Column: Thanks for Listening

The year 2011 is just about done. Everyone is getting ready to celebrate 2012. If you believe in the Mayan calendar theory, 2012 does not end well. I do not believe in it, so my 2012 will be OK.

2011 has had its ups and downs, but overall it was not a bad year. I, like 200 other media outlets, will now break down the year in clever little lists.

Enjoy.

 

Best TV of 2011

1. “Modern Family”

2. “Boardwalk Empire”

3. “Parenthood”

4. “Morning Joe”

This is a news show on early in the a.m. that I start my day with.

5. “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”

6. “New Girl”

This I saw only a few times, but it has Zooey Deschanel and is quite funny.

 

Best movies of 2011

1. “Warrior”

2. “War Horse”

3. “Bridesmaids”

4. “Limitless”

5. “The Help”

I also really would like to see “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” before 2011 ends as this looks amazing.

 

Best music of 2011

1. “21” by Adele

2. “Chief” by Eric Church

3. “Hell on Heels” by Pistol Annies

This is a new group with Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. Very talented.

4. The Band Perry

5. “Ceremonials” by Florence & the Machine

Best comeback: Bob Seger

Best song: “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People

Words that I hope go away in 2012

1. Occupy

2. Winning

3. Kardashian

 

Top people of 2011

1. Navy Seal Team 6.

2. Any soldier who protects our country.

3. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona

4. Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt

5. The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, rest in peace

Please look them up, it is worth it.

 

Books of 2011

1. “Bossypants” by Tina Fey

2. “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson

 

Stories missed in 2011

1. Tornado that rocked Joplin, Mo.

2. Tornado that rocked Concord, Ala.

 

Stories covered too much by media in 2011

1. Royal wedding

2. Kardashian wedding

 

Top sport stories of 2011

1. Green Bay Packers winning Super Bowl

2. Derek Jeter of New York Yankees getting 3,000 hits

3. Boston Bruins winning Stanley Cup against Vancouver

 

Stories that made you sick in 2011

1. Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky sex scandal

2. Casey Anthony acquittal

3. Politics in Washington: pathetic on both sides

 

Well, that was 2011 in a nutshell.

Happy New Year and cheers to 2012!

Please do not drink and drive.

 

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.