vader and company (#31).
STEWART & STERN: Golfer Payne Stewart's tragic death in an eerie Lear jet crash was compelling enough to push him to #18 on this week's Lycos 50.
One notch lower was radio host Howard Stern, who announced a split with his wife. (Stern officially called it a separation, but three times as many users searched for "Stern divorce" as for "Stern separation.")
BRITANNICA COOLS: Last week's hot topic, the Encyclopedia Britannica, dropped 22 spots to #27 as excitement about the newly-free reference faded.
BASEBALL SKIDS: Baseball drops from #8 to #16 this week despite the presence of what is supposed to be the sport's most exciting moment, the World Series. The tepid Atlanta - New York series never really heated up online.
DOPE DROPS: Marijuana's climb finally stalls, with the weed fading two places to #26.
NEW THIS WEEK: Payne Stewart, Howard Stern, Shakespeare, Barbie.
DROPOUTS: Tonya Harding, Cindy Margolis, baby names, and the Atkins Diet.
BIGGEST RISE: Blair Witch and Jennifer Love Hewitt (#33) both move up 15 spots. Hewitt's show Time of Your Life must be catching on.
BIGGEST DROP: Encyclopedia Britannica falls 22 places to #27. Former lady wrassler Sable, with no replacement career in sight, drops 12 spots to #38.
SORRY, TONYA: Tonya Harding was a one-week wonder, dropping off our charts after her return to skating two weeks ago boosted her to #34 on last week's list.
