So this is Christmas, and what have we done?

Well, quite a lot actually and as the year draws to a close it’s time to reflect on what the hell happened. Like a great big pixelated sucker punch to the nose, 2010 came in with a BANG! but will soon disappear in a haze of Christmas cheer and budget-priced vino.

So, lest we forget, here’s some of my best of 2010 entertainment highlights.

Best 2010 Kids’ TV Programme
Ok, so my first choice is not exactly rock n’ roll for an Entertainment Editor but I do have a young family so you soon become a connoisseur of Cbeebies content. The Octonauts is a fantastic underwater world inspired by the Meomi books. The whole cartoon looks amazing and the theme tune is a recent addition to my Zune player. Octonauts, to your stations!

Best band of 2010
So back to the rock n’ roll. Or maybe not. 2010 was the year of Mumford & Sons, gaining some great exposure earlier in the year on radio followed by a raft of major festival slots. Problem is, I can’t stand them. I just don’t dig Marcus Mumford even though he might be a very nice man. The pesky press are calling this band part of a modern revival of folk music, but I just call it lame.

Instead I’ve chosen Hurts. Ever since I discovered them through a cleverly targeted PPC ad campaign I’ve never looked back, such is my love of all things digital. If they hook up with the right remixers I can see 2011 really working for them. A slot at Sonaar music festival perhaps? Tina Hart, our MSN Music blogger also loves ‘em.

Best missed song opportunity of 2010
Again, I don’t think I’m going to be popular with this one but when Florence and the Machine appeared with ‘You Got The Love’ my heart sort of cracked. I’m not saying the original was much better, but I couldn’t think of an act less suited to this track especially when Dizzee Rascal joined her for that shambolic Brit Awards performance. The cover was a novel idea that just didn’t work, although I know there will be thousands out there that disagree. She was, after all, one of the best live acts to see in 2010.

Best gig of 2010
She came, she saw, she conquered. No, not Florence Welch but Fever Ray who blew us all away when she visited the UK earlier this year. Ok, so Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson doesn’t exactly crack jokes on stage but the Fever Ray gig at Brixton Academy was amazing. All she needs to do now is some new material but I have a feeling she’ll be working to her own agenda on this one.

Don’t worry if you can’t see her in the video clip below. I was about 20 metres away from the stage at the Academy and couldn’t see her either.

Worst gig of 2010
Without doubt, Kings of Leon. WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!! I hear you cry.

I know, along with the Foo Fighters, the Kings of Leon are one of the biggest international rock acts around at the moment. But that doesn’t mean they can release second rate albums and put on substandard shows.  They need to get back to their roots and stop all this ballad rubbish.

There, spoken like a true Dad. And a smile on stage now and again wouldn’t go amiss.
Sort it out Kings. 

Best dance album of 2010
Two dance albums stand out for me in 2010. The heavily subscribed Deadmaus5 4×4=12 and the underrated Underworld album Barking. With the former you just have to *High Five* anyone who’s got the guts to wear a giant mouse mask on his head for hours on end. And who else out of today’s dance fraternity could sell out the O2 Arena so quickly?  He’s brought back a bit of fun and puts on a great show. After all, it’s not all about checking your email when you’re DJing with a laptop is it?

Underworld slipped under the radar this year but they still soldier on, producing great sounding tracks that still have an edge. I’m a relatively recent convert but I’ve had the good fortune to interview them once or twice and they are great guys. Their spoken word stream-of-conscious thang still gets me. Good to see them back again.
Best Radio DJ of 2010
Hands down, Zane Lowe. Great music selection and look at that smile – how could you ever refuse a car from this used salesman? A true champion of rock who’s been able to arrange some great interviews over the year.

I love the way that most of his shows are on-location. He’s equally comfortable interviewing at rehearsal studios as he is responding to a thousand tweets on his live show. I think bands really respond well to his warmth and well-researched approach. Fantastic podcasts too. Nice work.  

P.S: I’m going to miss Annie Nightingale!

Best film of 2010
I’m not a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio but Shutter Island blew me away. As soon as it was released on DVD I spent the weekend re-watching every scene. Ok so, it’s not a 100% masterpiece but I think Scorsese did the right thing aiming for the mainstream. Imagine what David Lynch would have done with it. MSN Movies Editor Ed Holden said it was brilliant for the first hour and then tailed off. I have to agree but with this proviso – it’s still bloody brilliant.

Worst film of 2010
Clash of the Titans. Titanic lameness more like.

‘Wish I had seen’ films of 2010
The Social Network and Monsters. No excuses I know. 

Best movie trailer of 2010
Like big bag of greasy McNuggets, film trailers are there to excite you and leave you wanting more. Quite often though they are better than the actual film so I hope I’m not disappointed when I get to see Tron next week. Meanwhile, I thought the Daft Punk soundtrack was absolutely amazing and the video to Derezzed off the wall. A big slapping of this please with extra fries.

Best TV Comedy
The Trip shouldn’t have worked. It’s just two comedians (Steve Cogan and Rob Brydon) who’ve thought ‘How can we get paid by the Beeb and get to eat at some fantastic restaurants?’ Throw in plenty of ad-libing, garnish with a few stale impressions and, et voila, bloody hilarious. Best comedy I’ve seen all year. Even better than The Inbetweeners.

Best TV Moment of 2010
A performance of such epic proportion that it would give even Kenneth Branagh a run for his money. Gillian Mckeith’s fainting on live television. Before seeing this I thought Get Me Out Of Here I’m A Celebrity was a fantastic concept that could only get better. Bring on The Running Man with loads of Z-list celebrities fighting for their lives. But as the show unfolded it began to leave left me with a nasty taste in my mouth – and it wasn’t Kangaroo penis.

No doubt it was a terrible ordeal – but it did make amazing live television.

Best Game of 2010
Limbo wasn’t supposed to be as addictive as it was.  I wasn’t supposed to waste hours of my life trying to work out what it was I was actually looking at and avoiding all types of nasties. But I did and I enjoyed every minute of it.

So, that’s a look of some of my best entertainment picks of 2010.  What a year. Bring on 2011!