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2005 Readers' Poll:
The best and worst in television and pop culture...
BEST TV SHOW
"The Simpsons" is tops again this year. D'oh indeed.
"The Simpsons," FOX 30.3%
"CSI" (any version), CBS 24.2%
"Desperate Housewives," ABC 21.2%
"Grey's Anatomy", ABC / "Law & Order" (any version), NBC / "Lost," ABC 12.1%Michelle's Pick: "The Simpsons"
Christine's Pick: "The Simpsons"2004 Winner: "CSI"
2003 Winner: "Alias" and "The Simpsons" (tie)
2002 Winner: "Alias" and "CSI" (tie)
Etc.: Returning nominee "The Simpsons" takes first again, while last year's first place winner, "CSI," lands at second. "Desperate Housewives," who won last year's Best New Show category, has to settle for third after a lackluster year, and break-out hits "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" settle for a three-way tie with "Law & Order." And "House," who received 0 votes for Best New Show last year, is a glutton for punishment as it repeats its dismal track record this year.BEST NEW TV SHOW
"Prison Break" (with Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell and Robin Tunney), FOX 44.0%
"Everybody Hates Chris" (with Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews and Tichina Arnold), UPN 36.0%
"Invasion" (with Eddie Cibrian) ABC / "My Name Is Earl" (with Jason Lee), NBC 8.0%
"Supernatural" (with Jared Paledecki and Jensen Ackles), WB 4.0%Michelle's Pick: "Everybody Hates Chris"
Christine's Pick: "Prison Break"2004 Winner: "Desperate Housewives"
2003 Winner: "The O.C."
2002 Winner: "The Osbournes"
Etc.: It's funny how much a year's difference makes in the world of television - none of our previous Best New Show winners were able to keep up the hype in their later seasons and, in the case of "The Osbournes," don't really exist anymore.This year's high-concept drama starring a very delectible Wentworth Miller takes first, while the best comedy of the season, "Everybody Hates Chris," trails by 8%. "Supernatural" managed to earn votes, much to everyone's surprise, but it's probably more because of the eye candy than for a complex and exhilarating plot. "Reunion" and "Bones" earned 0% of your love. And surprise, surprise: they're both on FOX.BEST TV ACTOR
Donald Trump's toupée, "The Apprentice" 31.0%
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development" / Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives" / Wentworth Miller, "Prison Break" 17.2%
Geena Davis, "Commander-in-Chief" / Kristen Bell, "Veronica Mars" 6.9%
Patricia Arquette, "Medium" 3.4%Michelle's Pick: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Christine's Pick: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"2004 Winner: Marcia "My 'Melrose Place' Training Came In Handy" Cross, "Desperate Housewives"
2003 Winner: Jennifer "You Still Love Me Despite Affleck, Right?" Garner, "Alias"
2002 Winner: N/A
Etc.: Although we were kind of kidding about Donald Trump's toupée, we're glad that our readers got a kick out of voting it to first place. In fact, it beat last year's 23.7% win by Marcia Cross, and Jennifer Garner's 23% win in 2003. Wentworth Miller, Marcia Cross, and Jason Bateman are the strangest mix of actors to date sharing second place honours, while Patricia Arquette gets the least love in this category. By the way, we haven't figured out her Emmy win either.WORST TV SHOW
"The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" (with Martha Stewart) 27.6%
"Two and a Half Men" (with Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer) 24.1%
"Joey" (with Matt Leblanc) 13.8%
"American Dad" (with Seth MacFarlane and Scott Grimes) / "Freddie" (with Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Brian Green) / "Ghost Whisperer" (with Jennifer Love Hewitt) 10.3%
"Twins" (with Sara Gilbert and Melanie Griffith) 3.4%Michelle's Pick: "Joey"
Christine's Pick: "American Dad"2004 Winner: "The Swan"
2003 Winner: "Paradise Hotel"
2002 Winner: "The Bachelor"
Etc.: Reality shows really irk our readers, as the top honours yet again go out to a reality show. Martha Stewart just can't catch a break, so perhaps she shouldn't try to invade our television sets day and night with her stiff demeanor. In a close second is "Two and a Half Men," a comedy that has been on the air too long for the networks to think that it might magically begin being enjoyable. The fourth place slot divided our readers, but Christine is very, very glad that some of you out there think "American Dad" sucks too.TV SHOW THEY SHOULD JUST END NOW
"Survivor," CBS 39.4%
"The O.C.," FOX 21.2%
"Wife Swap," ABC 15.2%
"E.R.," NBC 9.1%
"CSI" spin-offs, CBS / "Law & Order" spin-offs, NBC 6.1%
"Will & Grace," NBC 3.0%Michelle's Pick: "Survivor"
Christine's Pick: "Survivor"2004 Winner: "Survivor"
2003 Winner: "Joe Millionaire"
2002 Winner: "The Bachelor" and all shows like it
Etc.: It's been a year since our last poll, and no one has heard our pleas to end "Survivor." Similarly, no one heard our pleas to end "The Bachelor," since what seems like its seventeenth season has already kicked off. 2003's Best New Show becomes this year's second pick to end promptly, while long-time television staple "E.R." earns third place bragging rights. Exactly the same amount of people want "CSI" and "Law & Order" spin-offs to take a hiatus, while "Will & Grace" hangs by a life-line as it only collects 3% of votes.
BEST REAL LIFE COUPLE
After a disastrous time with the wrong Jennifer, Ben Affleck finally hits his stride.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner 27.3%
Vince Vaughan and Jennifer Aniston 24.2%
Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow 18.2%
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore 15.2%
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie 12.1%
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes 3.0%Michelle's Pick: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Christine's Pick: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie2004 Winner: Will "I Can Take Jamie Foxx" Smith and Jada "Please, Bitch" Pinkett-Smith
2003 Winner: Brad "Scandals Shmandals" Pitt and Jennifer "I'm Not A Victim, As Exemplified By My Courage to Pose Nude in Magazines" Aniston
2002 Winner: Ozzy and Sharon "What Talk Show?" Osbourne
Etc.: With the exception of 2003's winners, the rest of the couples previously voted as best are still going strong. But according to karma, we couldn't let Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston out of this year's list, and so our readers voted Aniston better than Pitt when it comes to choosing a mate. The top spot is nailed by the second coming of Bennifer, which is considerably much better than the first. Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow cycle into third place. And Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes received a measly 3% of votes...we'd like to think that those were submitted in a drunken haze, or under duress from Tom Cruise. But Cruise and Holmes did not technically place last - that would go to Bow Wow and Ciara, who received 0 votes.BIGGEST SCANDAL
Tom Cruise in 2005. 27.3%
Michael Jackson is acquitted of his 3500 child molestation charges. 24.2%
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are heading to splitsville. 18.2%
Brad Pitt stepped out on Jennifer Aniston, who, as we all know, is not a victim. / Paula Abdul so did it with "American Idol" contestant Corey Clark. 12.1%
Paris Hilton hates Nicole Ritchie because Nicole showed Paris' sex tape at a party. 6.1%Michelle's Pick: Tom Cruise in 2005.
Christine's Pick: Tom Cruise in 2005.2004 Winner: Ashlee "Ha!" Simpson "losing her voice" on "Saturday Night Live."
2003 Winner: Michael "I'm Really Someone's Father, Huh" Jackson's child molestation charges.
2002 Winner: R. "Trapped in Purgatory" Kelly's statutory rape charges.
Etc.: We couldn't get enough of celebrity splits and courtroom dramas this year, but most importantly, we couldn't get over one of Hollywood's most powerful actors seemingly falling off his rocker. Jessica Simpson's split to Nick Lachey is voted more newsworthy than Brad Pitt's divorce to Jennifer Aniston, which surprisingly tied for fourth place with an "American Idol" scandal that was more puzzling than naughty (before you object - have you seen Corey Clark?). And just because 50 Cent hates everyone, it doesn't mean we have to care, as he scored a perfect 0 with his numerious feuds.WORST CELEBRITY STYLE
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, who don't believe in shoes but do believe in ass cracks and corn rows. 58.1%
Christina Aguilera, who alternates between a cracked-out Marilyn Monroe and a cracked-out street whore. / Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, because in her closet there is no logic, just a lot of skanked-out outfits. 12.9%
Ashlee Simpson, who's too "punk" for us. / Paris Hilton, because she just doesn't get it. 6.5%
Jessica Simpson, for incorporating trashy into everything she wears. 3.2%Michelle's Pick: Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, because in her closet there is no logic, just a lot of skanked-out outfits.
Christine's Pick: Ashlee Simpson, who's too "punk" for us.2004 Winner: Paris "Just Wait 'Till You Hear Me Sing" Hilton, just because.
2003 Winner: Kelly "My Closet Is As Angry As My Demeanor" Osbourne's trying-too-hard-to-be-punk retro look.
2002 Winner: Britney "You Love Me, You Really Love Me" Spears' underwear over outerwear combo.
Etc.: Our returning champ, Britney Spears, regains her rightful throne at the top, with the rightful man beside her to share the honour. And at an overwhelming 58% to boot. Her long-time rival, Christina, lands a distant second, tying with fashion victim Fergie. Paris Hilton, who won last year, falls to third place, her fashion choices just as horrible as Ashlee Simpson's. At least Ashlee can be proud of something - she finally beat big, buxom sister Jessica, who lands in last place. Gwen Stefani, much to our chagrin, fails to place on the list.
MOST OVERRATED CELEBRITY
Sorry, Britney, but even without Kevin by your side, we still find you kind of annoying.
Britney Spears 39.4%
Lindsay Lohan 27.3%
Tom Cruise 18.2%
Gwen Stefani / Jennifer Aniston 6.1%
Eminem 3.0%Michelle's Pick: Britney Spears
Christine's Pick: Lindsay Lohan2004 Winner: Lindsay "Rehab What?" Lohan
2003 Winner: Bennifer (Jennifer "'South Beach' Is So Getting Cancelled" Lopez and Ben "Take That, Matt" Affleck)
2002 Winner: Jennifer "If You Had My Love, You Would Still Hate Me" Lopez
Etc.: Britney Spears usurps Lindsay Lohan to land in first place, while Tom Cruise, voted wackiest by a long shot in Biggest Scandal, settles for third place. Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Aniston annoy the exact same number of people, while Eminem, who was once talented and is just now obnoxious, receives half of their votes. Kanye West escapes your wrath with 0 votes.BEST ATHLETE
Lance Armstrong, professional cyclist 57.7%
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers / Serena Williams, WTA 15.4%
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox 7.7%
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants 3.8%Michelle's Pick: Lance Armstrong
Christine's Pick: Lance Armstrong2004 Winner: Kyle "I've Got The Moves" Shewfelt, Canadian Olympic Gymnast
2003 Winner: Tiger "I May Not Have Done Much Lately, But I'm Still Bloody Rich" Woods, PGA
2002 Winner: Allen "Vince Who?" Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Etc.: After an excellent year and his impending retirement from the cycling circuit, Lance Armstrong receives your love in the form of an overwhelming win. Trailing more than 40% behind are Allen Iverson, a staple in our poll, and Serena Williams. We're not too sure about the rest of the people in this category, but we're glad that they got some votes.And that concludes our poll! Thanks for joining us this year, and stay tuned for next year's countdown, as we praise the best and bitch about the worst of 2006.
[ From best single to worst artist. Part I of our Readers Poll. ]