Best of Media & Politics 2006

There are a few "Best of" lists going around the blogesphere, so I'd thought I'd do one myself this year.

Person of the Year:

Keith Olbermann

For me, it begins and ends with Keith Olbermann - the Edward R. Murrow of our generation. I love this man. In a world of O'Reillys, Hannitys, Weiner-Savages, and Limbaughs, Olbermann stands out as a man of truth, courage, critical thought, and humor.


Runner ups:
Jon Stewart
Bill Maher
Jack Cafferty (from CNN's The Situation Room)
Stephen Colbert


Best Network TV Show:
Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC)
While Studio 60 has been uneven at times, this exchange alone was enough to earn it the top spot on my list.

Runner Ups:
Boston Legal (ABC)
House (FOX)
CSI: (CBS)
Law & Order SVU (NBC)

Best in Cable:
Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
The Sopranos (HBO)
Big Love (HBO)
CNN's The Situation Room (Hate to go a day without Jack Cafferty & Bill Schneider)
What's With That House? (HGTV)

Best in Reality TV:
Project Runway (Bravo) (Earns the top spot for one reason only - Tim Gunn)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Survivor (CBS)

Best TV Character:

Hugh Laurie as "House."
Laurie's portrayal of House makes this otherwise standard medical drama one of the best shows on TV. In the last new episode of this year, there has never been a truer depiction of a drug addict on network TV.

Runner Ups:

Stanley Kamel as Dr. Charles Kroger on Monk (USA)
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk on Monk (USA)
Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy on Law & Order (NBC)
Wallace Langham as lab tech David Hodges on CSI (CBS)
Maria Lark as middle daughter Bridgette Dubois on Medium (NBC)

Best Film:

I rarely go to the movies, so I picked the best film I've seen on DVD this year. If you haven't seen Goodnight and Good Luck, rent it. The subject matter is even more relevant today. My prediction, in the near future, George Clooney will be considered one of the top filmmakers of our time.

Runner Up:
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

Films I wish I could add to this list, but haven't seen yet:
An Inconvenient Truth
The US vs John Lennon
Thank You For Smoking

Best CD:

Again, I don't hear a lot of new music, but from what I did hear, the choice was clear: The Avant-Garde Sounds of The Hard Left
Minneapolis power-pop at it's best.

Runner Up:
Neil Young: Living With War
While songs like Let's Impeach the President and Looking for a Leader deservedly got the most press, Young's "Families" is the best song on the disc. With very few exceptions, Neil Young can do no wrong, in my book.

Best Radio Station:
Air America

Best Politician:
Russ Feingold

Feingold alone stood up to the Bush admin when no one else would. Along with the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Russ Feingold is my political hero. Hearing the news that he isn't running for President was crushing.

Runner Ups:
Howard Dean - WAY underrated for what he accomplished for us in the last election
Rahm Emanuel - Instrumental in our victories
Dennis Kucinish - Dares to speak where others won't
Al Gore - Finally coming into his own. Will Gore be the comeback kid in '08? We'll see.
Barack Obama - He may be the one we've been waiting for


Best Guy Named Sven:

Sven Sungaard, weekend meteorologist, Kare-11 News.
(Or, as I like to call him, "Sven Svenson") What can you say about a goofy guy from Minnesota named Sven? Perfect. There is something about him that is extremely sweet. Come on, just look at the guy.


2 Picks That May Hurt My Street Cred :

1) Best reality show moment:

Lukas Rossi performing Coldplay's "Fix You" on Rockstar Supernova.

If you play the video, stick with it, it gets better. If video won't play, click here

2) Best Pop Song Criticizing the President, for the younger crowd:
Pink featuring Indigo Girls: "Dear Mr. President" If video won't play, click here.

And best of all:
You:
Laura, Tom, Paul, Julie, Hallie, Noah, Ethan, Scott, Jane, NY relatives, family-in-law, Michelle, Wendy, Norman, Stella, Wellstone the parrot, Little Bird, all of my blogger friends, Brian, Bekkah, Pat, Heather, Scott, David the contractor, and Kurt & Brian - my (very) occasional drinking buddies -- I wish all of you the best of everything in 2007.