Best of 2007 Poll Roundup

TV

The Votes Are in: The Best New Cable and Network TV Series of 2007

I've saved the heavy-hitters for the very end of my Best of 2007 poll recaps.

I've saved the heavy-hitters for the very end of my Best of 2007 poll recaps. But now, it's finally time to reveal what shows you thought were the best new network shows and best new cable series of the year. Drumroll, please . . .

The Best New Cable Series of 2007: Californication
David Duchovny already got the nod for the year's best return to TV; now his show, Californication, is getting an honor from Buzz readers, too. The show was locked in a tight battle with HBO's Flight of the Conchords for the lead, with the rest of the votes pretty evenly spread between the remaining series.

I went with the dryly goofy Conchords — though, really, this poll just reminded me what a great year it was for cable. All of the series on the poll were renewed for second seasons, and I'm looking forward to watching them all again in 2008.

The Best New Network Series of 2007:
Gossip Girl

No surprise here: Gossip Girl has become one of the most talked-about series of the fall TV season, despite its meager ratings. The closest to catching it in the poll: Pushing Daisies with a solid 25 percent of the vote. Chuck held its own, too, finishing third.

As for me, I went with Daisies. Gossip Girl has filled my need for a soapy, sexy teen show that's also well-written — a guilty pleasure that doesn't make me feel too guilty. But Daisies gets points for creativity; its candy-colored world is like nothing else I've ever seen. If nothing else, those two shows prove that Wednesdays are the new Thursdays when it comes to must-see TV.

Photos courtesy of Showtime and The CW

David Duchovny

The Votes Are In: 2007's Best Return to TV and Show That Needs a Makeover

This year saw some big stars return to TV — and some returning shows start to flail.

This year saw some big stars return to TV — and some returning shows start to flail. In this Best of 2007 recap, I'm revealing who got your votes for the best TV comeback of the year and which show most needs a makeover for 2008.

The Best Return to TV of 2007:
David Duchovny of Californication

This poll packed a ton of star power — Courteney Cox, Ted Danson, and Mary-Kate Olsen, to name just a few. But it quickly became a two-way race between Christina Applegate of Samantha Who? and David Duchovny of Californication. Duchovny trailed early, but he ended up with 37 percent of the vote — a dominant win.

As for me, I went the other way and voted for Applegate. I've really started to like Samantha Who? and it's been fun to see Kelly Bundy back on screen. Plus, how fun must it be to play Samantha's new, innocent side and her wild, devilish past self?

The Returning Show Most in Need of a Makeover:
Grey's Anatomy

The lesson from this poll is that all of the suggested shows could use a makeover! But Grey's Anatomy edged ahead of American Idol and The Bachelor to claim the dubious honor of the show that needs a makeover, stat! (Though it's worth noting the many suggestions that the only way to "make over" The Bachelor would be to cancel it altogether.)

As for me, I'm hopeful that a makeover is already under way on Grey's, so my vote went to Heroes. I've been disappointed in the start of this season, and I hope the show learns from its mistakes whenever it returns.

Photos courtesy of Showtime and copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

Music

The Votes Are in: The Best Indie, Pop, and Hip-Hop Albums of 2007

Which of this year's top albums won a spot on your iPod?

Which of this year's top albums won a spot on your iPod? Here's what pop, indie, and hip-hop releases you told me were your best of 2007.

Best Pop Album of 2007:
Britney Spears, Blackout

Britney went two-for-two in Buzz's music polls, first winning comeback of the year and then getting the most votes in this poll, too. It wasn't even close — the real race was for second, with Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad just a handful of votes behind. Amy Winehouse's Back to Black.

I had to go with Winehouse — she may be a mess personally, but her music has had me dancing all year.


To see who got your votes for the best hip-hop and indie albums, just read more

TV

The Votes Are in: The Best TV Love Triangle and Platonic Duo of 2007

I love a good TV relationship — whether it's a super-intense love triangle or a sassy pair of best friends.

I love a good TV relationship — whether it's a super-intense love triangle or a sassy pair of best friends. So for this Best of 2007 recap, I'm revealing your picks for the best TV love triangle and platonic duo of the year. Who won? Read on:

The Best TV Love Triangle of 2007: Blair, Nate, and Chuck, Gossip Girl

The ongoing saga of Blair, Chuck, and Nate on Gossip Girl netted them the win in this category — but not without some surprisingly strong competition from the radically different (and goofier) love triangle of Angela, Dwight, and Andy on The Office. Ned, Olive, and Chuck of Pushing Daisies were a relatively strong third, with plenty of write-in votes going to the "love square" of Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Juliet on Lost.

After much debate, I had to go with the Dwight, Angela, and Andy triangle — if only because the moment with Andy singing an a capella "Take a Chance on Me" to Angela is one of my favorite scenes of the whole season. Seriously, if I watch it, I'll get a little weepy.

For the best platonic duo, just read more

Movies

The Votes Are in: Best Dramatic Actor and Actress of 2007

Because this year was such a good one for dramas, there were many opportunities for some of Hollywood's best dramatic actors to shine, making these polls rather challenging!

Because this year was such a good one for dramas, there were many opportunities for some of Hollywood's best dramatic actors to shine, making these polls rather challenging! There have to be winners, however, so here are the actor and actress you've deemed the best of 2007.

Best Dramatic Actor of 2007: Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac
The winner for this poll is technically Jake Gyllenhaal, with James McAvoy coming in second place. The most popular write-ins were Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin for No Country for Old Men, and Emile Hirsch for Into the Wild.

I myself chose Denzel Washington, as I thought he was fantastic in American Gangster, though it was hard to not vote for Christian Bale.

Best Dramatic Actress of 2007: Keira Knightley, Atonement
There's a lot of Keira love going around these days, and I must say I, too, think she does a beautiful job in Atonement. Angelina Jolie's performance in A Mighty Heart takes second place with Meryl Streep as a close third. A notable write-in vote went to Cate Blanchett for her performance in I'm Not There.

I simply had to vote for Angelina's powerful, controlled and heart-wrenching performance as Mariane Pearl.

TV

The Votes Are in: The Best Reality TV Winner and Most Attractive Cast of 2007

One good reason for watching reality TV is to see regular, everyday people show off their hidden talents for singing, dancing, sewing, and cooking.

One good reason for watching reality TV is to see regular, everyday people show off their hidden talents for singing, dancing, sewing, and cooking. And, let's face it: Another good reason to watch TV of all kinds is for some delicious eye candy. This roundup of my Best of 2007 polls includes your votes for the most attractive TV cast and best reality winner of the year. Who took the honors? Read on:

Best Reality Show Winner of 2007:
Sabra of So You Think You Can Dance

This one was a two-way race from the start, with Apolo Anton Ohno, the winner of the spring season of Dancing With the Stars, pulling out to an early lead. But Sabra Johnson, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance, ultimately surged ahead to take the title. Vying for third: Helio Castroneves, the most recent Dancing champ, and Jaslene Gonzales of America's Next Top Model.

My vote went to Sabra, simply because many of my favorite reality contestants of 2007 (Blake Lewis of American Idol, Dale of Top Chef) didn't end up winning. Ah well, there's always '08!

Most Attractive Television Cast of 2007: Gossip Girl
I didn't expect this category to be such a landslide, but there was never any question: More than half of all voters thought Gossip Girl had the most gorgeous ensemble on television. The Upper East Siders finished miles ahead of runners-up Heroes and Grey's Anatomy. It was never even close!

While I can't deny the steaminess of the Gossip Girl folks, my vote went to Friday Night Lights — which, like GG, is an almost non-stop parade of good-looking teens and adults. I did appreciate the write-in mentions for House, though, if for Hugh Laurie alone.

Photos courtesy of Fox and The CW

Movies

The Votes Are in: Best Romance and Best Girl Friendship of 2007

This roundup of my best of 2007 polls include your final picks for the best onscreen movie romance and the best friendship/relationship between women in a movie.

This roundup of my best of 2007 polls include your final picks for the best onscreen movie romance and the best friendship/relationship between women in a movie. And the winners are...

Best Movie Romance: Giselle and Robert, Enchanted
Looks like many of you were swept up into the magical romance shared by Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) in the sweet Disney princess story Enchanted. However, after that the votes are outrageously close for the second place winner. As of right now, the relationship between Jane (Anne Hathaway) and Tom (James McAvoy) in Becoming Jane is beating out the relationship between Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Will (Orlando Bloom) in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by exactly one vote.

I voted for the relationship between Lars and his real girl, Bianca, because there truly is something so lovely and pure about that relationship, as strange as it sounds.


Best Girl Friendship: The three waitresses, Waitress
There weren't a ton of great depictions of friendship (or sisterhood) between women in this year's crop of films, but of the options available, you all favored the sweet, quirky friendship between the trio of waitresses in Waitress. The relationship between sisters Alison and Debbie in Knocked Up followed behind, and the adorable friendship between Tracy and Penny in Hairspray was a close third.

I joined the voters picking the women of Waitress, as I found those relationships to be both heartwarming and true-to-life.

Source and Waitress photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

TV

The Votes Are in: TV's Breakout Star and Best New Character of 2007

This month I've been polling you guys on everything from who you think the best breakout TV star is to which on-screen movie romance you think was the best of 2007.

This month I've been polling you guys on everything from who you think the best breakout TV star is to which on-screen movie romance you think was the best of 2007. Now let's see which actors, movies, albums, and TV shows earned the top honors. Drumroll please . . .

Biggest TV Breakout Star of 2007:
Lee Pace

This was a tough category, but Lee Pace of Pushing Daisies edged out Blake Lively of Gossip Girl by just a hair. Zachary Levi of Chuck and Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl were in a virtual tie for third.

Personally, I had to go with Lee Pace as well — though I could have come up with a reason to vote for everyone on this list. Blake and Leighton seem destined to be stars, Tyler Labine cracks me up on every Reaper episode, and Zachary Levi is, as Adrianne put it, "adorkably cute."

The Best New TV Character of 2007:
Ned of Pushing Daisies

There's a ton of Ned/Lee/Daisies love, huh? Lee Pace's character, Ned, grabbed this award from Zachary Levi's Chuck, with Kristen Bell's Heroes character, Elle, in third. But this category also got some write-in support for Gossip Girl's Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf and Samantha Newly of Samantha Who?

Once again, my vote went to Ned — but it was a close call between him, Erica Hahn from Grey's Anatomy, and the Devil from Reaper, whose creepy smile has brightened my Tuesday nights.

Photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

Movies

The Votes Are in: Best Comedy, Drama and "Little Movie" of 2007

This month I've been polling you guys on everything from who you think the best breakout TV star is to which on-screen movie romance you think was the best of 2007.

This month I've been polling you guys on everything from who you think the best breakout TV star is to which on-screen movie romance you think was the best of 2007. Now lets see which actors, movies, albums, and TV shows earned the top honors. Drumroll please . . .

Best Comedy of 2007: Superbad
This is an Apatow-loving crowd, apparently: Superbad won Best Comedy, though Knocked Up was fairly close behind it. The other comedies barely stood a chance in this competition. Popular write-ins include Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? and Death at a Funeral.

I myself voted for Knocked Up, though it took a while to choose between that one, Superbad, and Hairspray (it's just so feel good!).

Best Drama/Thriller of 2007: Zodiac
The votes for this poll were much closer, with Zodiac winning by about 30 votes over Disturbia. Right behind that thriller was No Country For Old Men, though Gone Baby Gone very nearly tied with the Coen Bros. film, and one notable write-in was for Before the Devil Knows Your Dead.

This was perhaps the most difficult poll of all because there were some really solid dramas this year. I ultimately went with A Mighty Heart, but it was agonizing to choose between that, Gone Baby Gone, and American Gangster.

To find out which movie was chosen "best little movie that could," read more