SkimIt
Another year over, another slew of changes made to the star hierarchy that rules us all. Some celebrities have been made in the past year, and others, broken. Who's up and who's down as we go into 2013? Read on to see how the scales of power have swung as of late.
Hot Screen Hunk
IN: Channing Tatum. 2012 was the Year that Tatum finally made his mark as a screen hunk to be taken seriously, and he's got the People's "Sexiest Man Alive" magazine cover to prove it (Sorry Ryan Gosling). Carrying the surprise smash hit Magic Mike, Tatum charmed audiences with a story based on his own stripper past. OUT: Zac Efron. We're not sure what's happened, but once-hot Efron's career has cooled off as of late, with his new film The Lucky One feeling like yet another played-out Nicholas Sparks adaptation.
Cool Gal Pals On TV
IN: Girls. What's not to like about Lena Dunham's smash hit show-of-a-generation? The accolades just kept coming in all year for the red-hot series, as did the laughs. OUT: Two Broke Girls. The same couldn't be said of Two Broke Girls, which engaged in some obnoxious racist caricaturing, and basically had all of its thunder stolen by Dunham's show -- it just played like a tamer, second-rate version.
Most Overpaid Talent Judge
IN: Nicki Minaj. The hot young rapper has won fans and foes alike with her turn on American Idol, but one thing's for sure: Minaj is raking in some serious dough. Let's just hope she doesn't spend it on increasingly absurd outfits! OUT: Jennifer Lopez. After many seasons as an American Idol judge, the superstar diva is out pursuing new side ventures. Let's just hope they don't include starting another reality TV singing competition.
Tween Sensation
IN: One Direction. What's better than one? Many! That seems to be the reason behind the success of this UK boy band, which has fully stolen the tween idol spotlight and drummed up a fervor for a boy group the likes of which we haven't seen since *NSYNC. OUT: Justin Bieber. With the mantle fully taken by One Direction, the Beebs has been left looking a little lonely this year, engaging in strange side projects and contemplating his upcoming transition to adulthood.
Daytime Charmers
IN: Katie Couric. Who ever doubted Katie Couric? And yet the impressive news anchor and correspondent has rebranded herself again and again, doing morning shows, evening news, and now a fantastic daytime talk show, Katie. Yet another feather in her already-stuffed cap. OUT: Savannah Guthrie. This Ann Curry replacement has yet to really fit in at Today, with a lack of real chemistry between her and co-host Matt Lauer and a fashion sense that is often left wanting.
Cult Film Fanatics
IN: Hunger Games. Everyone expected this popular teen lit adaptation to do well in theaters, but who knew it would get such great reviews and make quite so much? Even the execs at Lions Gate were pleasantly surprised. OUT: Twilight. After years and years of nonstop articles about Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, plus plenty of mediocre films, we're ready for this madness to end.
Good Film Hunting
IN: Ben Affleck. With now his third directorial feature, Argo, receiving rave reviews, there's no question that Affleck's stock is rising to the very top of the elite field of Hollywood's actor-directors. OUT: Matt Damon. With the lingering bad aftertaste of The Adjustment Bureau in our mouths, and no major releases so far this year, we've got to say that Matt has shifted the spotlight back over to his Good Will Hunting buddy.
Hip Tunes To Download
IN: Fun.. What's not to like about this uber-hip, yet equally accessible indie rock band taking the world by storm? Dramatic yet light, their music has connected with hipsters and the mainstream alike. OUT: Arcade Fire. With an over-the-top latest album that failed to connect, we feel like Arcade Fire's time in the heat may be ending.
Surreal Creatures
IN: Hobbits. With yet another Tolkien adaptation about to hit the silver screen -- and sure to mint gold at the box office -- it's never been cooler to be hip to hobbits. OUT: Transformers. After three films, we've had about enough of the whole Transformers shtick -- we get it, they're cars that turn into robots. Next!
Complex Action Star
IN: Joseph Gordon-Levitt. With a great performance in Looper, a wacky sci-fi action movie that was a big success, and the memory of his turn in Inception and the latest Batman installment fresh in our minds, JGL is definitely the next hot high-concept action star. OUT: Jeremy Renner. His performance in the Bourne reboot was so-so, and we've got to say that our interest in Renner is waning as of late.
Twisted Low Brow TV
IN: Duck Dynasty. This wacky show about a bunch of country folk who got totally rich selling duck calls has got to be the most hare-brained reality TV show yet -- and yet, it's a hit! OUT: Honey Boo Boo. Oh please, enough with Honey Boo Boo already! We get it, she's a crazy little thing! This show got old after a week.
Hottest Dance Craze
IN: PSY. With just about everyone -- even former DC politicians -- going Gangnam Style this holiday season, PSY seems like he's brainwashed the whole country. Count us in! OUT: Flashmobs. Once we saw them used in the corny rom-com Friends With Benefits, we knew this dance craze had run its course.
American Idol's Biggest Success Story
IN: Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson has been around for a while now and she just keeps getting stronger. Coming off multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Pop Vocal Album for Stronger, she's back on top of the pop world. OUT: Jennifer Hudson. Hudson's singing career has cooled off a bit, but we're curious to see what she does with her guest stint on NBC's Smash.
TV's Sing Along Guilty Pleasure
IN: Nashville. There ain't nothin' like cattiness and country music -- such is the recipe for success with this new hit show, anyway, and it's got all of us humming along. OUT: Glee. Glee, we loved you for a while, but we've got to see other TV shows. It's time for a new style of tunes!
Late Night Talker's Comeback
IN: Conan O'Brien. You just can't keep this guy down. O'Brien's show on TBS is one of the station's biggest hits. OUT: Craig Ferguson. Once quite amusing, Ferguson's all-too-repetitive routine is truly starting to grate on us.
Morning TV Powerhouse
IN: Good Morning America. With a slate of charming -- and not totally changing constantly -- anchors, this show has cemented its place in our early-morning hearts. OUT: The Today Show. The Ann Curry debacle. Need we say more?
Most Valuable SNL Sketch Player
IN: Taran Killam. With his hilarious rendition of Mokiki's "Sloppy Swish" dance, there was just no way Taran Killam wasn't the funniest actor on SNL this season. OUT: Jason Sudeikis. Gotta vacate the throne sometime, man. After a long healthy reign atop the program, Sudeikis' mojo has been transferred from him.
Retro Sitcom Favorite
IN: Happily Divorced. Who said Fran Drescher was finished? The star of The Nanny is back and funnier than ever with Happily Divorced, the latest TV Land original series we've fallen for. OUT: Hot In Cleveland. Speaking of TV Land, we're as much fans of the network as anyone, but Hot In Cleveland, Betty White and all, has run its course, cooling off considerably.
Most Relevant Singing Competition Show
IN: The Voice. With a great slate of judges, including the always-charming Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, this show has been intelligent, warm, and totally addictive to watch. OUT: The X-Factor. We've grown tired of Simon Cowell, and some of his judges -- including Britney Spears -- just don't really make for compelling television.
Craziest Method Actor
IN: Daniel Day-Lewis. Did you see Lincoln? Did you know he spent a year working on the voice alone? My goodness, there are no limits for this guy! A truly crazy genius. OUT: Joaquin Phoenix. After coming back to the land of reality, Phoenix starred in The Master -- which, to be honest, we're still trying to figure out.
Most Missed Diva
IN: Dolly Parton. After all these years, there's no question that Dolly's still got it, with recent TV appearances showing that she hasn't lost a step! OUT: Barbra Streisand. A road trip comedy with Seth Rogen? Do we need that, Babs? Really?
There you have it -- sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not. In 2012 we had our share of both fates for our celebrities. Anyone we forgot about? Let us know!
