All these are fairly self-explanatory, but check out the videos for further proof.
ENDING I WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR
Jersey Shore (MTV)
LEAST EDUCATIONAL SHOW ON A NETWORK THAT HASN’T REALLY PROVIDED LEARNING IN YEARS
Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo (TLC)
LEAST IN NEED OF RE-TOOLING
Up All Night (NBC)
One of my favorite shows of 2011 changed everything that was already working for a potential ratings spike. It didn’t work and now they’re making it into some sort of unholy multi-camera behemoth as a last-ditch effort. Sometimes it’s better to just let it go.
SADDEST SPORTS MOMENT (SINCE THE 2011 WORLD SERIES)
Rangers vs. A’s, MLB American League Wild-Card Game (TBS)
I don’t want to talk about it.
MOST TERRIFYING MOMENT (IF YOU WERE ON THE OTHER TEAM)
Lebron’s turbo mode: Heat vs. Celtics, NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 6 (ESPN)
The moment Lebron finally justified his hype. He didn’t look back until he had a ring on his finger and three trophies in his hands.
MOST SURREAL GUEST ARC
William Daniels on Grey’s Anatomy
Man, it was weird to watch Dr. Craig teaching Dr. Yang.
IT WOULD BE HILARIOUS IF IT WEREN’T SO SAD
Rick Perry’s brief presidential run
No one has ever served as Texas governor longer than this Aggie. Seriously.
SHOW I MOST WANT BACK
Beavis and Butt-head (MTV)
You tried your hand with British remakes after I begged you to stop. Yet 2012 will have ended without a single new episode out of the two poet laureates of making fun of stuff. What are you doing with your lives right now?
MOST GOOSEBUMP-INDUCING PERFORMANCE
Frank Ocean, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
BIGGEST CASE OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
30 for 30 (ESPN)
Despite some entertaining moments in “Broke” and “You Don’t Know Bo,” the stories in this much-shorter season are nowhere near as compelling as the great sagas from ESPN’s flagship doc series.