The video for Psy's "Gangnam Style" has racked up more than a billion hits on YouTube, becoming the most-watched entry of all time.
'Gangnam Style' —
The video for Psy's "Gangnam Style" has racked up more than a billion hits on YouTube, becoming the most-watched entry of all time.
Getty Images
Honey Boo Boo and her rural Georgia family became TLC's latest breakout hit -- and prompted some observers to rend their garments in frustration.
Honey Boo Boo —
Honey Boo Boo and her rural Georgia family became TLC's latest breakout hit -- and prompted some observers to rend their garments in frustration.
TLC
O, LiLo! Lindsay Lohan's rough year included arrests, antics and "Liz & Dick," a widely roasted TV movie in which she plays Elizabeth Taylor. Comparisons to the legendary La Liz were unflattering.
Lindsay Lohan —
O, LiLo! Lindsay Lohan's rough year included arrests, antics and "Liz & Dick," a widely roasted TV movie in which she plays Elizabeth Taylor. Comparisons to the legendary La Liz were unflattering.
CNN
Jennifer Lawrence hit box-office gold with "The Hunger Games" and may earn Oscar recognition for "Silver Linings Playbook."
Jennifer Lawrence —
Jennifer Lawrence hit box-office gold with "The Hunger Games" and may earn Oscar recognition for "Silver Linings Playbook."
Lionsgate
"The Dark Knight Rises" concluded director Christopher Nolan's trilogy on Batman.
'The Dark Knight Rises' —
"The Dark Knight Rises" concluded director Christopher Nolan's trilogy on Batman.
Warner Bros.
Marvel's "The Avengers" was the top-grossing film of 2012 and continues the success of the Marvel universe on the big screen.
'The Avengers' —
Marvel's "The Avengers" was the top-grossing film of 2012 and continues the success of the Marvel universe on the big screen.
Marvel Studios/Walt Disney
"Fifty Shades of Grey" and its two sequels may have been formally released in 2011, but all three dominated the best-seller lists in 2012, inspiring parodies, an album of classical music and talk of a film adaptation.
'Fifty Shades of Grey' —
"Fifty Shades of Grey" and its two sequels may have been formally released in 2011, but all three dominated the best-seller lists in 2012, inspiring parodies, an album of classical music and talk of a film adaptation.
Getty Images
Whether considered mysterious, shallow or simply perplexing, Rihanna's musical and romantic escapades -- including a reunion with Chris Brown -- made entertainment headlines.
Rihanna —
Whether considered mysterious, shallow or simply perplexing, Rihanna's musical and romantic escapades -- including a reunion with Chris Brown -- made entertainment headlines.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Whitney Houston died in February on the eve of the Grammys.
Whitney Houston —
Whitney Houston died in February on the eve of the Grammys.
Getty Images
Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" hit No. 1 on the pop charts and inspired several parodies of its ubiquitous video.
Carly Rae Jepsen and 'Call Me Maybe' —
Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" hit No. 1 on the pop charts and inspired several parodies of its ubiquitous video.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Lena Dunham and her HBO series "Girls" made the former indie-film darling a talked-about star.
Lena Dunham —
Lena Dunham and her HBO series "Girls" made the former indie-film darling a talked-about star.
Jojo Whilden/HBO
"Homeland," starring Claire Danes, dethroned "Mad Men" as the winner of Emmy's best drama award.
'Homeland' —
"Homeland," starring Claire Danes, dethroned "Mad Men" as the winner of Emmy's best drama award.
Showtime
Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart had a series of fat targets thanks to the election campaign -- and seldom missed their marks.
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert —
Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart had a series of fat targets thanks to the election campaign -- and seldom missed their marks.
Getty Images
"The Artist," a silent film, won the Oscar for best picture in February. So far, it hasn't killed off sound.
'The Artist' —
"The Artist," a silent film, won the Oscar for best picture in February. So far, it hasn't killed off sound.
Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" and its creative video were inescapable in 2012.
'Somebody That I Used to Know' —
Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" and its creative video were inescapable in 2012.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced in 2012 after five years of marriage and one child, Suri.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise —
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced in 2012 after five years of marriage and one child, Suri.
Getty Images
One Direction, a Simon Cowell creation, became the latest boy-band breakout.
One Direction —
One Direction, a Simon Cowell creation, became the latest boy-band breakout.
Getty Images
Justin Bieber's power to inflame teenage hearts remained undiminished, even if his 2012 album "Believe" did little to convert skeptics.
Justin Bieber —
Justin Bieber's power to inflame teenage hearts remained undiminished, even if his 2012 album "Believe" did little to convert skeptics.
Chris McKay/Getty Images
Taylor Swift's "Red" sold more than a million copies its first week, and her song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" became Swift's first No. 1 pop hit.
Taylor Swift —
Taylor Swift's "Red" sold more than a million copies its first week, and her song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" became Swift's first No. 1 pop hit.
Kevin Kane/Getty Images