How do you return the column names of a table?

This is the easiest way

exec sp_columns [tablename]

Not sure if there is an easier way in 2008 version.

USE [Database Name]
SELECT COLUMN_NAME,* 
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'YourTableName' AND TABLE_SCHEMA='YourSchemaName'

One method is to query syscolumns:

select
   syscolumns.name as [Column],
   syscolumns.xusertype as [Type],
   sysobjects.xtype as [Objtype]
from 
   sysobjects 
inner join 
   syscolumns on sysobjects.id = syscolumns.id
where sysobjects.xtype = 'u'
and   sysobjects.name = 'MyTableName'
order by syscolumns.name

Something like this?

sp_columns @table_name=your table name