If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re a voracious book reader, music listener, moviegoer, TV viewer, and (quite possibly) style watcher. But if anyone ever told you your pop-culture consumption over the past 11 months was a vain pursuit, well, now is your chance to prove ‘em wrong. Yes, PopWatchers, Entertainment Weekly is planning its annual Best and Worst of 2008 issue, and we want your picks for the best (and worst) movies, TV shows, albums (and singles), books, and style from this delightful calendar year. For me, the first nominees that popped into my head were from the small screen: a whip-smart (and often hilarious) news program that not only won a spot on my DVR, but frequently got played before my fictional faves (Countdown With Keith Olbermann, the best) and a reality competition so awful, I was awestruck once a week all summer long when I saw it perched atop the Nielsen ratings chart (America’s Got Talent, the worst). My other right-off-the-top-of-my-head picks: Little Jackie’s The Stoop (best CD) (that’s the band in the upper left corner of our picture) and Janet Jackson’s disastrous tour outfit (worst style). Perhaps the sight of that gold-casing heinoustry in the mirror every night led to the health woes that caused Miss Jackson to cancel so many tour dates this year?
But enough about my entertainment peaks and valleys from 2008 — it’s your turn to sound off. We’ll be mining your comments to create polls that will be the basis for reader-generated portions of EW’s Best and Worst issue, so nominate early (and often) on the message boards below!
Michael, The Stoop? Wow, that’s one of mine too! You ARE adorable!
Best Film Nobody Saw: Bottle Shock
Best Mindf*ck: Synecdoche, New York
Awesomest Trend: MUSICALS! Not just the revival of movie musicals, but musical episodes of two of my favorite TV shows (South Park and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) make me wet my theatre-geek pants.
Great year for music, with Snow Patrol, Oasis, Coldplay, Band of Horses, the Killers, Fall out Boy, and Keane all releasing awesome new CDs.
Best TV: The Office, Entourage (great move making Vince have to regain his A-list status), Lost, and How I Met Your Mother.
Most Overrated Movie of 2008: The Dark Knight
Funniest/Best Movie of the Year: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Favorite TV shows:
1.Mad Men
2.30 Rock
3.The Life and Times of Tim
4.LOST
Worst Films: Cloverfield & The Happening
Best TV: 30 Rock (obviously) & The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Go Nene!)
here are some randoms i guess:
best tv this year: LOST (especially the desmond episode) and mad men
guilty pleasure tv: gossip girl
best music: dr horrible’s sing a long blog, fleet foxes, atmosphere, and beck
Top Moment? Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion in Dr. Horrible! Loved it.
tv: keith olbermann (forgot to say that!)
and whoever said “the dark knight” was overrated, i agree so much.
Best TV Show: Pushing Daisies
Show that got better with age: Supernatural
Best Comic Book Movie: Iron Man
Worst TV Show: The Hills
I don’t necessarily think these are the best in each category… but they are certainly, in my opinion, the most “pop culture”-worthy ones of 2008.
BEST MOVIE: The Dark Knight
BEST TV: Gossip Girl
HOTTEST SINGLE: “Bleeding Love”
BEST STYLE: Flannel and Plaid Make their Return
Best pop culture moments of 2008 include Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog and Iron Man; worst, The Phantom Dennis returning to menace Grey’s in what has to be the most ridiculous storyline on the show to date.
With the publishing industry melting down this year, 2008 saw publishers playing it safe with their book choices. Some old, consistent favorites continue to shine, and a few new voices broke through. My votes for best books of 2008 are: Digitally Daunted: 1) The Consumer’s Guide to Taking Control of the Technology in Your Life by Sean and Jean Westcott. 2)Life After Genius
by M. Ann Jacoby
pushing daisies!
clearly the american public has gone insane for letting this amazing show get away. the quircky stories, the bright colors, the fast-paced dialogue, it’s just so fun to watch! not to mention how easy it is to invest your time in such likeable characters. it will be a dark day when this season’s 13th episode airs.
Best Movie: Tropic Thunder
Worst Movie: Made of Honor
Best Show: Desperate Housewives
Worst Show: Family Guy
You people who say The Dark Knight is overrated, give me your reasons why and then I will be able to tell you why you are completely wrong. If you think it is overrated, it is probably because you don’t get it or all the hype around it made it impossible to live up to the lofty standards that people set up for it, even though it was that DAMN good.