Fan Favorites from 2013

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- 2013 was a year of controversy and natural disaster, but it was also a year of laughter. With all the anger and heated debate over topics such as politics, health care, and traffic, most must admit to having at least one sidesplitting laugh that kept them smiling last year. Among the laughter were the usuals in entertainment, including the start and cessation of people's favorites.

Here are some of the fan favorites from 2013 in the following categories: songs, movies, video/computer games, television shows, and viral videos.

Off the beaten path, songs like “The Wire” by Haim, “Over The Love” by Florence and the Machine, and “Doin’ It Right” by Daft Punk, grew in popularity over the year. Of course there were the usual mainstream hits like “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons and “Royals” by Lorde.

Everyone loves to escape from reality for a little rest in a dark movie theater once in awhile. Last year people immersed themselves in some of the top movies such as “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, “Despicable Me 2”, “Star Trek: Into Darkness" and “12 Years a Slave”, which was dubbed by one fan as “the missed opportunity of the year” if one did not see it in theaters.

New video and computer games got the year started with titles like “The Sims 3”, “Dead Rising”, “Grand Theft Auto V”, and “Just Dance 2014”. The year ended with the beginning of the next generation releases of the two most popular gaming consoles, the PS4 and the Xbox One. Certainly these consoles will usher in a new generation of gamers interested in higher technology and families wanting a home entertainment system capable of everything from fitness games to movie night.

In 2013, some popular television shows ended and some promising new shows started. To the dismay of many people “Breaking Bad” ended this year, as well as “Futurama” for the second time in television history. New shows premiered like “Brooklyn Nine Nine”, which appeals to the lighter side of life.

Finally, what would another year be without viral videos? Whether one is an avid internet surfer or only logs on to see a single viral video out of curiosity, everyone was sure to find one video that kept them laughing all year long. Between the multitude of “Harlem Shake” and screaming goat videos, 2013 got started on a pretty hilarious and contagious note. After some controversial mainstream videos, the year rounded out with classics like “Bat Dad” and “What Does the Fox Say?” “Bat Dad” showed America a fun way of parenting and it is safe to say that most people will know at least one sound a fox makes if asked.

What were some of your favorites from 2013? Did you learn anything new last year?