Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and a special "thank you" to the readers who joined in with their votes and comments for our 34th annual Tacky Taste Awards. In a year when some of the biggest scandals in the news — from Penn State to politics — took place outside the Hollywood realm, there's still a banquet of show business celebrity turkeys to chew on. And heeeeere they are!

1. KIM KARDASHIAN AND FAMILY

Riled up over Kim's 72-day marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries, readers voted to bestow First Place for Tackiest Celebrities of the Year 2011 dis-honors on the Kardashian clan. Among the comments:

"KarTRA$Hian is KarKA$Hingin — from the fake marriage down to the crappy clothes at Sears." — Hannah L., New York

"(Kim) went from saying Kris was so nice and down-to-earth to saying he was only in it to climb the fame ladder practically overnight. Of course people are suspicious. She made more than $17 million from the wedding." — Pam R., Canton, Ohio

"Kim Kardashian was made for your Tacky Taste Award." — Nathan P., San Francisco

Steve M. from Dallas had a different take: "I think all the dimwits who watch the Kardashian family and then complain about them deserve a Tacky Taste award. Idiots, change the channel!"

2. CHUCK LORRE AND CHARLIE SHEEN

So many voters mentioned the "Two and a Half Men" creator and his former star together that it seemed appropriate to reunite them just this one last time in the annals of Tacky Taste.

From Julia in Arizona: "Charlie Sheen's year of tirades, drugs and hookers, and Chuck Lorre's repeated end-caps and on-air rebuttles, have really done it for me. I thought that by now the banter would be over and bringing in Ashton would let the show stand on its own, but Chuck doesn't seem to want to let go. Week after week, they have to rehash all of Charlie's downfalls.

"Come on. Kill the show now if you are going to make it a year of Charlie-channeling. Even Charlie seems to have learned to shut his mouth."

G.M. in Santa Monica, Calif., wrote, "Not that I'm buying Charlie Sheen's good behavior act, but Chuck Lorre needs to get over being bitter, stop sniping at Charlie and try to improve the show, which sucks now."

In the opinion of witty Bernice R. of Naples, Fla., "It has been a close race this year for the Tacky Taste Award. Charlie Sheen was the star of the pack early on, but his admitting to his foolish rages took the edge off criticizing him. Darn. But then, when all seemed lost, Kim Kardashian came along with her whirlwind romance, brain-free husband, check-cashing acrobatics and surprise (not!) divorce to challenge Charlie for the lead.

"I've got it! How about a Tacky Couple Award? Theirs would be a match made in Hollywood heaven. Oh, those two have got to meet, or what's a Hollywood for?"

3. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Grace H. of Burbank, Calif., sums it up: "Former Governator Arnold Schwarzenneger makes Bill Clinton look like a cub scout. First, he let Maria find out the hard way that he sired a child by his housekeeper. Then, after they split up, he went out in public sporting a T-shirt that read, "I Survived Maria" and "1977-2010."

And this comment from reader Linda D.: "Arnold Schwarzenegger deserves the award for being unfaithful to his wife, family and the state of California.

And then having the bad taste to wear an 'I Survived Maria' T-shirt."

Agrees Paula G.: "It has to be the Arnold: What he has done to Maria Shriver is so awful. I used to like him, but now, I am not interested in seeing anything he does. Thank goodness he's no longer the governor of California."

4. GERARD DEPARDIEU

"Gerard Depardieu deserves your award, hands down, for urinating in the aisle of a plane after being told he had to wait until after takeoff to use the bathroom, causing a two-hour flight delay. If one of us mere mortals did that, we'd be arrested." — Ken, Tacoma, Wash.

Peggy S. of Los Angeles also voted for Depardieu, adding, "I want to mention Anderson Cooper also. It was one thing to get the giggles during his report about l'affaire Depardieu — but then, to have Depardieu on his talk show to discuss the incident, and hand out pee-pee bottles to everyone in the audience? That was tacky. But I still love Anderson."

5. LINDSAY LOHAN

The troubled actress, who has been doing community service at the LA County Morgue as a result of violating her probation, drew tacky votes for "blowing chance after chance to straighten out," as J.Y. of Bell, Calif., put it.

"Lindsay Lohan gets my vote. You know you've hit bottom when Heidi Fleiss gets on TV and congratulates you for posing for Playboy and says you'd make a great hooker." — Tara K., Ohio

6. KATE GOSSELIN

"As always, the tackiest person in America is Kate Gosselin," contends Dee W. She explains: "From her trashy clothing to her constant bashing of the father of her children, she epitomizes the word "tacky." Her classifiying her ex as 'mediocre' because he prefers to work a regular job and live out of the spotlight was classic Kate."

"I would rather listen to nails on a chalkboard than that whiny b!#@* any day." — George F., Woodland Hills, Calif.

7. JESSE JAMES

The reality show star got a late flurry of votes after his ex, Kat Von D, went public with her claim that he'd cheated on her with at least 19 women during their engagement.

"Wasn't he supposed to have been treated for sex addiction after his cheating wrecked his marriage to Sandra Bullock? Jesse, you tacky dog ... you should demand your money back." — Lil Z.

8. COURTENEY COX AND DAVID ARQUETTE

"Their over-sharing about their sex life problems on Howard Stern's show has tainted my feelings about them. Really, Courteney, I thought you had more class than to dispense such intimate details with gutter language. Sad for Coco." — Linda W., Peoria, Ill.

9. HANK WILLIAMS JR., ESPN AND "FOX AND FRIENDS"

Williams' remark on "Fox and Friends," where he used an analogy linking President Obama and Hitler, got the country singer's iconic theme song cut from "Monday Night Football" after 20 years — and both sides chimed in:

"Hank totally got the shaft. If you read the transcript, he never said Obama was like Hitler. His conservative politics is what really got him ousted from MNF. And he's right that 'Fox and Friends' set him up." — Dan H.

On the other hand, S.B. of Long Island, N.Y., wrote, "Who gives a damn what Hank Williams Jr. thinks? He's a right-wing crackpot with no talent. Glad to see him go."

10. BRAD PITT

"Some people continue to add insult to dumping their spouses overboard. Brad Pitt told Dotson Rader of Parade Magazine that his life was boring when he was married to Jennifer Aniston. Quote: "I wasn't living an interesting life, myself. I think that my marriage [to Jennifer Aniston] had something to do with it." — Grace H., Burbank

And that's it for this year! Here's hoping your turkeys are tasty ones.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2011 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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