Best Moments on TV of 2011

Rick Perry at CNBC debate (Nov. 9) -
"the brain fart that was heard round the world"

Yes, I watch too much television. I admit it. In fact, I'm watching a New Year's Eve marathon of AMC's The Walking Dead even as I write this, but I won't apologize. I like it. I like television. There's so much interesting stuff on the boob tube, and yes I said boob. For many people, it isn't a boob tube. It's a plasma or LCD screen, but regardless of how you watched, I will do as I did last year and point out the things that went out on TV that I feel were amazing in their singularity and uniqueness. It's not to say that all these events are happy things to be celebrated, but in terms of being compelling or interesting, they deserve to be listed. Here are the best moments on TV of 2011.

10. REPUBLICAN DEBATES AND WHAT THE CANDIDATES DIDN'T SAY (Sept. 7, Sept. 22 and Nov. 9) - Even though it felt like there were a million debates, three stand out in particular for what the various debaters failed to debate. The first was on MSNBC at the Reagan Presidential Library where Rick Perry was asked about his state of Texas and its high number of executions, which resulted in the cheers of the crowd. The second was the Fox News-Google debate in Orlando where a YouTube question from a gay soldier speaking out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell resulted in the soldier getting booed. The third was the CNBC debate at Oakland University in Michigan where Rick Perry again asked a question, this time about what government agencies he would cut and he made the brain fart that was heard round the world.

9. CHRISTINA AGUILERA AT THE SUPER BOWL (Feb. 6) - Speaking of people forgetting things, Rick Perry's brain fart was probably worse than pop singer Christina Aguilera forgetting the words to the national anthem, but I don't think Aguilera's career will hurt as much as Perry's flub might cost him the nomination.

8. MUMFORD & SONS AS WELL AS MICK JAGGER AT THE GRAMMYS (Feb. 13) - Not all musicians and singers forget the words to the songs they're performing. Mumford & Sons performed their song "The Cave" and were joined by the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan. Later, Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones frontman, took to the stage with Raphael Saadiq in a tribute to Solomon Burke.

7. ANDERSON COOPER GIGGLES DURING THE RIDICULIST (Aug. 17) - The CNN news anchor was reading a comical story about actor Gerard Depardieu urinating on the carpet of an Air France plane. Cooper lost it and had a non-controllable giggle fit. That was hilarious in and of itself, but remarkably the jokes and puns he was reading were fairly well done.

6. RICKY GERVAIS HOSTS THE GOLDEN GLOBES (Jan. 16) - If the red carpet was a little bit more red, it's because the British comic spilled some blood. He went after Johnny Depp, Scientologists and even the Golden Globes itself. It was awesome and brutal.

5. COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF DONALD TRUMP & CHARLIE SHEEN (March 15 & Sept. 19) - As awesome and brutal as Gervais was, these two specials far out-do him. Seth MacFarlane hosted both specials, which even with some awful as Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was still awesome because the other comics could just rip "The Situation" apart too. Two surprises were Larry King and Snoop Dogg going after Trump, but seeing William Shatner go after Sheen was what took the cake.

4. WILLIAM & KATE GET MARRIED (April 29) - I have to admit that I woke up early that morning to watch the pomp and circumstance. It was beautiful and moving, and the two do make a cute couple. It was made tolerable thanks to the color commentary by Piers Morgan.

3. OPRAH SAYS FAREWELL (May 25) - Oprah gave a lesson like a teacher of all the things she's learned throughout her 25-year reign in daytime talk shows. He was insightful, elegant and beautiful.

2. BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS JERRY SANDUSKY (Nov. 14) - The new TV series Rock Center with Brian Williams started on Halloween 2011, but the scariest and creepiest thing came two weeks later when Costas interviewed the accused pedophile of Penn State University. The 8-minute interview actually went fairly well for Sandusky until the end when Costas asked him if he were sexually attracted to young boys and he hesitated in his response.

1. OBAMA ANNOUNCES DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN (May 2) - The actual announcement was a landmark TV event, but what fascinated me more was what happened afterwards during the live CNN and FOX News coverage. Tons of people, mostly college kids, gathered in front of the White House to cheer and celebrate. Never can I remember a time when people cheered and celebrated the killing of someone, even someone as hated as Bin Laden on the part of Americans.

Best TV Movie

HOT COFFEE (HBO)
MISSISSIPPI DAMNED (SHO)
GOODNIGHT FOR JUSTICE (HMC)
FREEDOM RIDERS (PBS)
SONS OF PERDITION (OWN)
FIVE (LIFE)

Best Reality / Variety

WELCOME TO SWEETIE PIE'S (OWN)
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWWART (COM)
RED EYE (FNC)
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS (BRAVO)
THE REAL WORLD: SAN DIEGO (MTV)

Best Comedy

AWKWARD: SEASON 1 (MTV)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: FINAL SEASON (ABC)
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: SEASON 8 (HBO)
PARKS AND RECREATION: SEASON 4 (NBC)
GLEE: SEASON 3 (FOX)
NURSE JACKIE: SEASON 3 (SHO)

Best Drama

THE GOOD WIFE: SEASON 3 (CBS)
HOMELAND: SEASON 1 (SHO)
LIGHTS OUT: SEASON 1 (FX)
THE EVENT: SEASON 1 (NBC)
SUPERNATURAL: SEASON 7 (CW)
RINGER: SEASON 1 (CW)
DEXTER: SEASON 6 (SHO)
CASTLE: SEASON 4 (ABC)
BIG LOVE: FINAL SEASON (HBO)