The intro to The Simpsons has been an American institution for over 20 years now. But that doesn't mean that other countries can't do their own unique stamp on it.

Every city gets the Real World it deserves. The show finally settles in the nation's capital and like its host city, everything is especially earnest. But it's the eight strangers who really show us what this town is like.

In true fashion, KLG and Hoda finished the year off by attempting to sing all the words to Auld Lang Syne. Kathie Lee seems drunk already and gets all diva-tastic on our asses. Happy New Year to us all!

Lots of important stuff happened in 2009. A bunch of famous people died. A bunch of banks almost died, but then Washington stepped in to make sure that Wall Street's way of life will be preserved forever. Swine flu came along and freaked everyone out (not to mention briefly endangered the air kiss). A publicity-obsessed family earned the attention of a nation by feigning their son's disappearance and launching an enormous Jiffy Pop into the sky. Celebrities got together, cheated on their spouses, broke up, got back together, had kids (or traveled to far-flung places to pick up kids), and checked into rehab. Some managed to do all of the above with a camera crew following close behind. Yes, 2009 has been quite a ride. What can we all expect to see happen in 2010? We took a few minutes to chat with Manhattan psychic Serena Stanley and ask her about a few things that may or may not happen in 2010. Her insight into the future—gratis!—is below.

Grumpy and long-winded Andy Rooney has had enough of New Year's Eve. If you can get past the fact that 60 Minutes even airs these crotchety rants, listen to Andy's plans: sitting alone with a tub of coffee ice cream.

Way back in October of aught-eight, we published the Gawker Guide to a Journalism Career. Lots of things have changed since then. For the worse, mostly! Time for an update. Aspiring journalists and other masochists, read on.

They weren't bad posts, just misunderstood. Nevertheless, we wrote them and you didn't want to read them. Ladies and gentlemen, these are the least popular Gawker posts of 2009.

You can say Steven Seagal is a bad cop. You can say he's fat. You can even say he's boring. But DO NOT say he isn't a totally badass martial artist. Because he SO is.

We're not sure whether this anchor is the crotchety type or if he just couldn't find a New Year's date. Either way, he rains on everyone's parade while the rest of the newsroom tries to happily ring in 1988.

Text-messaging enthusiast Tiger Woods can finally switch to Verizon: AT&T's dropping his endorsement contract.

The Germans really know how to do their public pranks. Why couldn't they have done this on Punk'd? "Take that Alfred Molina!"

Following in the footsteps of Accenture and Gillette, AT&T has decided to part ways with Tiger Woods, and says it will be ending its sponsorship deal with the lady-loving golfer. [AP]

Did you know the New Years ball was just given 300 new Waterford Crystal plates? Or that it stands tall at 400 feet above Times Square? Or how each year has it's own theme? Learn more after the jump.

Tonight, have your "soberest" pal try this trick out on your finest bottle of Andre Cold Duck.

"Your Phone Says You're Drunk." Shut up you stupid phone.

[This was an unexpected surprise this morning. Nothing makes finding a cab on New Year's Eve more fun than a nice fresh layer of slush. Have fun kids! Pic via Ho0n's Flickr.]

Emmy Rossum and boyfriend Adam Duritz sitting in the stands at last night's Rangers game ... Brad Pitt leaving the Waldorf Astoria with son Pax, and later playing games at Dave & Busters in Times Square ... Angelina Jolie arriving on the set of Salt at Pier 66 ... Catherine Zeta-Jones walking out of her apartment building on Central Park West ... and Sarah Jessica Parker heading to Lincoln Center with son James for a matinee performance of The Nutcracker.

[Until he's elected to another office—any office—Rudy is reintroducing the bums to Times Square, starting with Brad Pitt, who was on 42nd Street yesterday taking the kids to Dave and Busters. Image via INF]

This kitty must like sticking her head under the faucet because she can't seem to stop.

The dying Washington Times laid off something like 40% of its staff yesterday, including almost all Sports and Metro staffers, most photo staffers, the managing editor, and Wonkette pal Liz Glover. Lean and mean for another decade of domination! [WP]