The Most Head-Shaking Year Of Pop Culture In 13 Charts

Many "50 Shades of Grey" fans erupted when Charlie Hunnam was unexpectedly cast in the role of Christian Grey, the S&M hunk who got millions of women swooning during E.L. James' popular trilogy. A petition begged for Matt Bomer to be cast instead, and that was just one of plenty names bandied about for the role. Hunnam dropped the project, and Jamie Dornan took over. But who was really fit to play Christian? Based on the book's general description, it turns out Dornan isn't such a bad choice. -- Matthew Jacobs

After eluding us for months with mass confusion about when, or whether, her new album would arrive, Beyonce pulled one over on the entire music industry by releasing her album with no announcement whatsoever. She just dropped it on our online doorsteps on Dec. 13 and watched while we lapped it up like the faithful subjects we are. The self-titled album and its accompanying videos basked in magnificent reviews, selling more than 1 million copies in its first week and reminding us that not even a lip-synced presidential inauguration can diminish the queen's reign. -- MJ

Justin Bieber had a bad year, and that's putting it mildly. The Canadian singer was caught up in some controversy or another on an almost weekly basis, quarreling with the paparazzi, shaming a former president and being an all-around classy guy peeing in a restaurant cleaning bucket. Then, after a few terrible months, Biebes decided to wrap up the year in the company of some questionable ladies who were more than eager to attest to his, ahem, performance abilities. Were we all so helplessly lost at 19?! -- Liat Kornowski

No show on television this year could eclipse the buzz of "Breaking Bad." The final season of AMC's beloved series rewrote the rules of TV drama, eliciting endless debates about heroism and what we desire in our protagonists. Anyone not up to date on the series had to flee from Twitter every Sunday night -- and from the entire Internet each Monday, really. The show inspired wild theories as to how it would end, and with that came a bounty of spoilers, rumors and self-righteous blog posts from viewers who were convinced their way was the right way. The hullabaloo paid off, and the conversation raged on for weeks after the finale ended. -- MJ

The marketing campaign for "Gravity" seemed to bill Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as co-leads, sparking anticipation for seeing two of Hollywood's most valued stars share the screen. Without giving too much away, let's just say the double billing didn't hold up. Clooney's role is tiny compared to that of Bullock, who carries the bulk of Alfonso Cuaron's masterpiece and is reaping award nominations accordingly. That surprising move inverted Hollywood's macho norms, and handing the reins to Bullock helped to propel the discussion surrounding women in film. And we haven't even begun to mention her space underwear! -- MJ

Anne Hathaway didn't see it coming. The wide-grinned, pixie-haired girl legions of fans adored in "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The Princess Diaries" has suddenly become the butt of all jokes. And just as her career reached its undeniable peak -- an Oscar at 30, no less -- so did the intense and unrelentless backlash. Is it really a surprise then that the "too perky, phony, theater kid" everyone bullied dropped out of the public eye for a good chunk 2013? Then again, everyone loves a comeback. -- LK

If Anne Hathaway is the acne-riddled kid with flatulence no one wants to have lunch with, Jennifer Lawrence is the irrefutable golden-haired popular girl whose gravitational pull rivals that of the sun. JLaw can do no wrong. While Hathaway walked away from the 2013 Oscars shamed, Lawrence has managed to leverage it -- and her epic fall on stage -- to new heights. Her quotes are priceless; her facial expressions -- instant GIFs, her candor -- the kind Harvey Weinstein has been waiting years to cultivate. Top that with an intense awards buzz leading into next year and you've got a girl for the history books. -- LK

How much of Miley Cyrus' tongue did you see this year? We might as well ask how often is the sky blue where you are. Miley may have finally explained the uncomfortable phenomenon on Barbara Walters' "Most Fascinating People" special, but by this point, her tongue already has a life of its own. We must give it to her though ... between the twerking, the constant nudity, the F*ck it! attitude and one breakup that echoed around the world, Miley certainly has our tongues out begging for more. -- LK

No one knew quite what to expect when Netflix first launched its parade of original programs. The year began with "House of Cards," and everyone said, "Oh, wow, this is really good." Then along came "Hemlock Grave," and many weren't so taken, but right around the corner was the much-anticipated fourth season of "Arrested Development." The reviews were mixed, but no one faulted Netflix for the show's latest creative approach, and new viewers joined longtime fans of the late Fox comedy in lapping up the fresh episodes. It seemed like everyone under the Internet was talking about "Orange is the New Black," the breakout summer dramedy set in a women's prison. Its ravenous fan base made it one of 2013's most acclaimed series. The year ended with a new Aziz Ansari stand-up special and the second season of "Lilyhammer," and all of a sudden we all realized that Netflix is the new network. -- MJ

They have enough talent between them for one decent sized celebrity, but Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are riding this celebrity wave all the way to the top. This year, not only did they spawn one of Hollywood's cutest babies and get engaged in a proposal too extravagant for YouTube, they also had their baby girl steal the spotlight from some other, somewhat less interesting baby... something royal or another? The speculations surrounding the newest addition to the Kardashian clan and its headline-making moniker were bountiful, and North West seems like as good as option as any. Hey, at least it doesn't start with a K. -- LK

"The King of Queens" star Leah Remini became an unlikely headline staple this year when she announced she was leaving the Church of Scientology. "No one is going to tell me how I need to think, no one is going to tell me who I can, and cannot, talk to," the actress told People in July. Kirstie Alley called her a "bigot" for attacking the religion, but most of the world rallied behind her. Remini made it to the final five on "Dancing With the Stars," and now she has us craving the tell-all she's reportedly writing about her life. That's a master class in staying relevant if we've ever seen one. -- MJ

No matter your musical genre of choice, you could not escape Robin Thicke's ultra catchy comeback tune, "Blurred Lines." It certainly didn't hurt that the video featured three gorgeous, almost entirely naked, models and that Miley Cyrus, she of the tongue, grinded all over Thicke's Beetlejuice suit at the VMAs. 2013 was to "Blurred Lines" what 2012 was to "Call Me Maybe," minus the sap, the female vocals, and with a healthy side of boobs. -- LK

We couldn't contain the anticipation of seeing Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland -- better known as Destiny's Child -- take the stage together for the first time in several years. It was Beyonce's show from the get-go, and she let us know that not even her fellow independent women would be granted the spotlight. The reunion lasted for about four of Beyonce's 13-minute performance, and many viewers remarked that Williams' and Rowland's microphones were much quieter than Beyonce's. I guess we really do know who runs the world. -- MJ