2010 Awards

Biggest Story Of The Year:  The comeback of the Republicans.  Written off two years ago, they had victories of historical proportions in 2010.

Biggest Non-story Of The Year:  Tie.  The Ground Zero Mosque.  A lot of excitement over very little.  And LeBron James' "The Decision."

Biggest Medium Story Of The Year:  WikiLeaks.  Yes, it was a big deal, but more about embarrassment than anything earth-shattering.

Biggest Could Have Been Story:  Prop 19, which legalizes marijuana in California, fails.

Biggest Unforced Error:  Just as last year President Obama offered an unsolicited opinion about the Cambridge Police, this year he waded into the Mosque controversy for no good reason.  And just before the year ended, he got involved with the Michael Vick controversy.  (Also see Biggest Survivable Gaffe below.)

Nick Of Time Award:  Lame Duck Congress continues the Bush tax cuts and does a bunch of other stuff in December.

Biggest Future Flashpoint:  Korea.

Biggest Political Miscalculation: Dems believe passing Obamacare would make it more popular

Day Late And Dollar Short Award:  A bunch of conservatives (e.g., Peggy Noonan) who'd backed Obama realize he's not so great after all.

Biggest Survivable Gaffe:  Rand Paul wins his primary and immediately gets involved in a discussion with Rachel Maddow about what part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be repealed.

Most Useless Political Strategy:  Blame It On Bush.

Worst Reported Story Of The Year:  FCC and net neutrality.  Not generally explained that well.

Most Overhyped Story:  Bed bugs.

Biggest Waste Of Time:  Stephen Colbert testifies on the Hill.  Why?

Loser Of The Year:  Tie.  Joe Miller beats Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the Alaskan senate primary, only to have her beat him in the general election by running as an independemt.  On the other hand, Republican governor of Florida Charlie Crist loses in the senate primary to upstart Marco Rubio, runs as an independent and is crushed.

Winner Of The Year:  Tie.  Harry Reid.  As his party falls apart, he pulls out all the stops and massages yet another Senate victory for himself.  Plus he gets to remain Senate Majority Leader for at least two more years.  Scott Brown.  A Republican takes Ted Kennedy's (excuse me, the people's) seat, and signals this year will be different.

Biggest Up And Comer:  Tie.  Marco Rubio and Chris Christie.

Political Comeback Of The Year:  Jerry Brown was first elected Governor of California in 1974.  Now, 36 years later, he's elected again.  We'll have him to kick around for four more years.

Court Case Of The Year:  Citizen's United.

Political Ad Of The Year:



Celebrity Meltdown Of The Year:  Mel Gibson.



Biggest Media Person Meltdown:  Helen Thomas.

Biggest Regular Person Meltdown:  Flight attendant Steven Slater swears at the passengers over the PA, grabs a couple beers and jumps out of the plane on the inflatable slide.

Soap Opera Of The Year:  Chilean miners rescued.

Best Loss Of The Year:  Alan Grayson's.  It's not easy to be an embarrassment to the Congress.

Political Party Of The Year: 



The Biggest Battle Of 2011 (And Beyond):  Tie.  The attempt to chip away at Obamacare.  The crusade for same-sex marriage.

Story That Wouldn't Go Away Award:  BP oil spill.

Best Use Of Technology Award:  Brett Favre.

Worst Trend: Continued high unemployment.  It just won't drop.  This hasn't happened since the Depression.

Gadget Of The Year Award:  iPad.

Worst Scientific Analysis Award:



Song Of The Year:



Fad Of The Year:  Four Loko.

Already Forgotten Award: Eyjafjallajökull. (Look it up if this means nothing to you.)

Best Celebrity Comeback:  Betty White

Least Impressive Celebrity Comeback:  Conan O'Brien.

Biggest Disappointment: The final season of Lost didn't live up to the first five.

Person Of The Year:  Antoine Dodson