The splits. The fits. The emotional pits. And all the couples who called it quits.

This past year had it all. Some stories touched us, others moved us, many angered us, and a few even tickled us.

After much culling and sifting, we narrowed it down to 20 of our top picks from 2008. We hope you enjoy this little look back as we prepare to move forward.

The Let’s-Just-Be-Friends Award
(Most Amicable Divorce)

Robin Williams and Marsha Garces Williams

Talk about civil unions. No sooner had the couple announced their split after 19 years of marriage than they signed an official agreement stating "we commit ourselves to the collaborative divorce process and agree to seek a positive way to resolve our differences justly and equitably” — all for the sake of their two children. For those of you playing along at home, this is the way to go.

Runner Up: Dixie Chick Emily Robison and singer Chris Robison. How do we know they were both “ready to make nice”? Their divorce took a mere six months, and the filing was a scant two and a half pages.

The ‘Til-Death-Do-Us-Part Award
(Most Devoted Husband)

Mohammed Bello Abubakar

When Nigerian cleric Abubakar, 84, was told he had to divorce all but four of his 86 wives, he refused – even though doing so might lead to the death penalty. He is currently behind bars, fighting for his love. And you thought “Titanic” was the greatest love story ever told.

The Golden Goose Award
(Biggest Settlement)

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

The Material Girl now has another record to add to her collection: The largest “manimony” settlement ever. Her reported $76 million payout to Guy Ritchie has led us to coin a new term: “Madonnamony.”

King Solomon Award
(Most Literal Split of Marital Assets)

Meuon Rima splits house in two

Who says divorce has to be so litigious? If you think there can't be an equitable division of property, just look to Meuon Rima of Cambodia and his now ex-wife, Nhang. In an effort to dodge the expensive and corrupt court system, they agreed to split the marital home the old-fashioned way: with a saw. Meuon was last seen hauling half of his stilt house away towards a new future.

The Preemptive Strike Award

Tatsuhiko Kawata

Perhaps sensing that his marriage would go up in flames, 39-year old Kawata devised a sure-fire way to avoid divorce: He set fire to the hotel in which he was set to get married hours before the ceremony. Talk about a hot-headed solution to cold feet.

Least Alarming Divorce Study

Divorce ruins the environment

Run for the hills Divorcees! Now you've done it. A study was released this year that shows how divorce = multiple homes = more energy use = environmental degradation (duh). Other social factors to blame for the decline in sustainable households: "more couples deciding not to have children, more people not getting married and baby boomers living longer". Um, perhaps the article should be renamed…"Everybody is ruining the environment"?

Least Sympathetic Divorced Woman

Heather Mills

No, it wasn’t throwing a glass of water at McCartney’s divorce attorney Fiona Shackleton. It’s not even that she reportedly blew through a third of her $48 million settlement within six months of receiving it. What really led Mills to top our list was her former publicist’s claim that Mills fabricated abuse allegations against Sir Paul. Not only is this totally irresponsible, it’s disrespectful to the countless women who have actually experienced domestic abuse.

Least Sympathetic Divorced Man

Peter Cook

After cheating on wife Christie Brinkley with his 18-year-old assistant and racking up a $3,000 a month online porn addiction, Cook pretty much cooked himself in our books. But then he did an interview with Barbra Walters, despite signing a confidentiality agreement that he’d never discuss his divorce (leading him right back to court). And what did he reveal in the interview? That he cheated for “attention.” Puh-lease…

The Oldest Accused Cheater of the Year

91-year-old Italian Stallion

In a divorce action, a 60 year old woman in Naples, Italy, accused her husband of cheating on her. Here’s the puzzler: Her husband is 91. Of course cheating is bad… but 91 and still humping? Impressive.

Youngest Divorcée of the Year

8-year-old Nojoud Muhammed Nasser

Apparently believing there were too many unmarried pre-teens running around, the government of Yemen acted in 1998 to repeal its ban of marriage under the age of 15. One tragic victim of this deregulation is Nojoud Muhammed Nasser, an 8-year-old girl whose father forced her to marry a man 22 years her senior. Thankfully, the Yemeni courts ruled in the girl’s favor, and a divorce was granted (though her father was ordered to pay her ex $250).

Sadly, this is a category that has runners up, including 10-year-old Nujood Ali. She took a taxi to a courthouse by herself to demand a divorce from her 30-year-old husband, who frequently raped and beat her.

The Get-a-Life Award

Woman divorces man for cheating in online fantasy game

Husband and wife David Pollard and Amy Taylor had avatars in the online video game “Second Life” called Dave Barmy and Laura Skye. Follow this soap opera if you can: The real-life husband accused his wife of spending so much time in World of Warcraft (online game) and neglecting him (offline) that his avatar had to seek out the virtual attentions of a sympathetic nightclub hostess (online). During a break from casting spells (online), Amy caught David canoodling with the hostess, resulting in a dual dissolution (online and offline).

Two Birds, One Condom Award
(Best Divorce Lawyer Promotion)

Romanian divorce lawyer advertises on condoms

It was a wily Romanian divorce lawyer, in the hotel lobby, with a jar of FREE rubbers. That’s right, while you’re taking care of the secretary in room #169, he’ll take care of your assets so your wife can’t take you to the cleaners. To find his 411, just keep the condom wrapper handy. Who can’t use double duty protection?

Worst Grounds for Divorce

Couple split over ceiling fan

Can you imagine a couple mutually deciding to divorce because one wanted the bedroom fan on at night while the other didn't? Yes, we said a fan. Well, it happened this year in India. While the incident may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, we suspect it was an anemic camel in the first place.

Runners up:
-Wife’s acne “traumatizes” husband into seeking divorce.
-Wife’s stock market gamble leads to martial tumble.
-Exasperated husband to divorce orally fixated wife; her reply—Puff, puff.
-Insecure wife is certain bibliophile husband is cheating on her with his books.
-Husband certain of future infidelities of hot wife seeks divorce to save himself possible heartache.
-Wife stops lunch prep, husband walks out.

Biggest Misconception About Celebrity Relationships — Debunked

They last longer than we do!

After looking over all the celebrity divorces that were either filed or finalized in 2008, we at FWW made a startling discovery: Celebrity relationships aren’t the flash in the pans we’ve been led to think. Sure, there were people like Chris Kattan, who separated from his wife before they had even unpacked the wedding gifts. But there were also many meaningful, long-term relationships that came to an end this year. Take Hulk Hogan and wife Linda (24 years), Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons (10 years), or even a Jackass like Johnny Knoxville and his wife Melanie Lynn Cates (13 years).

Statistically speaking, the median U.S. marriage ending in divorce lasted 7.8 years. We calculated the median length of marriage for 40 celebrities who split this year as more than 9 years.

Most Convenient Way to Legally Divorce Your Spouse

Divorce via text message

Women’s rights groups were outraged this year when the Malaysian national court voted to uphold a law that, in essence, allows men to divorce their wives by text message. We don’t know whether to LOL or feel very :( about it. But, frankly, if your husband is the kind of guy who’d break up with you via IM, you’re better off without him.

Worst Actress in a Supporting Role

Tricia Walsh-Smith, AKA the YouTube Divorcée

Broadcasting your relationship woes on YouTube might seem like an innovative way to bring attention to your plight. But while revealing your husband’s lack of desire to perform in bed or pay for your $600 shoe habit may make some viewers cheer, it tends to draw the ire of judges.

Crass But Showed Some Class Award

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood

He couldn’t get no satisfaction from his wife of 23 years, Jo, so he ran off with a 20-year-old Russian cocktail waitress. Sleazy? You bet. But Ronnie, recognizing how supportive Jo had been of his career, acknowledged that she deserved “pretty much anything she wants.”

The Stirred-Not-Shaken Award
(Best Blended Family)

Demi Moore and Bruce Willis

Is it possible to have it all? Our answer: Look at Demi Moore. Gorgeous, talented, wealthy, hot husband, supportive ex, and great kids! With everyone loving and accepting each other, it’s like we’re somewhere over the rainbow and just left of center. Wherever we landed (Kansas, OZ, or Hollywood), bravo to Demi and Bruce for consistently blending Thanksgiving, Christmas, film openings, birthdays, etc.

Forced to Divorce: Sad State of the Union

Geneva Sharpe
Emily and Rudy Friece

It seems beyond comprehension that couples would be forced to divorce in order to afford emergency healthcare – and this in the United States. Two couples we know of: Geneva Sharpe and her husband, and Emily and Rudy Friece, divorced so the women could afford Medicaid for costly surgeries and treatments. It is a sad state of affairs when during a time you need your partner most, they must be ripped away. We can all only hope for a change to the system.

Biggest Trends in Divorce for 2008

Manimony, Pet Custody, and Divorce Cakes

Madonna isn’t the only woman supporting her ex; thanks to women’s increased earning potential, experts identify manimony as a growing trend. Ah, Celebrities – they’re just like us. Women (and men) are also battling over custody of their pets more than ever before, from schnauzers to stallions. And what better way to sweeten a split than with a divorce cake, for which many enterprising bakers have found a large market. Now if only someone would make little bride and groom figurines posed with outstretched arms strangling one another. That would take the cake.