A Brief List Of Things That Have Happened In The World Since The Black Eyed Peas Began Their Reign Of Hot 100 Terror

Thanks to the back-to-back chart domination of “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” the Black Eyed Peas have reigned at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the past 20 weeks—a run that shatters the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 by a musical act, which was previously held by Usher. “Boom Boom Pow” hit No. 1 on April 9. What has happened in the world since then? A look back, after the jump. • Kris Allen became the new American Idol. Then Michael Jackson died. (Not related.) • Other people who died: Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, John Hughes, Jack Kemp, Bea Arthur, Les Paul, former Idol contestant Alexis Cohen. • A low-flying plane freaked out a lot of New Yorkers. • Jeff Goldblum joined Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and was immediately dispatched to Williamsburg. As possible retaliation for this, the Internet tried to kill him. • Bernie Madoff got sentenced to life in prison for running a ginormous Ponzi scheme. Later, the dick jokes started. • Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska. (And then stopped Twittering.) • LOTS OF YELLING ABOUT HEALTHCARE. Much of it incoherent. • Arrested Development remained canceled. • We were all rendered two thousand and late. Except for Jason Mraz, whose unkillable “I’m Yours” has now been on the Hot 100 for 70 weeks. [Billboard] [Photo: Getty]