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Kanye West performs at the Throne concert at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. (Josie Lepe/Mercury News Staff)

From Brad Pitt and the Muppets to "Breaking Bad" and Kanye West, there was a lot that was hot in 2011. Here are our picks for what was the hottest of the hot:

Kanye West and Jay-Z: When two oversized talents occupy the same space, the results are often disastrous. But Kanye West and Jay-Z, the kings of hip-hop, managed to pull off a beautifully decadent collaboration with "Watch the Throne." Plus, their joint concert tour was one of the highlights of the year.

Comebacks: They couldn't be more different, but it was great to see the comebacks of the Muppets (icons of the '80s) and Beavis & Butt-Head (icons of the '90s). The stoner, heavy-metal humor of Mike Judge's MTV cartoon proved to be as funny as ever. Thanks to fan Jason Segel, "The Muppets" was a sweet, sassy return to form for the late Jim Henson's creations.

'The Artist': Who would have thought that the most-discussed, best-reviewed film of the year would be in black and white, silent and star a French actor and an Argentine actress unknown outside their home countries? But "The Artist" by French director Michel Hazanavicius is an inventive, inspired comedy that was a sheer joy to watch.

'Revenge': Just when it looked like the prime-time soap was fading into the sunset, along comes "Revenge," ABC's juicy yarn of sex and treachery set among the 1 percent of the Hamptons, with razor-sharp performances by Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe as the scheming protagonists.


Miranda Lambert: Whether it was on her own work ("Four for the Record") or with the Pistol Annies ("Hell on Heels"), Lambert made some mighty fine, smart and tough-minded music during the year. Plus, she seemed like the kind of country gal you'd want to have a beer with.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone: "The Book of Mormon" may be the most unlikely hit musical ever. A wicked satire on religion by "South Park's" Parker and Stone, it manages to be a rousing evening of theater while being borderline offensive. The show, which comes to the Bay Area next year, won a fistful of Tonys and has been filling New York's Eugene O'Neill Theatre for months (just try to get a ticket). Oh, and "South Park" continued to be pretty darn funny, too.

Civil Wars: Out of nowhere in 2011 came the Civil Wars: Nashville singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White teaming up for their debut breakout album, "Barton Hollow." Their beautifully crafted songs of love and regret captured the feel of the rural South, and their harmonies were nothing short of breathtaking.

'Breaking Bad': This meaner-than-a-junkyard dog AMC series about a high-school science teacher turned meth king just got nastier (and better) in its fourth season. The showdown between Walter White (the superb Bryan Cranston) and drug lord Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) was truly memorable.

'Homeland': If "Breaking Bad" wasn't the best modern-day TV series of the year, a strong case can be made for "Homeland," Showtime's compelling spy thriller built on paranoia, deceit and (possibly) delusion. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis gave two of 2011's best performances in the leads.

Brad Pitt: This was the year Pitt went from movie star to film actor. His work in "Moneyball" as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane and in "The Tree of Life" as a demanding father were exceptional performances. Plus, there was a delicious little voice work turn as Will the Krill in "Happy Feet Two."

Louis C.K.: As a comedian, Louis C.K.'s intensely personal humor has always been something of an acquired taste -- until this year. He finally found his hilarious footing in the second season of FX's low-budget "Louie," a raunchy contemplation of life that did a high-wire act between comedy and drama.

Stephen King: The master American storyteller struck again in 2011 with "11/22/63," which takes a traditional time travel tale about a man sent to the past to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy and turns it into a rich, evocative work. King may mess with the space-time continuum (a no-no in sci-fi) but he does so in grand style.

Frank Ocean: On his truly unique "Nostalgia, Ultra," Ocean spins out R&B songs (with substantial sampling from everybody from MGMT to the Eagles) that are downbeat but appealing. He's willing to share his emotions freely and does so with hooks and beats that are positively infectious.

'Batman: Arkham City': "Batman: Arkham Asylum" was the coolest superhero game ever, but then along came this year's sequel, which took the tale of the Dark Knight to new levels. Locked up in a prison full of bad guys, including the nastiest of villains, Batman is trapped in a truly dark place that requires all of his skills -- and yours, as a gamer -- to escape.

Tebowing: Forget planking, now we're Tebowing. Based on the prayerful stance Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow assumes before and after games -- it looks a bit like Rodin's "The Thinker" -- Tebowing swept the nation, becoming the top meme (ritual, if you will) of the year and helping to turn Tebow himself into something of a cultural icon.

Busy actors: There are actors who make a lot of films during any given year, but it's rare when each performance is a gem. Two film actors -- Jessica Chastain and Michael Fassbender -- managed that feat in 2011. Chastain shone brightly in "Coriolanus," "The Debt," "The Help," "Take Shelter" and "The Tree of Life." Fassbender was the highlight of "A Dangerous Method," "Jane Eyre," "Shame" and "X-Men: First Class."

'The Force': Occasionally, a TV ad makes the jump from 60-second pitch to cultural relevance. That happened this year with "The Force," Volkswagen's sweet, funny ad featuring a kid in a Darth Vader suit working his mind magic on his father's remote-controlled Passat. The spot went viral and, by the end of the year, had racked up more than 44 million views on YouTube and made a lot of folks go, "awwww."