Oh, that Miley Cyrus. She could have easily landed on this list too but I decided to ring in the New Year with Megyn Kelly instead. The strange part about writing this list was discovering how endearing dreadful things can be. They hold a certain charm, despite their repellent nature or perhaps because of it. So here they are, bringing up the rear.

5. Downtown Abbey’s Continued Existence (spoilers)

The first season of Downtown Abbey was delightful. Its recipe for success was as follows: combine an early 20^th century period drama with a beautiful historic residence, mix in a feisty Dowager Duchess played by Maggie Smith for laughs, add a liberal helping of feuding servants below the stairs for drama, and finally top with a handsome stranger dropping dead during the act of coitus with the earl’s daughter for sensationalism. There you have it! Success guaranteed.

The following seasons of Downtown Abbey couldn’t maintain the mix, and overcompensated resulting in a nightmarish cake that wouldn’t stop rising. Actors dutifully recited over-wrought lines in unbelievable story-lines, but couldn’t hide the fact that they wished to be elsewhere – anywhere – saying anything but what was currently coming out of their mouths. And so, the inevitable occurred. First, the sweetest and kindest of the Earl’s daughters was killed off. Then the decent husband of the crankiest daughter died in a car crash, ending Season 3. And so it goes.

With so many thoughtful and intelligent period dramas out there (Call the Midwife and Foyle’s War come to mind) and with so many terrific novels and memoirs clamoring for their own possible television series, Downtown Abbey’s creeping existence isn’t necessary. Let’s free Downtown Abbey, people. Let us say goodbye, drying our tears for what could have been and never will be. Adieu, dear Downtown Abbey, adieu.

4. The Announcement Fifty Shades of Grey’s Upcoming Movie

I’ll admit that after the Fifty Shades of Grey publication, I happily trotted over to Goodreads and spent a glorious hour reveling in the dedication and artistry some writers bring to the one star review. Bereft of the magic of Meyers’ sparkly vampires (the inspiration for Fifty Shades), James’ masterpiece centers on the uninspired and depressing mess that abusers actively seek and share with others.

I still haven’t decided if James’ novel, by ripping away the glittering supernatural, reveals Meyers’ novel for what it truly is and the abusive power dynamics it plays upon (among many other things). Or, perhaps the author is just as naïve and foolish as her main female character, Ana. While I can only hope that movie critics will bring as much heart and verve to their reviews as the Goodreads’ one star reviewers did, it will likely be the geniuses at Rifftrax, comedians that record hilarious commentary over popular movies, who will end up having the last laugh.

3. Doctor Who, Season Seven

My husband and I had been happily plowing through Doctor Who for months, managing to adjust to Matt Smith as the 11^th doctor without too much growling. But somewhere, during season 7, Doctor Who got boring. I knew what Matt Smith was going to say before he said it, and I even knew how he would say it.

The episodes hadn’t been that great for nearly a year, but now they were maudlin or unmemorable. Something had gone horribly off the tracks and that something was Steven Moffat. He’s the current executive producer and writer. Now don’t get me wrong. Moffatt has written my top two favorite episodes, “Girl in the Fireplace” and “Blink” but in those earlier days, Moffat had been teamed up with Russell T. Davies, the previous executive producer and writer. Davies left the show around 2010 and from then on, the show began to suffer. Matt Smith gave a brilliant performance and Neil Gaiman’s episodes were delightful but by season 7, there wasn’t anything touching or inspiring going on. Davies had brought a good understanding on how romantic relationships work to the show. He wasn’t afraid to kill off characters or get into the emotional nitty gritty.

Without him, the Doctor became light and fluffy, always waving his hands, new and difficult moral choices never sending him into agony. He repeats the same lines over and over, no longer grappling with self-doubt or any doubt at all. A hero must relentlessly grapple with troubling questions that have no apparent answers, otherwise they becomes static and this has happened to the Doctor.

Due to Moffat’s and Gatiss’ great success with Sherlock, I believe the cure for Moffatt’s stymied Dr. Who is simple. Moffat just needs a well-matched partner. He’s been partnered before with repeated success. It needs to happen once again. Here’s hoping season 8 and a new doctor can make up for season 7′s regrettable run.

2. The Kardashians’ Continued Popularity

Celebrity Reality TV shows, a behind-the-scenes approach to famous people’s lives, started rolling about eleven years go. Ozzy Osbourne and later on, Gene Simmons, granted film crews permission to take a look at their private homes and lives. Both men turned out to be kooky individuals with capable wives. Both had on-going struggles with their progeny and their fame and did the best they could. These two shows weren’t the pinnacles of class or taste but they became so due to what followed.

Reality TV rapidly grew into a bloated tick, feeding on everyone’s secret need to know how the 1% lived behind doors. “The Simple Life”, “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica and “Keeping up with the Kardashians” were among the most popular. Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie from “The Simple Life” called their friendship quits after a few seasons, and Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson’s show ended with a filing for divorce.“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” remained standing.

And for reasons that no one can fathom, remains standing after eight seasons. The only thing that qualifies the Kardashians for a celebrity show is that they are wealthy people who know famous people. No one has done anything particularly noteworthy or upstanding in the family. Instead, they appear at big parties, marry talented and famous people, divorce these people, end up in sex tapes and just generally keep living. They’re not particularly entertaining or interesting but there they are. They’re signed for one more season.

To keep faith in humanity, I prefer to forget they’re an ongoing interest to anyone on earth and that they receive money for living scripted lives on television and for endorsing products.

1. Insistence that Santa is a White Man

Megyn Kelly said, “Santa is just white”. And then she kept riding this stupid statement as if she had made an “I’m cutting through the crap and telling you all how it is” point.

I could talk about things like privilege, marginalization and many other points that other excellent people have already made. Instead, I’ll say this: Santa is not white. Santa is a mythological character with various ancient gods, goddesses, legends and Coca-Cola commercialization rolled up into his makeup.

And since he is not a fact but rather a living metaphor, he can be any color or even any animal. He can drive a car or a sleigh. He can go down a chimney or walk through a door. Whatever way individuals chose to perceive him, he’s still giving out gifts and embodying the generosity and love reigning during the winter solstice season, more popularly known as Christmas.

The only “War on Christmas” is when people refuse to see a holiday for what it is. It’s not about whatever popular religious figure currently in vogue as being a “reason for the season.” It’s a time where we treat one another lovingly and celebrate that goodness. This particular celebration, celebrating goodness and kindness during the darkest time of year, has been going on for a very long time. This gorgeous celebration needs a better representative then a fat old white man. I’ll leave it to Stephen Colbert to finish this up.