Current Google Insights trends: Cézanne, Olbermann, Anne Hathaway

(AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK)

A Google doodle pushes Cézanne into first place, ex-MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann comes second and Anne Hathaway - the next Catwoman - trends in sixth position.

French artist Paul Cézanne is top of this week's Google Insights trends. The artist, who would have celebrated his 172nd birthday on January 19, was subject to a Google doodle inspired by his works. By clicking on the doodle, internet users were automatically re-directed to Google search results for "Paul Cézanne" - which most likely accounted for the breakout level of searches the term received.

One of the highest rated and most controversial anchors on American cable TV channel MSNBC, Keith Olbermann, was the second most searched for term in this week's charts following his sudden and unexpected departure from the network on January 21.

Film and television awards show the Golden Globes, held on January 16, were in third place. In addition to the usual red carpet glamour, the event was marked by a series of controversial jokes by British comedian Ricky Gervais.

Tennis tournament the Australian Open, held from January 17-30 in Melbourne, was in fourth place, and actress Anne Hathaway, who will play Catwoman in the latest installment of the Batman franchise The Dark Knight Rises, trended in sixth place.

Google Insights trend "prouni" refers to Brazilian educational Institute ProUni , which provides scholarships to promising students who would otherwise be unable to continue their education.

Other Google Insights trends this week includes Italian weather site "meteo.it," Turkish e-learning institute "e okul" and "mec." Nearly 100 percent of the searches for "mec" originated in Brazil; the word refers to the internet portal for the Brazilian Ministry of Education.

The search terms with the most significant growth worldwide in the last seven days as measured by Google Insights, recorded on January 24 at 9:30 AM GMT, are:

01.   paul cézanne (breakout*)
02.   keith olbermann (+800)
03.   golden globes (+650%)
04.   Australian open (+500%)
05.   prouni (+500%)
06.   anne Hathaway (+200%)
07.   meteo.it (110%)
08.   mec (+90%)
09.   e okul (+70%)
10.   eokul (+70%)

*Breakout defines a search term that has experienced a change in growth greater than 5,000 percent.