Last week, we started running down 10 of Lex Luthor’s best moments/episodes in Smallville‘s 10 years on the air in response to the news that Michael Rosenbaum will be returning to the show in May. We’ll continue the list this week as we explore the “death” and return of Lex.

If you were on your laptops last Friday evening, you probably watched your internet break in half as Earth-shattering news was greeted by throngs of people around the world. That’s right, Michael Rosenbaum was returning for the series finale of Smallville! Oh, and Egypt had a revolution or something.

Seriously, for a few hours Friday night, “Michael Rosenbaum” and “Lex Luthor” were two of the highest trending topics on Twitter, out-trending the likes of Egypt and even Justin Bieber! So it’s good to know we have our priorities straight. What made the announcement that much more shocking was the fact that, just days earlier, Entertainment Weekly was reporting that Rosenbaum had turned down any and all offers to return, to the dismay of most of his fans.

So in honor of the original Lex Luthor, and to prepare for his imminent return to Smallville, over the next two weeks, we’re going to look back at ten of Lex’s most iconic moments and defining episodes in the history of the show. Today, we’ll count down the first five. So let’s start at the very beginning.

After reading the “ripped-from-the-headlines” official description of tonight’s all new Smallville, you’d think The CW was airing an episode of Law & Order: Metropolis:

Clark (Tom Welling) is surprised to see Martha (Annette O’Toole) on the news speaking at a pro-vigilante rally. However, surprise quickly turns to horror when he and Lois (Erica Durance) watch as Martha gets shot on national television.

Granted, the writers of the show came up with the idea long before the tragic events of Tucson, but the parallels are eerily similar. For those of you who don’t watch the show (what are you doing reading these columns anyway?), you might be wondering why Ma Kent is getting shot on national television in the first place. And what does any of that have to do with what happened to Congresswoman Giffords? Well, you see, in the Smallville-verse, Martha Kent is a U.S. Senator from Kansas. Yep. That’s right.

If you haven’t heard, all new episodes of Smallville return tonight at 8pm EST on The CW. What? You thought Smallville returned last week? Well, there’s a reason why The CW isn’t a real network.

Anyway, barring any last minute scheduling changes, tonight’s Smallville marks the start of the final push towards Clark Kent’s red, blue, and yellow destiny. Since I’ve been a fan of the show from the beginning, I figured I’d use this space to talk about the show that single-handedly reinvigorated my love for the Superman universe. So what better way to kick off a weekly Smallville column than by discussing the casting of Henry Cavill as Superman? Wait, what?!

A Lynnwood, Washington man, identified only as “Dan,” came “within seconds of having his car broken into” on Sunday when the alleged crook was chased off by a masked crusader. In an incident that local police couldn’t confirm, Dan told reporters a man with a metal strip was trying to unlock his car in a parking lot when help showed up out of nowhere.

“From the right, this guy comes dashing in, wearing this skin-tight rubber, black and gold suit, and starts chasing him away,” Dan said.

Dan’s rescuer was Phoenix Jones, a.k.a. Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle, a “Real Life Superhero” and leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement. Almost every night, the 22-year-old Jones, who keeps his real identity a secret, enters a secret compartment in the back of a Lynnwood comic book store and emerges, in uniform, to patrol the streets. (Watch video of Jones in action here.) His suit includes a bullet-proof vest and “stab plates,” and he carries a taser nightstick, mace and tear gas. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Jones also sports a “ballistic cup.”

“I symbolize that the average person doesn’t have to walk around and see bad things and do nothing,” Jones said. He told reporters that since he began his patrols nine months ago, he has been stabbed and had guns drawn on him.

Jones isn’t alone in his crime-fighting enthusiasm. There’s an entire movement of Real Life Superheroes out there, across the country. Activities appear to range from handing homeless people water bottles to actually stepping in and trying to stop violent crime. The website rlsh-manual.com defines a Real Life Superhero as “whoever chooses to embody the values presented in superheroic comic books, not only by donning a mask/costume, but also performing good deeds for the communitarian place whom he inhabits.” Reallifesuperheroes.org urges visitors to “Let out your inner superhero and join or support our cause.”

A sad day for music fans, as we mourn the loss of R&B singer Teena Marie, who has died at the age of 54 yesterday, in her Pasadena, California home. Rising to popularity in the late 70s/early 80s as part of Motown, she was responsible for such hits as “Lovergirl”, “Portuguese Love” and “Square Biz”, as well as performing with mentor Rick James on “Fire And Desire”.

(photo by Jose Rosado)

So I figured I’d let this one ride out until after the Christmas holiday and see if maybe, just MAYBE, Julri could have caught up. But Tehmeena held it down the whole extra week to win the title and close out 2010 with a bang.

And don’t think we haven’t appreciated the participation, ’cause we love all y’all bastids! Maybe I’ll bring back the Showdown in a few months, but let us know. We’re here for you, cotdammit!

So I’ve decided this will be the last showdown for a while. It’s been fun, but I’m kind of bored with it. And quite frankly, I miss the control. Yeah, I pick the contenders, but you guys pick the winners, and it pisses me off! (not really, so don’t get sensitive!) Believe it or not, I’ve never voted on any of these, and I’m sticking to it now.

Now, in the past, I’ve gotten a fair share of feedback from folks who believed I didn’t showcase anyone but light-skinned video hoes and pin-up chicks, and you know what . . . that’s what I gots for ya today!!!

Yeah, I know I’ve taken a six-month hiatus from posting here, but I couldn’t let the year end without joining the throngs of year-end Top Ten lists that are about to clog the interwebs. I mean, if there was ever a year more suited for annoying “Top Ten” lists, 2010 would be that year.

For my list, I’m looking back on the year that was and listing the 10 Asian American entertainers who, I feel, had the biggest impact on the pop culture zeitgeist. So, without further ado:

I honestly thought this would have been a tighter race, but dammit if Mila didn’t hold onto that lead from day one. Finally catching Black Swan yesterday, I’d say I’m in full agreement of this decision. Both ladies are absolutely delightful, don’t get me wrong, but you definitely get this energy from Mila that’s as alluring as it is frightening.