4:05 PM PST, December 18, 2012
The last 365 days have served up, roughly, 365 stars in every imaginable arena -- from film to fashion to television to music -- making it almost impossible to select a dozen standout bold-faced names who 2012 would've suffered without.
But we endured; weeding through everyone already pushing their 15 minutes (yes, we're looking at you, Psy) to find 12 true talents whose names will be making waves long after the ball drops on December 31!
1 / 13
Who Made The Cut?

The last 365 days have served up, roughly, 365 stars in every imaginable arena -- from film to fashion to television to music -- making it almost impossible to select a dozen standout bold-faced names who 2012 would've suffered without.
But we endured; weeding through everyone already pushing their 15 minutes (yes, we're looking at you, Psy) to find 12 true talents whose names will be making waves long after the ball drops on December 31!
But we endured; weeding through everyone already pushing their 15 minutes (yes, we're looking at you, Psy) to find 12 true talents whose names will be making waves long after the ball drops on December 31!
12. The Long Haul

Getty Images
Adele's 21 was released on January 19, 2011 but its effects were felt long into 2012. The lead singles were equally omnipresent, she won six Grammys (for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Short Form Music Video) and saw the album earn Diamond Certification when it passed more than 10 million albums sold in The U.S.
The world also got new music from Adele on October 2 when she became a Bond Girl, singing the tremendous theme song for 007’s 23rd adventure, Skyfall. Two weeks later, Adele gave birth to son, fathered by her boyfriend Simon Konecki.
Here’s hoping 2013 gifts us with a third album, which will reveal if Adele is capable of drawing as much inspiration from joy as she does from sadness. My hunch says yes.
The world also got new music from Adele on October 2 when she became a Bond Girl, singing the tremendous theme song for 007’s 23rd adventure, Skyfall. Two weeks later, Adele gave birth to son, fathered by her boyfriend Simon Konecki.
Here’s hoping 2013 gifts us with a third album, which will reveal if Adele is capable of drawing as much inspiration from joy as she does from sadness. My hunch says yes.
11. Animal Ambassador

Ellen
Nowadays, celebrities reveal all sorts of personal details through social media. But Kristen Bell took it to the next level during an Ellen appearance on January 30 when she brought a video from her 31st birthday party that sent us ricocheting off the emotional scale.
Since its debut, Kristen Bell Sloth Meltdown has clocked more than 13 million views, inspired an auto-tune rendition and left every viewer with tear-stained faces.
The painfully honest video endeared Bell to an entirely new generation while also reinforcing what us Veronica Mars fans have known for years: she's the sloths pajamas!
Since its debut, Kristen Bell Sloth Meltdown has clocked more than 13 million views, inspired an auto-tune rendition and left every viewer with tear-stained faces.
The painfully honest video endeared Bell to an entirely new generation while also reinforcing what us Veronica Mars fans have known for years: she's the sloths pajamas!
10. Hollywood's New Heavyweight

Getty Images
After catching our collective eye with 2011's Thor, Chris Hemsworth came out of the gate swinging his big hammer in 2012 starring in three excellent adventures: April's The Cabin in the Woods, May's The Avengers and June's Snow White and the Huntsman.
Lending each of his potentially two-dimensional characters an emotional weight and irrefutable charm, Chris quickly became Australia's hottest action hero export since Hugh Jackman. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that he's painfully good-looking -- especially when cradling his newborn daughter, India Rose, in those enormous arms.
Lending each of his potentially two-dimensional characters an emotional weight and irrefutable charm, Chris quickly became Australia's hottest action hero export since Hugh Jackman. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that he's painfully good-looking -- especially when cradling his newborn daughter, India Rose, in those enormous arms.
9. Show Man

Getty Images
Ryan Murphy found himself in uncharted territory this year: running three writers rooms (Glee, American Horror Story: Asylum and The New Normal) while simultaneously prepping to direct a feature film adaptation of Larry Kramer's Tony winning play, The Normal Heart.
But we learned long ago that Murphy functions best with a lot on his plate, and 2012 was a year of Thanksgiving-proportions.
Murphy also became the de facto publicist for all three shows when he joined Twitter to serve up casting scoops, first look photos and interact with the hyper-passionate fanbase he's developed over the last decade of creating boundary-pushing, brainy and brilliant TV fare.
But we learned long ago that Murphy functions best with a lot on his plate, and 2012 was a year of Thanksgiving-proportions.
Murphy also became the de facto publicist for all three shows when he joined Twitter to serve up casting scoops, first look photos and interact with the hyper-passionate fanbase he's developed over the last decade of creating boundary-pushing, brainy and brilliant TV fare.
8. They Run The World

NBC
Anyone worried that Saturday Night Live would flounder in a post-Wiig world had their fears assuaged over the last 10 weeks as four women have stepped up and delivered outside the box laughs through a cornucopia of inspired original characters.
Nasim Pedrad and Vanessa Bayer made good on their early promise, while Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong came out of the gate hard and fast, making this season the best showcase for female comedians since 2006, when Wiig was joined on Stage 8H by Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph!
Nasim Pedrad and Vanessa Bayer made good on their early promise, while Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong came out of the gate hard and fast, making this season the best showcase for female comedians since 2006, when Wiig was joined on Stage 8H by Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph!
7. 'Magic' Man

Warner Bros. Pictures
An actor's big screen omnipresence is usually held against him (let us all remember the Jude Law jokes in 2004), but no one was complaining when Channing Tatum starred in five different movies this year. In fact, I think we'd all have happily lined up for a sixth!
And line up we did. From February's swoon-tastic The Vow to September's charming dramedy, 10 Years, there was not a single misstep as Channing found a way to showcase every side of himself. That was particularly true in June's Magic Mike, which not only played to the actor's physical strengths, but became one of the year's most talked about (and GIF'd) movies.
Tatum capped off a slew of professional accomplishments (including People's Sexiest Man Alive title) in 2012 with a major personal milestone as his wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, announced the couple was expecting their first child. Oh, daddy!
And line up we did. From February's swoon-tastic The Vow to September's charming dramedy, 10 Years, there was not a single misstep as Channing found a way to showcase every side of himself. That was particularly true in June's Magic Mike, which not only played to the actor's physical strengths, but became one of the year's most talked about (and GIF'd) movies.
Tatum capped off a slew of professional accomplishments (including People's Sexiest Man Alive title) in 2012 with a major personal milestone as his wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, announced the couple was expecting their first child. Oh, daddy!
6. 'Girls' Girl

Getty Images
In the first episode of Girls, Lena Dunham's character Hannah says, "I think I may be the voice of my generation. Or at least a voice. Of a generation." While Hannah spent the next ten weeks proving to be anything but, Dunham's status as TV's most exciting and engrossing emerging voice was cemented.
As the creator, writer, star, director and executive producer of Girls, Dunham not only managed to make herself a star, but her co-stars as well since she crafted equally dynamic and quotable characters for Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Jemima Kirke, Adam Driver, Christopher Abbott and Alex Karpovsky.
Dunham's truest strength lies not in her unique ability to capture the uncertainty of your 20's, but to write from such an honest place, watching evokes discomfort in the viewer as her words actually hit too close to home at times. Right in the heart.
As the creator, writer, star, director and executive producer of Girls, Dunham not only managed to make herself a star, but her co-stars as well since she crafted equally dynamic and quotable characters for Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Jemima Kirke, Adam Driver, Christopher Abbott and Alex Karpovsky.
Dunham's truest strength lies not in her unique ability to capture the uncertainty of your 20's, but to write from such an honest place, watching evokes discomfort in the viewer as her words actually hit too close to home at times. Right in the heart.
5. Queen of 'Parks'

Getty Images
In its fourth season, NBC's Parks and Recreation was sweeter than ever as Leslie Knope faced off against Sweetums heir Bobby Newport to win a seat on The Pawnee City Council. Through this storyline, Amy Poehler revealed new layers to her acting and writing abilities, earning her Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Writing for April’s The Debate.
Poehler also thrived outside of Pawnee, as she guest starred on 30 Rock, Louie and launched Ask Amy, an inspirational webseries designed to disperse positive messages to young girls through vlogs that feature Amy doling out heartfelt advice on a range of topics -- from body image to sisterhood.
Poehler also thrived outside of Pawnee, as she guest starred on 30 Rock, Louie and launched Ask Amy, an inspirational webseries designed to disperse positive messages to young girls through vlogs that feature Amy doling out heartfelt advice on a range of topics -- from body image to sisterhood.
4. Face of the Future

Getty Images
Any actress would be lucky to have a box office smash or a critical success on her resume in any given year. In 2012 Jennifer Lawrence had both thanks to March's The Hunger Games and November's Silver Linings Playbook.
Through it all, one constant remained: Lawrence's unflappable commitment to staying true to herself. No amount of Hollywood pressure will make her lose weight, no amount of tabloid attention will make her want to hit up the clubs and no amount of publicist scorn will make her stop giving the most refreshingly honest interviews imaginable.
And to think, she's just getting started...
Through it all, one constant remained: Lawrence's unflappable commitment to staying true to herself. No amount of Hollywood pressure will make her lose weight, no amount of tabloid attention will make her want to hit up the clubs and no amount of publicist scorn will make her stop giving the most refreshingly honest interviews imaginable.
And to think, she's just getting started...
3. Fallen Star

Getty Images
February 11, 2012 was a dark day in entertainment as Whitney Houston's body was discovered in The Beverly Hilton Hotel. One of history's greatest voices had been permanently silenced, but her passing led to so many tremendous tributes, Houston continued to be a powerfully prominent presence throughout the year.
2. Assembly Fine

Getty Images
Joss Whedon has been amassing an insanely loyal legion of devotees over the last 15 years as he created genre hits Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse. The auteur was given his biggest stage to date as writer and director of Marvel's massively important The Avengers – a movie that did not disappoint diehard fans of the comic, newbies to this Marvel-ous world or his beloved The Whedonverse.
The Avengers was so successful (now the third highest grossing film of all-time), Whedon was tapped to shepherd the sequel and create a spin-off TV series for ABC. So chances are you'll be reading Whedon's name in this very same space next year.
The Avengers was so successful (now the third highest grossing film of all-time), Whedon was tapped to shepherd the sequel and create a spin-off TV series for ABC. So chances are you'll be reading Whedon's name in this very same space next year.
1. Voice of a Generation
Getty Images
Taylor Swift segued from accomplished artist to cultural force with her fourth album, Red (released October 22, 2012), earning her the top spot on ETonline's Entertainers of the Year list!
It would be naive to solely cite her ability to snag a headline as the reason she received this honor -- although we all clearly find voyeuristic pleasure in experiencing the beginning, thriving and dissolution of her relationships (it's coming Mr. Styles, brace yourself) -- it would be equally naive to say her personal life has nothing to do with the accolade since her artistry is directly influenced by those relationships.
Had Taylor not risked her heart on this guy or that guy, her fans wouldn't have been gifted with All Too Well's haunting lyrics or the infectious anthem I Knew You Were Trouble.
And by bringing us on her adventures in love, Taylor ensures that we care more about who she is than who she is dating. And in the long run, that's the most exciting development of all.
It would be naive to solely cite her ability to snag a headline as the reason she received this honor -- although we all clearly find voyeuristic pleasure in experiencing the beginning, thriving and dissolution of her relationships (it's coming Mr. Styles, brace yourself) -- it would be equally naive to say her personal life has nothing to do with the accolade since her artistry is directly influenced by those relationships.
Had Taylor not risked her heart on this guy or that guy, her fans wouldn't have been gifted with All Too Well's haunting lyrics or the infectious anthem I Knew You Were Trouble.
And by bringing us on her adventures in love, Taylor ensures that we care more about who she is than who she is dating. And in the long run, that's the most exciting development of all.