76. Louis C.K.
Sweating profusely during sex, the pain of divorce, openly mocking his own children—the dark side of standup has never shone so brightly. Bonus points for telling Ticketmaster where it can stick those service fees.
75. James Cameron, Asteroid Miner
Harvesting minerals from interplanetary space rocks sounds like the kind of thing J-Cam would write a movie about. But no, he's for real, and we're good with it as long as it doesn't delay the Avatar sequels.
74. Rob Delaney on Twitter
Some comedians do hour-long specials, others were born to kill it 140 characters at a time: "The story of the Titanic speaks to me because I once tripped over a bag of ice at a party & then killed over 1,500 people."
72. Pitbull, The Person
We dream of a world in which the voice of iPhone assistant Siri is replaced with Mr. Worldwide's husky, hungover-sounding growl. This summer brings his seventh album, Global Warming, which features a cadre of high-profile guests, including Shakira.
71. Katy Perry, Movie Star
If you loved Justin Bieber's hugely successful Never Say Never, you will crap your Old Navy cargo shorts over Katy's 3-D documentary-style feature. Part of Me traces her trail from gospel singer to global pop megastar—hair extensions and tabloid divorce included.
70. Meghan McCain, Provocateur
Her dad's loss in 2008 did nothing to diminish Meghan's moxie as a mostly conservative, sometimes contrarian Gen-Y mouthpiece. Her cross-country team-up with comedian Michael Ian Black is required reading for open-minded wonk wannabes, especially in an election year.
69. Benedict Cumberbatch
A name like that could've easily led him down a path of endless junior high wedgies and incurable dorkdom. Instead, the BBC's Sherlock and last year's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy have made this quirky Brit into an outright pop culture idol.
68. Minecraft
The bad news is, we'll never get those 2,000 hours back. The good news is, when technology enables us to design and build actual cities on future moon colonies this way, we're totally ready.
67. Madonna-Gaga Feud
It's hard to say who first suggested Gaga's "Born This Way" was a rip-off of Madge's "Express Yourself," but if we find that person, we mostly want to say thanks for sparking the most delectable pop rivalry since Jacko vs. Prince. May they one day kiss and make up on the VMAs.
66. Matthew Bomer
When you make your Magic Mike costars Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer look like tollbooth schlubs, it's safe to say you're amazingly hot. Seriously, Disney princes can't compete with this guy.
65. Sutton Foster
The two-time Tony winner may yet be unfamiliar to anyone who's not within taxi distance of Broadway. But her breakthrough work on ABC Family's Bunheads (from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino) is a dialogue-spitting delight.
64. Marc Maron
Aka the guy podcasts were invented for. Every week, the funniest people in the world willingly sit in the crosshairs of Maron's brazen interview style, yielding hilarious and poignant results.
63. Kate Upton
As print magazines die a slow and mostly recyclable death, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue means more than ever before. We reckon the trees who died for Kate's 2012 cover would gladly do so again and again.
62. Jason Segel & Michelle Williams
We haven't rooted so hard for a couple like this since...well, since Michelle and Heath Ledger first hooked up. Fortunately, Segel has the heart and paparazzi-dodging fortitude to keep pace with the Oscar-nominated My Week with Marilyn star.
61. Wendy Williams' Wig Parade
Sure, we love the way her heels make her tower over most every male guest, and her charming inability to pronounce Nicole Scherzinger's name. But her "Wig a Day in May" celebration sealed the deal with looks including "The Diana Ross" and the "Tornado Tease and Pop."
60. Air Yeezys
Three years after the debut of Nike's first non-athlete-inspired kicks, they're still the most magical footwear this side of Oz. Who knew a pair of high-tops would be the only thing we love just as much as Kanye himself?
59. Harry Styles
Harry and his mates in One Direction have sparked a boy-band jones unseen since JT was just "the awkward one" from 'N Sync. And with his mini-Jagger looks, he's making 28-year-old fans feel like bonafide cougars.
58. Casper Smart's Sunglasses
It's not the constant paparazzi flashbulbs or J.Lo's jewelry collection that keeps Casper behind those gangster frames. When you look that good in sunglasses, you just don't take them off. Ever.
57. Leo DiCaprio's Work Ethic
Most guys would take it easy after a taxing turn as the iconic J. Edgar Hoover, but Leo dove headlong into ambitious (and vastly different) roles as The Great Gatsby's title character and a creepy plantation owner in Tarantino's Django Unchained. If acting was an Olympic sport, he'd be Mike Phelps.
56. Messy Buns v. Braids
Battle of the boho hairstyles! If waves of Internet obsession are any indication, these dueling 'dos are swiftly displacing the Rachel Green bob and the Demi Moore middle part as prime paparazzi fodder.
55. Animated GIFs
Instagram rules and all, but these lo-fi animations are the irresistible boxelder bugs of the Internet—ubiquitous and totally ideal for capturing a pop culture moment and suspending it in an infinite loop.
54. Amanda de Cadenet
Barbara Walters, greet thy successor! Anyone who can get Miley Cyrus to talk about sex, Lady Gaga to talk about drugs and Gwyneth Paltrow to talk about depression obviously has chat-show chops to spare.
53. Breaking Bad, Still at It
Season four of TV's first/best/only meth-lab drama ended with a literal bang that left us breathless. We expect the tension in this next season to get higher than 100 Jesse Pinkmans combined.
52. Azealia Banks
Dig her memorably sharp-tongued (and very NSFW) performances in songs like "212" and "Liquorice." Add a feud with Lil' Kim and...blam!...you just found your new favorite lady rapper.