My 25 Favorite and Best in Television for 2011

Whether these programs were ratings favorites or on the Emmy ballot (and many were and/or will be), these 25 programs were my favorites that make my lists this year for the Best in Television. The list is in alphabetical order. I highly recommend these shows; some I think should be annual required viewing ie Kennedy Center Honors and CNN Heroes.

My List of the Best in Television Programming - 2011

A Very Gaga Thanksgiving -- ABC

All My Children -- ABC

American Masters -- PBS

America's Got Talent -- NBC

Boardwalk Empire -- HBO

CNN Heroes -- CNN

Downtown Abbey (Masterpiece Theater) -- PBS

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition -- ABC

Family Guy -- FOX

The First 48 -- A&E

Freedom Riders (American Experience) -- PBS

Good Morning America -- ABC

Keep A Child Alive with Alicia Keys -- SHOWTIME

2011 Kennedy Center Honors -- CBS

Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden -- HBO

Live with Regis & Kelly -- SYN

Mildred Pierce -- ABC

Modern Family -- ABC

The Oprah Winfrey Show -- SYN

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel -- HBO

60 Minutes -- CBS

So You Think You Can Dance -- FOX

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena -- Starz

Undercover Boss-- CBS

Wheel of Fortune -- SYN

Miss USA 2011 Preview and My Personal Picks

Last year I blogged live during the Miss Universe Pageant, my preview to that contest was (and still remains) my most popular post ever on my blog. So, I thought I would at least do a preview for this year's Miss USA Pageant. I will not be blogging during the telecast, due to some other projects I am up to my ears in. That being said, it was a pleasure to take a look at all of the contestants and it will be an evening full of glamour for sure. Of course, I have my favorites. My top 15 is listed here in order from my most favorite on down.

Also, for the first time this year you can help select a semi-finalist by voting. Visit the Miss Universe/USA website to Vote for your favorites and for the full Miss USA experience, where you can see interviews with contestants, bios, photos and so much more. I think Donald Trump and his organization does a fabulous job with this website. It is top notch for pageant fans. Enjoy & May the best woman win - goodness knows there are plenty to choose from.

Here is my Top 15, ranked in order of my most favorite (the one who impressed me the most) and on down. Any of them would be a great representative at Miss Universe. I fell in love with my first five almost immediately - they popped right out from the computer screen. For the remaining ten, I had to do a bit of viewing...lol. This was fun - I can't wait to see how many of my top 15 actually move forward, and if one becomes the night's eventual winner. Do this exercise too, it will make your pageant experience all the more intriguing.

Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih passes on the crown at the Miss USA 2011 Pageant - Live from Las Vegas on NBC @ 9pm/ET with your hosts Giuliana Rancic and Andy Cohen.

NOTE: ALL PHOTOS by the wonderful, world renowned photographer Fadil Berisha, who has transformed the image of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageantry systems image since he took over as their official photographer in 2002. The photos I post here are from his glamshots of the contestants; all credit to the photographer's brilliance once again kicking it up a notch for us pageant fans and aficionados. See more of his amazing and iconic work at his website.

My Top 15 (Ranked)

1. Miss Florida - Lissette Garcia

2. Miss Idaho - Erza Haliti

3. Miss Colorado - Blair Adair Griffith

4. Miss California - Alyssa Campanella

5. Miss Tennessee - Ashley Elizabeth Durham

6. Miss Illinois - Angela Sparrow

7. Miss Texas - Ana Christina Rodriguez

8. Miss District of Columbia - Heather Danielle Swann

9. Miss Maine - Ashley-Lyn Marble

10. Miss Arizona - Brittany Dawn Brannon

11. Miss Louisiana - Page Pennock

12. Miss Delaware - Katie Hanson

13. Miss Kentucky - Kia Ben-et Hampton

14. Miss Hawaii - Angela Byrd

15. Miss North Carolina - Brittany Leigh York

BEST PICTURE WITH A MODEL Contenders - Photography by Cassone (2011 Cassone Channel Honors)

VOTE for the nominees for this category at: http://poll.pollcode.com/KTnc - you can select up to FIVE (5) nominees daily through Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Top five vote getters will be nominated. Winners are voted on by a peer judges panel.

Nominations will be made public here on Sunday, February 6, 2011.

BEST PICTURE WITH A MODEL 2010 - PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSONE Contenders for nomination (Please VOTE for FIVE (5) nominees)
	THE ACTRESS
	CLASSIC
	FEAR
	HOOD
	JUNGLE
	THE LADY FANCY AS PATSY CLINE
	LATE AFTERNOON VISITOR
	LEAN 2
	THE LOLA SHOT
	THE LOOK
	PAPARAZZI
	SATURDAY AFTERNOON
	SHADOW
	SHARDE ROSS GIVES IT TO YOU
	WAITING
pollcode.com free polls

THE ACTRESS

LaurieAnna, model, hair, makeup & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

CLASSIC

Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

FEAR
German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

HOOD
Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

JUNGLE

Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

THE LADY FANCY AS PATSY CLINE

The Lady Fancy; model, wig styling, makeup & wardrobe

Ron Bivens, stage lighting

Ken Kelley & Lloyd Pagels/The Stable, location producers

Sharde Ross, jewelry design

Antonio Cassone, photographer

LATE AFTERNOON VISITOR

Robert Haines; model & wardrobe

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

LEAN 2

Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

THE LOLA SHOT

LaurieAnna; model, hair, makeup & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

THE LOOK

LaurieAnna; model, hair, makeup & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

PAPARAZZI

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
LaurieAnna; model, hair, makeup & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

SHADOW

Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

SHARDE ROSS GIVES IT TO YOU
Sharde Ross; model, hair, makeup & wardrobe styling

Ron Bivens, stage lighting

Ken Kelley & Lloyd Pagels/The Stable, location producers

Antonio Cassone, photographer

WAITING
LaurieAnna; model, makeup, hair & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer