Welcome to Celebrity Dead Pool 2009

As the title suggests, it’s time for Celebrity Dead Pool 2009.

Thanks to all those who have entered. It’s shaping up to be an interesting year, with 18 entries and 126 unique nominees.

Like last year, posts on the Dead Pool can be quickly accessed using the link on the right-hand sidebar. I’ve also added a link for quick reference to the rules and to last year’s competition.

And so without further ado, here are the 2009 nominations:

Amanda Clint Eastwood Queen Elizabeth II Hugh Hefner Paul Hogan Barry Humphries Lindsay Lohan Diego Maradona Katie Price O.J. Simpson Amy Winehouse	Benn Bea Arthur Mercedes Corby Derryn Hinch Joseph Jackson La Toya Jackson Michael Jackson Magic Johnson Mickey Rooney Eric Sykes Carl Williams
Cath Muhammad Ali Richard Attenborough Ernest Borgnine Fidel Castro Joan Collins Kirk Douglas Zsa Zsa Gabor Jerry Lewis Lindsay Lohan Dick Van Dyke	Debbie Muhammad Ali Tony Bennett Fidel Castro Kirk Douglas Peaches Geldof Larry Hagman Les Paul Lou Richards JD Salinger Margaret Thatcher
Eliza Muhammad Ali Fidel Castro Zsa Zsa Gabor Hazel Hawke Michael Jackson Courtney Love Liza Minelli Bert Newton Keith Richards Amy Winehouse	Emmy John Cleese Zac Efron Katie Holmes Joseph Jackson Chloe Lattanzi Joanna Lumley Natalie Portman John So Allegra Versace John Wood
Greg Christina Amphlett Julie Andrews Miley Cyrus Blanche D'Alpuget Judi Dench Hazel Hawke Elton John Solomon Lew Liza Minelli Jessica Origliasso	Jarrod Richie Benaud Gary Coleman Phyllis Diller Kirk Douglas Zsa Zsa Gabor John Goodman Charles Manson John McCain Nancy Reagan Elizabeth Taylor
Jill Akihito, Emperor of Japan Ernest Borgnine Kirk Douglas Angela Lansbury Liza Minelli Peter O'Toole Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Nancy Reagan Britney Spears Gough Whitlam	Kate Natalie Cole Jeff Conaway Paul Gascoigne Corey Haim Robert Mugabe Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Joaquin Phoenix Nancy Reagan Elizabeth Taylor Allegra Versace
Kylie Pamela Anderson Osama Bin Laden Fidel Castro Pete Doherty Queen Elizabeth II Hugh Hefner Curtis Jackson Nancy Reagan Keith Richards Amy Winehouse	Paul Antonio Banderas Johnny Depp Harrison Ford Rachel Griffiths Katie Holmes John Howard Bill Hunter Dannii Minogue Geoffrey Rush Elizabeth Taylor
Rob George H. W. Bush Doris Day Clint Eastwood Queen Elizabeth II Michael Jackson John Laws Barack Obama Mary-Kate Olsen Keith Richards Elizabeth Taylor	Russell Pamela Anderson Fidel Castro Doris Day Farrah Fawcett Rudolph Giuliani Michael Jackson Margaret Thatcher Steven Tyler Gough Whitlam Margaret Whitlam
Sarah Bryce Courtenay Lindsay Fox Bob Hawke Nathan Hudson Di Morrissey Mary-Kate Olsen Michael Parkinson Margaret Thatcher Gene Wilder Terry Wogan	Shannon Zelman Cowen Blake Fielder-Civil Annette Funicello Mikhail Gorbachev Val Jellay Kim Jong-Il Bert Newton Jackie Stallone Elizabeth Taylor Gough Whitlam
Toby Lily Allen Richie Benaud George W. Bush Cher Dawn French Natalie Imbruglia Stevie Nicks Keith Richards John Symond Amy Winehouse	Ty Ronnie Biggs Fidel Castro Kirk Douglas Clive Dunn Michael Jackson Shia LaBeouf Marilyn Manson Joaquin Phoenix Elizabeth Taylor Charles 'Bud' Tingwell

2008 Celebrity Dead Pool Wrap-Up

Well, that’s it for 2008.

It only remains to see what happened in December, announce the 2008 winners and then roll on in to 2009.

So first things first.

On December 4th Forrest J. Ackerman, magazine editor, writer, collector and science fiction super-nerd passed away at the age of 92. A friend of the sci-fi fan community since long before it was cool (wait . . . is it cool yet?) he will be sadly missed.

On the 8th TV director Bob Spiers died at the age of 63. Spiers was known for his work on just about every famous British sitcom you can think of: Dad’s Army, Fawlty Towers, The Goodies, French and Saunders, Bottom and Absolutely Fabulous. He also directed Spice World, but we’ll let that one slide.

On the 11th the world lost the iconic Bettie Page at the age of 85. Page was a pioneer of fetish and BDSM modelling back when it all seemed so charmingly innocent, or at least that’s the way they make it look in the movies. It probably wasn’t. Still, it inspired her to become a Baptist missionary so . . . I’m not sure where I’m going with this. I’ll stop there.

On the 18th Majel Barrett, the wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry passed away at the age of 76. Majel appeared in every incarnation of Star Trek, most notably as Lwaxana Troi in Deep Space Nine and as the voice of the onboard computer in each series.

On the 24th Nobel laureate and outspoken playwright Harold Pinter passed away at the age of 78. Known as much for his political views as for his plays, Pinter’s particular brand of scathing commentary on world politics will be deeply missed.

And finally on the 25th Eartha Kitt, comedienne, singer, actress, gay icon and everyone’s favourite catwoman passed away at the age of 81. If only Halle Berry had paid a little more attention.

And thus ends the 2008 Celebrity Dead Pool, with the final scores standing as follows:

Spoon (a.k.a Rob) 17
Kate 16

With no second prizes, Rob wins the day and the double pass to Village Cinema Gold Class.

Congratulations!