It was somewhat easier to put together a list of the best Internet moments in 2010, maybe because the entries--4chan wars, Perez being a b*tch--were more objective. But TV? I'm already bracing myself for the possible backlash. So I'll say this--these were picked by the Ology staff based on outrageousness, poignancy, and timeliness. Please share your own favorites, and those you think we might have overlooked, in the comments! In no particular order, I give you...
Mad Men: A Proposal and a Baby ("Tomorrowland")
After witnessing the ease and care with which his secretary Megan tends to his children on a Disneyland trip, Don impulsively proposes to her. We really didn't see that coming, but sometimes the element of surprise is all it takes to make a plot development that memorable. Speaking of the unexpected--turns out Joan didn't abort Roger's child and instead told husband Greg that it's his.
RHONY: Ramona's Runway Walk ("New Girl, Old Money")
Poor Ramona Singer. Though she's usually one of the more harmless of the Real Housewives of New York, at Brooklyn Fashion Week she looked downright diabolical. She was clearly nervous about modeling this constricting outfit, but she misunderstood the other ladies' advice and ended up taking the runway in a jerky, bug-eyed fashion. And then Jill Zarin made fun of her! Party foul.
The Office: Dwight Lets Pam Win ("China")
Dwight and Pam have had their truces in the past--making for some of The Office's best moments, really--but this surprise from season 7 got us. While Dwight is continuing his annoying building standards, like messing up the toilet paper and putting motion detectors on lights, Pam bluffs and says that she's found a new place and they can move in in three months. Later, she admits to Jim that it's all a lie but she's terrified of failing at yet another thing (after artist and salesperson)... then, the building standards manual mysteriously makes its way to her desk. When she calls Dwight out on breaking the law, he returns everything to normal. We almost don't need the confessional to realize that Mr. Schrute's heart grew a few sizes pre-Christmas.
Glee: Hypocrite, Thy Name is Karofsky ("Never Been Kissed")
This was an episode of reversals. After the fantastic a capella cover of "Teenage Dream", we expected that BLaine (Darren Criss) would be the one to give poor, bullied Kurt a little romance. But we never saw it coming that the vicious football player Dave Karofsky would grab Kurt in the locker room and kiss him! Aside from effectively ruining Kurt's first kiss (!), Karofsky denies his own confused sexuality and goes back to his bullying ways. Sure, it's a bit overdramatic, but in a twisted, devastating way it just works.
House: Huddy Hook-Up ("Help Me"/"Now What?")
After the bait-and-switch that was House's season 5 finale, where we discovered that his romance with Cuddy was all a withdrawal hallucination, the showrunners gave us the same exciting scene in the end of season 6--and this time, it was real. Cuddy admitted her love for House, much as she'd tried to deny it over the years, and then came the sexytime. Even though they've already run into troubles as a couple in season 7, it enhances the show's emotional plotlines.
Community: Abed's Subplot ("The Psychology of Letting Go")
This one was so good that you have to watch it: While everyone else went about their business in episode 3, Abed has an entire plot line in which he helps out a pregnant student, even delivering her baby when she can't get to the hospital on time. As The A.V. Club points out, it's a stock sitcom plot, only here no one comments on it. Only the eagle-eyed are in on the joke.
Modern Family: Neuroses Central ("Halloween")
Everyone's insecurities come out with the trick-or-treaters: Type-A Claire domineering the haunted house, while hubby Phil fears that she doesn't love him anymore; Mitchell unwittingly stuck in costume at work all day; and Gloria trying out an exaggerated, passive-aggressive American accent after Manny and Jay mock how she speaks. Oh, and the costumes were pretty great, too.
The Tonight Show: Conan's Goodbye Speech
After only seven months hosting The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien was forced out when NBC decided to push his show back to 12:05 a.m. in order to reinstate Jay Leno at 11:35 p.m. O'Brien said that he would quit if The Tonight Show were to air past midnight; NBC responded by buying out his contract, ending his relationship with the network. But this fiery-haired phoenix has risen from the ashes on TBS; and in his final episode on NBC, on January 22, he gave an inspiring speech that ended thusly:
To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I'll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere.
Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. As proof, let’s make an amazing thing happen right now. Here to close out our show, are a few good friends, led by Mr. Will Ferrell…"
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