Give me a sign, hit my Web site one more time

Britney Spears didn’t release an album of new material this year, but the new mom is still No. 1 on Yahoo’s annual list of the most-searched for terms on the Internet. Spears, who has topped the list for three of the last four years, lost out to “American Idol” in 2004.

Although the 24-year-old pop star released an album of remixes, “B in the Mix, The Remixes,” in November, it was the birth of her son, Sean Preston Federline, in September that brought her the most attention.

Following Spears were, in order, 50 Cent, the Cartoon Network, Mariah Carey, Green Day, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Eminem, Ciara and Lindsay Lohan.

The list of overall top searches, all of which were entertainment-related, “shows us that people are fixated on the activities of pop culture icons,” said Yahoo “Buzz Index guru” Erik Gunther.

Of the top news searches, “tsunami” led all other stories, followed by “Iraq” and “Michael Jackson trial.”

Yahoo claims that its search index covers more than 20 billion Web documents and images.

Not Chihuahua, we hope

Paris Hilton, meanwhile, tops a less complimentary list – being named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ worst-dressed celebrity of the year.

Hilton, who was cited for wearing fur coats, was followed by her friend Kimberly Stewart (“she and best bud Paris are so clueless about animals,” says PETA), Lisa Gastineau, Victoria Gotti and Tara Reid.

Martha Stewart headed last year’s list, but now says: “I used to wear real fur, but, like many others, I had a change of heart when I learned what actually happens to the animals.”

In steps the old Master

An “untimely basketball injury” has forced teenage rapper/actor Romeo to drop out of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” but his dad has his back.

Hip-hop impresario Master P (aka P. Miller) has agreed to take his son’s place on season two of the reality competition, which premieres Jan. 5.

He’ll team up with professional dancer Ashly Delgrosso, who paired with former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre last summer.

If only Simon were so nice

Lawyers in Charlotte, N.C., allowed juror Fantasia Barrino – the 2004 “American Idol” winner – to leave a case in mid-deliberations after learning the singer had to attend a benefit concert in New York.

Barrino was chosen Wednesday to serve on a jury in a motor vehicle negligence case. When it became apparent that deliberations would continue into Thursday, lawyers agreed that Barrino was free to go.

Perhaps Mr. ‘Late Registration’ was a bit premature

Before the Grammy nominations were even announced earlier this month, rapper Kanye West went ahead and declared himself winner of the album of the year for “Late Registration.”

But now it seems he might be having second thoughts.

“I actually haven’t listened to Paul McCartney‘s album, I won’t lie to you about that,” he told MTV News. “I’m going to check it out. I’m going to make sure I feel like I should win.”

The birthday bunch

Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione is 75. Actor George Lindsey (“The Andy Griffith Show,” “Mayberry R.F.D.”) is 70. Actor Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) is 60. Actor-comedian Eugene Levy is 59. Actor Barry Livingston (“My Three Sons”) is 52. Actor Bill Pullman is 52. Director-producer Peter Farrelly (“There’s Something About Mary,” “Dumb and Dumber”) is 49. Actor Sean Patrick Thomas (“The District”) is 35. Actor Giovanni Ribisi is 31. Actress Milla Jovovich is 30.