Vacation Robo-Post: Who's Tuned In's Person of the Year?

Matthew Weiner. Or, possibly, Don Draper.

As much as I'd like to say Britney Spears (a hit album, a custody battle and an internet phenomenon is pretty good mileage for a year), I think it has to be David Chase - not only did he dominate a news cycle with a cut to black, he also foreshadowed the writers strike

Masi Oka: for pretty much amassming the largest geek-cred this side of Wil Wheaton. Programmer for ILM as well as his role in "Heroes". (Not to mention the fact heplay WoW.)

Al Gore. He did create the CurrentTV network; I'll confess that I have no idea if it's included in my cable package, and if so, what channel it is. But still, it's on TV. He also guested on 30 Rock ("Quiet...a whale is in trouble!") and he was a great talk show guest when he was doing the book tour.

I imagine Gore has to be the front-runner for the magazine's award as well, if for no other reason than to balance out President Bush's two selections. I mean, I can see giving it to him in 2000 (that was a weak year for Persons, if I remember correctly, and ever Prez gets it at least once), but 2004? Really? As he was digging the country further into its biggest foreign policy blunder since, you know, ever? Then again, Hitler and Stalin (twice!) were selected for their roles in making the world a much worse place for everyone, so maybe it's not so surprising.

Rupert Murdoch. He purchased WSJ, and still runs the Fox Network (which continues its efforts to corrupt and degenerate American culture) and FoxNews (which has singlehandedly destroyed the concept of a "cable news channel").

He'd be a lock if he could get a duet with Amy Winehouse...

Tina Fey. Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

beerbaron stole my vote. Al Gore may or may not be the best choice for a purely pop-culture POTY, but he fits well enough, and I honestly can't see anyone else being named the "real" POTY by Time. How's that for synergy?

P_luk,

Don't forget he started the horrible Fox Business News Network. Ugh. Another blight on my cable guide.

Tuned-In's Person of the Year?

Hate to be cliche, but how about the Writer's Guild of America?

We just finished arguably one of the best "written" years of television ever. The adoption of the telenovella to US televsion (Ugly Betty). The Sopranos' final season (more a lifetime achievement vote, but still). The return of innovative comedy (Office, 30 Rock). The most "real" drama portraying life in small town America on television (Friday Night Lights) and the most real inner city drama of all time (The Wire). Exquisitely written era-specific dramas that resonate in today's era (Mad Men). Procedurals that continue to excel in a somewhat limited format thanks to greatly drawn characters and dialogue (House, Bones) and fascinating storylines (CSI, Law & Order:SVU). Brilliant science fiction shows (Heroes, Battlestar Gallactica). Guilty pleasures written to guarantee we're talking the next day (Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives). And, of course, the best show (and best written show) on television - Lost (who's Season 3 finale, as well as some of the episodes that proceeded it, should be required viewing in screenwriting workshops nationwide).

Throw in the threat to entertainment, but also redefinition of the internet entertainment landscape, posed by the writer's strike, and I think we need to give our Tuned-In Persons of the Year award to the writers. Tina Fey, David Chase, Marc Cherry, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelhof, Shonda Rimes, all the talented people on the Office, and well, everyone on the picket lines....pick up your award!

I have two choices.

First, Robo-James for faithfully standing in the gap whenever called upon.

Second, Bill O'Reilly. Why? Because he is a media God and a legend in his own mind and if you don't vote for him, you are a pinhead and a coward!!!

Chadddog said that HOUSE and BONES are "Procedurals that continue to excel in a somewhat limited format thanks to greatly drawn characters and dialogue..." That CAN'T be true - they're on the Fox Network and p_lukasiak said it corrupts and degenerates American culture!

I nominate Roger Ailes because no one on this board would ever do so and because Fox News continues to slaughter its cable competition.

Steve Carell embodies the best of Hollywood without being like most of Hollywood. He loves his family and puts them above all. In the meantime, he has created Michael Scott of The Office giving us something to look forward to every Thursday night. He also helps write some of the episodes which shows even more talent. His step into movieland has also been quite successful making films that somehow carry tremendous messages while making us laugh, think and sometimes cry. To me, he is the greatest because he is so understated, kind and humble while being absolutely hilarious! What a gifted actor!

I was thinking along the same lines as chaddog and (as usual) he put it better than i would, so i will just say, "The Writers" and leave it at that.

Stephen Colbert. (or, does he count as a political figure because he tried to launch the "Hail to the Cheese Stephen Colbert 2008 Doritos Nacho Cheese Presidential Campaign"?)

But yea, definitely Colbert. Papa Bear O'Reilly maybe deserves an honorable mention, since he spawned Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report
I Am America (and so can You!)
Tek Jansen cartoons and a comic book series!

Colbert is a marketing machine!

and another honorable mention to Britney Spears, who I think will make a fairly decent comeback with her new album.

So come on patriots! Be an American and vote for Stephen Colbert, or pack your bags and report to Gitmo.

Judd Apatow is changing comedy for the better.

Bill O'Reilly desrves to be the Time Person of the Year.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck should be Tuned In's Person of the Year.

How about nominating an Iraqi child? It might send a message to Bush that he's killing ordinary children with his war?

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Yeah 'casue Iraqi children are "tuned in"

WTF? Read the article before posting.

Go Colbert!

I'm visiting from Tim Goodman's blog on Sfgate because he is on vacation and recommended coming here.

I'd vote for
1.Matthew Weiner both for Mad Men and for being part of the Sopranos which went out with a big fat bang this year.

or

2. Alec Freakin' Baldwin for being Alec Freakin' Baldwin. He had his tabloid moment a la Britney, he is king of everything funny (he should get another emmy in the mail just for the scene with Tracy Morgan and the therapist), he lets Tina Fey boss him around and I bet he likes it.

Stevie - Cahhh says:-
"Yeah 'casue Iraqi children are "tuned in"

WTF? Read the article before posting."

Now now Stevie.. why so angry at such a sensible suggestion? Do you think all these media tycoons make their millions by the sweat of their brows? Ever thought that it might be because of the subjects on the nightly news? Iraqi kids are certainly more tuned in than you. They are tuned in to survival....