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Was there any doubt that fans would remember 2008 as the year of the Caped Crusader and his gnarliest nemesis yet?

The Dark Knight went five for five and was named Favorite Movie at the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards, which returned to its usual star-studdedness Wednesday after an '08 broadcast held at the height of the actor-supported Hollywood writers' strike.

The serious Oscar contender was also rewarded for its awesomeness with honors for Favorite Cast, Action Movie and Onscreen Matchup, which spotlighted Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Bale was also deemed the year's Favorite Superhero.

"Thank you very, very much," said Bale, flanked by Aaron Eckhart and director Christopher Nolan, upon accepting the evening's top award. "And on behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans. Here's to Heath, thank you."

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Summit Entertainment

We're over the New Moon!

Taylor Lautner, whose normal-shaped incisors still left fanggirls panting for more in Twilight, will get the chance to morph into a werewolf, according to director Chris Weitz.

"I'm very happy to announce that Taylor Lautner will be playing Jacob Black in New Moon and that he's doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit Entertainment, the producers, and Stephenie Meyer," Weitz announced Wednesday in a post to Meyer's website.

There had been some doubt as to whether the 16-year-old would be asked back for the Twilight sequel, which will force Jacob to grow in both character and sheer physical size.

Lautner told MTV News recently that, while he can't automatically grow hair, he's been bulking up in anticipation of continuing in the role.

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Bel-Air has a new, not-so-fresh prince.

Michael Jackson is currently holed up in the tony Los Angeles neighborhood, having inked a yearlong lease on a $100,000-per-month French château-style manse built in 2002.

His rep, Tohme Tohme, called the gated property "a little bit more than an average home" and said the possibly comebacking King of Pop has been living there for about a month.

In finally confirming Jacko's change of address to the Los Angeles Times, Tohme said the Thriller singer moved back to L.A. to be closer to Hollywood and showbiz in general. TMZ first reported on the relocation just before Christmas

"He might want to build his own dream house, although the real estate market isn't very good right now," Tohme told the Times. Jackson's current pad contains seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, a wine cellar, a theater and a library. 

Jackson, who had been living mainly in Las Vegas since returning to the United States about two years ago, finally let go of his idling Neverland Ranch in November.

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Fresh from the The Wrestler's ring, Mickey Rourke might next be putting the hurt on Robert Downey Jr.

Sources tell E! News the rebuzzworthy actor is in talks to play one of the villians in the upcoming Iron Man 2, which is scheduled to start shooting this spring.

Tony Stark's new nemesis is another techno-mad arms dealer, this time a Russian who battles our hero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor. Early speculation about the heavily guarded, Justin Theroux-penned script suggests that the character will be Crimson Dynamo, of Marvel Comics fame.

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Lindsay Lohan, her sister, Ali, and Samantha Ronson came out of Ronson's Hollywood Hills home earlier today to face a pack of paparazzi peppering them with questions.

One photog asked the redheaded starlet about breaking up, and she responded with a firm "No."  Ali and Sam avoided all questions. 

Before parting ways, LiLo looked over at Sam and said, "Bye, babe."

Mike Guastella/Getty Images; Steve Gr anitz/Getty Images

The Big Three have some competition from the Smutty Two.

Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis and publishing mogul Larry Flynt have penned a letter to Congress requesting a $5 billion bailout for...wait for it...the pornography industry.

"The government is handing out money," Francis tells E! News. "They're moving toward a nationalized economy, and Larry and I felt we might as well be a part of it."

The boob-fueled empire builder seems to be referring to the recent $700 billion bailout package, including about $17 billion for General Motors and Chrysler, authorized late last year by President George W. Bush to get the nation's economy back on its feet.

"People are too depressed to be sexually active," Flynt added in a statement. "This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex."

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The doctor who operated on Kanye West's mother a day before she died has been literally barred from plying his trade.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Jan Adams, who last year pleaded no contest to misdemeanor driving under the influence, was sentenced Monday in Solano County Court to a year in jail.

Not long after the circumstances surrounding 58-year-old Donda West's death came under intense scrutiny, Adams was busted early on the morning of June 26 in Vallejo, Calif., after officers spotted him using an exit ramp to get on the freeway.

Per court documents filed by the Medical Board of California, Adams was also arrested for DUI in March 2006 and January 2003.

Donda West died Nov. 10, 2007, a day after undergoing an elective tummy tuck and breast reduction. The autopsy report cited evidence of coronary artery disease and "multiple postoperative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty."