Looking back at the year 2010, there are many stories in the media that really stand out. It can be hard to remember what happened in a year and what technically counted as last year’s news, which is why so many magazines, websites, and newspapers like to compile lists for us. These lists remind people where they were and what they were doing when the scandal, controversy and intrigue hit the media. See if you agree with the latest poll ranking some of the biggest scandals of the year.

The world of late-night television was turned upside down this year when Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno traded shifts. When O’Brien left in a huff, Leno took his place, and ratings suffered for everyone involved. Now, O’Brien is back on TBS (although fans may need cable or satellite TV to watch his show now) and he’s running a hit late-night comedy show. It looks like O’Brien is still getting the last laugh with his big sale dollars and his new show! Of course, the mere millions are nothing compared to what James Cameron earned from his sci-fi epic “Avatar,” which spent many weeks and months in theaters across the country this year. Another great seller? The iPad launched by Apple and Steve Jobs. Revolutionizing the way people use mobile technology seems to be part of a day’s work for Jobs, who is behind the iPod, the iPhone and now the iPad.

Other top headlines in satellite TV news included the changing way the world works, such as the move towards merging TV and the Internet. People are using the two more and more interchangeably every day, and the world is starting to take notice. It’s easier and more legal to get media all the time, including Beatles tracks that eventually got released on iTunes. Linking the Internet, television media and Steve Jobs, the Beatles had a record-breaking first week of online sales.

The personal lives of some celebrities are on the list. When Sandra Bullock won an Oscar, it was surely one of the highlights of her life, followed by a very public divorce and a cheating scandal that was surely one of her personal low points. However, a new marriage is brewing across the pond, where Prince William (one of the most swinging bachelors of all time) has decided to tie the knot with longtime sweetheart Kate Middleton. Although it’s more of a professional relationship, Larry King will say goodbye to his first love, his satellite TV commercial, this year with Piers Morgan taking over. At Fox, another successful Brit will leave when Simon Cowell retires from “American Idol,” the creation of him and one of the most popular shows on television. Finally, millions of fans had a bittersweet reaction to the finale of the “Lost” super-series, the finale of which raised more questions than answers for many dedicated viewers. Think those aren’t the top media stories of the year? Go online and take part in some surveys for yourself!