Here's the official list from Google of the most-viewed YouTube ads in 2016. 

The number one spot, Mobile Strike's Super Bowl commercial featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, racked up more than 100 million views. 

That was an impressive 40 million more than the second most-viewed ad — food and beverage brand Knorr's "LoveAtFirstTaste" ad.

Five of the top 10, including the number one spot, featured on the Super Bowl 50.

SEE ALSO: Spotify says: 'Thanks 2016, it's been weird,' in its largest ad campaign yet

10. Skittles Super Bowl commercial "The Portrait" with Steven Tyler — 24 million views.

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9. Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial "#Pokemon20"— 25 million views

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8. Hyundai Super Bowl Commercial "The Chase"— 26 million views

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The entertainment industry relies on an "it" factor for the stars who sell its product that is stubbornly hard to quantify. You can have it overnight, and lose it just as easily.

Movie stars' realiability at the box office has faded in recent years, and the traditional label system is no longer the only path to superstardom for a musician.

In Business Insider's second annual list of the most powerful entertainment stars right now, we look at who has best proven their might in the past year. They're not just the highest-earning, but the most visible, the most talked-about, the most respected, the most valued, and the most in-demand at our current moment.

Our No. 1, Beyoncé, proved once again that the old rules don't apply, and she's more than able to keep the masses interested in her every move, whether that's a politically charged "visual album" or the carefully curated way she presents herself online. No celebrity is more in touch with how to engage their audience in 2016. (Though our No. 2 is certainly hustling just as hard.)

Here are the 20 most powerful stars in Hollywood in 2016, ranked:

SEE ALSO: The 10 biggest box-office bombs of 2016

20. Margot Robbie

In 2016 Robbie went from “it” girl to being a bona fide box-office draw in her own right. The main reason is her bringing beloved DC Comics character Harley Quinn to the big screen in “Suicide Squad,” and coming out of it as everyone's favorite. Though the movie split fans, her twisted performance was universally praised — and just about every girl wanted the costume. She’s now prepping for her own Harley Quinn spin-off movie and another feature in which she plays disgraced skater Tonya Harding.

19. Adam Driver

After wowing us last year as the conflicted Kylo Ren in “The Force Awakens,” Driver showed his diversity this year with three very different roles. A scientist looking for answers in “Midnight Special,” a bus driver who loves to write poetry in “Paterson,” and a priest trying to teach Christianity in 1600s Japan. There’s no question Driver is building an impressive filmography and making himelf a household name in the process.

18. Millie Bobby Brown

The 12-year-old went from virtual unknown to one of the most recognized faces in 2016 thanks to her breakout performance as the Eggo-eating Eleven in Netflix’s hit “Stranger Things.” With a sinister look and shaved hair, we couldn’t turn away whenever Brown showed up on the screen. We can’t wait to see where she takes Eleven in season two of the show.

Great businesses can be launched any time, even when there's a downturn in funding.

While 2016 might have spelled trouble for some well-established startups, it also saw the birth of companies tackling things like a cure for cancer, life-saving drones, and competition for Uber.

Business Insider spoke to founders and venture capitalists and took a look at funding data to identify some of the startups that had the biggest starts in 2016. Some names on the list are officially launching out of stealth, while others are still in their early months of forming a company.

Here are 27 of the top startups that launched in 2016.

SEE ALSO: 33 startups to watch in 2017, according to VC investors

Grail wants to develop a test for cancer at the earliest possible stage.

What is it: Illumina, the maker of DNA-sequencing technology, teamed up with a group of Silicon Valley investors to develop a blood test for any kind of cancer at an earlier stage than previously possible.

Using Illumina's technology, a new company called Grail will look for a way to measure circulating nucleic acids — bits of DNA that circulate in the blood outside blood cells. While most of our DNA is inside our cells, scientists use CNAs to test for cancer and other diseases noninvasively. Its ambitious mission: Develop a universal cancer-screening test.

Funding: $100 million from investors, including Arch Venture Partners, Bezos Expeditions, Bill Gates, and Sutter Hill Ventures. Illumina remains majority shareholder.

Website:grailbio.com

Allbirds invented an all-wool shoe that has quickly become a cult favorite in tech.

What is it: Called the world's most comfortable shoe by venture capitalists, Allbirds debuted its first pair of all-wool sneakers in March 2016. Allbirds uses merino wool from its founders' home country of New Zealand that's then processed in Milan, Italy. The result is a shoe so incredibly comfortable that Business Insider staffers swear they're like slippers made of clouds.

Funding: $9.95 million from Lerer Hippeau Ventures and Maveron, among others. 

Website:allbirds.com

Lemonade is selling you insurance in a whole new way.

What is it: Lemonade, an insurance startup, launched from stealth in September with its first product: peer-to-peer homeowner's and renter's insurance in New York. Lemonade sells rental insurance policies for as little as $5 a month, and home insurance for as low as $35 a month (your policy rates may vary). Its business is conducted entirely online via an app. There are no human insurance brokers, and no plans to ever use them. But where most insurance companies pocket the money you pay as profits, less any claims paid, Lemonade takes a straight 20% cut of the policy rate as its share. And if your group pays more collectively than it uses as claims for the year, Lemonade donates the money to a charity of your choice (from your kid's school to an established charity).

Funding: $60 million from Sequoia and Aleph.

Website: lemonade.com

Where in the world can you kitesurf in warm sea waters, encounter antelopes in a desert safari and ski on snowy slopes...all in one city? It can only be Dubai, the unabashedly ambitious metropolis where nothing seems impossible. Sure, Dubai’s known the world over for its malls, blinged-out bars and restaurants and impressive skyline, but it’s also the unofficial adventure capital of the Middle East.

If you’re seeking experiences beyond the city’s lavish shopping, wining and dining, Dubai’s expanding roster of adventure attractions will keep you plenty busy. From gentle stand up-paddleboarding in the Persian Gulf to hair-raising 13,000-foot free falls, here’s a list of activities in Dubai that’s sure to pump your adrenaline.

Feel on top of the world at Burj Khalifa

Take an ear-popping elevator ascent to one of two observation decks for panoramic views from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. At the Top’s Level 125, at around 1,500 feet high, is the most popular observation deck, while you can pay more to go as high as approx. 1,820 feet on Level 148 for even more spectacular 360-degree vistas.

http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/observation/

Snorkel or dive with sharks

Test your courage under water- all 10 million liters of it- with Dubai Aquarium’s multiple shark encounter packages. Options include Cage Snorkeling, the brand-new “Shark Scooter” (which resembles a personal submarine), and those with or without diving certifications and lots of nerve can swim freely amongst the predators with an exhilarating Shark Dive.  

http://www.thedubaiaquarium.com/

Try stand-up paddleboarding in the Gulf

If swimming with marine predators sounds a bit too intense, there’s always stand-up paddleboarding in the sea at the popular Kite Beach. Newbies will learn everything they need to paddleboard like a pro with Dukite’s competent instructors, and will have you feel like you’re gliding on water in no time.

http://www.dukite.com/standup-paddle/

If you are a fan of stock picks by active fund managers, you should be buying Amazon while selling Apple.

Amazon and Apple are the most overweight and underweight stocks among fund managers globally, according to UBS' study of funds' active positions.

The ranking was based on institutional investment in individual stocks. The total dollar holdings in a stock was compared to the size of the overall fund portfolio to calculate the stock's "investor weight." This was later compared with "the relevant equity index benchmark to form the active weight."

UnitedHealth was the most popular stock among active managers in the US, while Apple was the most unpopular. Exxon and AT&T were other stocks that were out of favor among US money managers.

The most overweight stocks among US active fund managers are listed below.

1. UnitedHealth

Ticker: UNH

Investor weight: 1%

Active weight: 0.3%

Source: UBS

2. Amazon

Ticker: AMZN

Investor weight: 1.8%

Active weight: 0.3%

Source: UBS

3. Visa

Ticker: V

Investor weight: 1%

Active weight: 0.2%

Source: UBS

The Tesla Model 3's debut was, hands down, the biggest electric-car unveiling this year. Its splashy reveal in March brought Tesla millions of dollars in deposits from potential buyers — many of whom lined up at Tesla stores like customers do ahead of a new iPhone launch.

But, the Model 3 is still a long way off. Those who didn't get in on the initial wave of orders, likely won't take one home until well into 2018 or later. There are still quite a few electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to tide the market over until the Model 3 comes through and steals everybody's thunder.

Among them — the BMW 330e. The plug-in hybrid version of the iconic sports sedan you probably didn't know about.

BMW unveiled the 330e in 2015 — months before Tesla would shatter expectations with a Model 3 prototype that quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of preorders. The 330e is one example of BMW's move toward more mainstream green cars, which include the all-electric i3 compact and the plug-in hybrid i8 sports coupe.

The 330e and its SUV counterpart, the X5 xDrive40e, could potentially be a preview of more plug-ins (or perhaps fully electric) BMWs to come.

The automaker recently dropped off a 330e for us to test. Here's how it went.

SEE ALSO: Here's the electric car Mercedes is building to take on Tesla

Right off the bat, you can see there are few things that betray this 3 Series' electric powers.

That is, until you catch a glimpse of the "330e" badge out back ...

... and the extra fuel door, located on the front driver's side fender.

Microsoft's campus is kind of ridiculous. 

It's gigantic, sprawling, and when you arrive, you feel like you're entering a futuristic college. It's got a hallway dedicated to high fives. Really.

Unlike Apple, which is mostly a phone company, Microsoft has 12 different divisions that generate a billion dollars in revenue. When the Windows business is in bad shape, the Servers and Tools group, or the Office group, picks up the slack.

Similarly, Microsoft's campus isn't just one giant donut-shaped glass spaceship, like Apple is building as its new headquarters. Instead, it's over 120 buildings spread across Redmond, Washington — a suburb of Seattle, just a short ride by car.

It's more like a town than a headquarters: To get around, you take Microsoft shuttles; even people who spend lots of time at the campus get lost easily. 

We visited Microsoft in the summer of 2013, and we had a photographer with us snapping photos. Here's what it's like to wander Microsoft's massive campus.

Jay Yarow contributed to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: Check out how far Apple's $5 billion 'spaceship' campus has come in the past year

We started the day at Building 33, which is next to building 34 (where CEO Satya Nadella works).

Nothing particularly special about this building...or so it would seem:

But, tucked inside is Microsoft's vision for the future!

The G500 represents the first of Gulfstream's next generation private jets. Even though, the plane won't enter service until sometime in 2017, Business Insider got a sneak peak at some new technology found never before see on a private jet. It's larger G600 sibling will debut in 2018. 

Like most large, modern civilian jets, the G500 will use fly-by-wire technology. This means that the pilot's control input is relayed to the wings and the tail of the aircraft through a series of computers, relays, and servos as opposed to a set of mechanical pulleys and cables. 

In addition to fly-by-wire, Gulfstream has replaced the tradition control yoke with a side stick. Side stick technology isn't exactly new. Civilian manufacturers such as Airbus, Bombardier, and Embraer have been using the input system in some way, shape, or from since the late 1980s. Military aircraft began deploying the tech even before that.

Proponents of side stick technology say that removing the cumbersome control yoke from in front of the pilot affords the flight a crew a better view of the instruments while creating a better work environment with more room to operate.

However, it is what Gulfstream has added to the traditional side stick that makes the G500 special. 

SEE ALSO: Here's how to avoid the middle seat on a plane

Traditionally, when a pilot pulls back on the control yoke sitting in front him or her, the same input is reproduced by the yoke in front of the co-pilot. However, this isn't the case with current civilian side stick technology. As a result, pilots flying aircraft with this tech can't really tell which control inputs their colleagues are making. It's a short coming that has drawn criticism from some in the aviation community who believe passive side sticks don't convey enough information to pilots — especially in times of emergency. 

That's where defense contractor BAE Systems comes into the picture. Over the past couple of decades, BAE has been working on advanced side stick technology — which it calls "Inceptors". This includes active side stick technology that gives pilots force-feedback and in situations where there are more than one pilot — electronically coupled sticks that allow both members of the flight crew the ability to experience one another's control inputs.

The technology is current used on the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II and Korea's T-50 fighter jets as well as Brazil's KC-390 tanker.

With the G500, BAE's military-grade technology will make its civilian debut. It will serve as part of the aircraft's advanced glass cockpit equipped with no less than 10 touchscreen displays feature tablet-style interfaces. 

No other up-coming commercial aircraft has indicated it will feature BAE active side-stick technology. 

Volkswagen plans to come after Tesla with an electric car in 2020.

The German automaker generated a lot of hype for the car ahead of its Paris Motor Show reveal in late September, stating it will be "as revolutionary as the Beetle."

Here's everything we know about the car, which resembles a hatchback or crossover SUV:

SEE ALSO: Mercedes just teased its first electric concept SUV

Volkswagen says the car can get anywhere between 248 miles and 372 miles on a single charge.

That's not entirely shocking, as Volkswagen CEO Hebert Diess said in August that the prototype vehicle being shown at the Paris Motor Show will have a range that could fall in those exact parameters.

But what we haven't heard before is that the car will offer "a first tangible glimpse of fully automated driving." Volkswagen said that will arrive in the 2025 production version of the car, not the one in 2020.

The car has a steering wheel that can retract into the dashboard when the car is driving itself. Volkswagen's fully autonomous mode will be known as "I.D. Pilot."

With 2017 right around the corner, it’s time to check out what’s coming to your favorite streaming service.

There’s the thriller “The Girl on the Train” on iTunes, you can watch Carrie Fisher try to destroy John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in “The Blues Brothers" on HBO Go, or watch all the “Lethal Weapon” movies on Hulu.

Below are all the titles that will be available, and we've gone ahead and highlighted some in bold we think you should definitely check out.

SEE ALSO: Here are the 10 most pirated TV shows in 2016

iTunes

Available January 3

“The Girl on the Train”
“Operation Avalanche” 
“Kevin Hart: What Now?” 
“Max Steel” 
“Bob the Builder: Building Fun at the Zoo”
“Tower”

Available January 6
 
“Arsenal” (same day as theaters) 
“Between Us” (same day as theaters) 

Available January 10

“Christine” 
“Pinocchio” 
“Queen of Katwe” 
“Barney Playground” 
“I’m Not Ashamed” 
“An Act of Love” 
“Ouija: Origin of Evil”

Available January 13
 
“Alone in Berlin” (same day as theaters) 

Available January 17

“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” 
“Roger Corman's Death Race 2050”

Available January 20
 
“Detour” (same day as theaters) 

Available January 24

“American Pastoral”  
“Loving” 
“Almost Christmas” 
“Desierto”
“The Handmaiden” 
“The Light Between Oceans” 
“Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary Performance”  
“The Hangman: Shepherds and Butchers”

Available January 27
 
“I Am Michael” (same day as theaters) 

Available January 31

“Arrival” 
“Bleed for This”
“The Edge of Seventeen”  
“Priceless” 
“Miss Hokusai” 
“Tyler Perry's Boo Madea Halloween” 

Amazon Prime

Available January 1

“Blood Diamond” 
“13 Hours: Secret soldiers of Benghazi”                                                             
“Across the Universe” 
“Happy Feet”  
“Rent”
“Hellboy”
“Radio”
“Stardust 2007”
“American History X”  
“Norm of the North” 
“Are We There Yet” 
“Are We Done Yet” 
“Maid in Manhattan”

Available January 3

“The Girl on the Train”
“She’s All That”

Available January 4

“Bones” (Season 12)

Available January 5

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 12)

Available January 7

“Sleepy Hollow” (Season 4)

Available January 9

“The Infiltrator 2016”
“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” (Season 1)

Available January 10

“Ouija: Origin of Evil”
“Deepwater Horizon”   
“The Accountant”

Available January 13

“Sneaky Pete” (AMAZON ORIGINAL, Season 1) 
“Just Add Magic” (AMAZON ORIGINAL, Season 2)

Available January 15

“Young Pope” (Season 1 premiere)

Available January 17

“Red Rock” (Season 2)
“The A-Word” (Season 1)

Available January 22

“Where to Invade Next”

Available January 23

“The Choice”

Available January 24

“Inferno”

Available January 26

“America Divided” (Season 1)

Available January 27

“Z: The Beginning of Everything” (AMAZON ORIGINAL, Season 1)
“Dirty Grandpa”

Available January 29

“Mercy Street” (Season 2)
“Black Sails” (Season 4)

Available January 30

“Swiss Army Man”

HBO Go/Now

Available January 1

“Above the Law”
“Baby Mama”
“Beautiful Creatures”
“The Big Lebowski”
“The Blues Brothers”
“Blues Brothers 2000”
“Bringing out the Dead”
“The Cell”
“Cloud Atlas”
“Cold Mountain”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears a Who!”
“Evil Dead 2”
“Fool’s Gold”
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
“Friday”
“The Happening”
“Innerspace”
“Lady in the Water”
“Lost & Found”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“My Cousin Vinny”
“Risky Business”
“The Road Warrior”
“The Sixth Sense”
“Steel”
“Unbreakable”
“The Village”

Available January 7

“Demolition”


Available January 8

“Genius”


Available January 13

“The Visit”


Available January 14

“Now You See Me 2”

Available January 15

“The Young Pope” (Series Premiere)


Available January 21

“The Boss” (Extended Cut)
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (2017 premiere)

Available January 23

“Beware the Slenderman”


Available January 28

“The Nice Guys”

Available January 30

“Becoming Warren Buffett”

We all have them — habits we think are healthy because we heard them somewhere on the news or from a health-conscious friend. And no matter how much we hate them, we just keep doing them because we think they're good for us.

Take using BMI to tell whether you're a healthy weight. Is it really the best measure of fitness?

Or taking a daily multivitamin. Healthy habit or a little bit of nonsense?

The answers to these questions might surprise you.

SEE ALSO: Most vitamins are useless, but here are the ones you should take

DON'T MISS: One of the most popular ways of telling if you're a healthy weight is bogus — here's what you should do instead

Using a standing desk

A recent long-term study looking at data on nearly 4,000 US adults found no benefit in terms of overall risk of dying from standing as opposed to sitting.

In the short term, however, standing does burn more calories per minute; so if losing weight is all you're worried about, stand on!

Using toilet-seat liners

Viruses like HIV and herpes are fragile, meaning they don't survive very well outside a nice, warm human body. By the time you sit down on a public toilet seat — even one that was recently used by someone else — most harmful pathogens probably won't be able to infect you.

Plus, your skin is an effective block against any microbes. (Unless, of course, you have a cut or open wound there, which could allow the bacteria to get in.)

Eating only low-fat foods

According to recommendations from the USDA in the 1990s, millions of Americans seeking to lose weight opted for a low-fat, high-starch diet. They chose margarine over butter and "fat-free" instead of "regular," and they curbed their indulgence on rich, creamy foods. But it didn't work. 

An eight-year trial involving almost 50,000 women, roughly half of whom went on a low-fat diet, found that those on the low-fat plan didn't lower their risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or heart disease. Plus, they didn't lose much weight, if any. New recommendations show that healthy fats, like those from nuts, fish, and avocados, are actually good for you in moderation! So add them back into your diet if you haven't already.

Candles. Hugs. Warm blankets and a mug of hot chocolate while a thunderstorm rages outside. These are just some of the things that are hygge (pronounced "HOO-gah"), the Danish word for cozy.

The lifestyle buzzword has increased 285% in recent Pinterest searches, and is so big in Britain that the Collins Dictionary called it one of the top 10 words of 2016.

With a bunch of hygge-themed books about to hit the shelves and the hygge aesthetic dominating decor and home trends, you're bound to find some hygge in your future. Keep reading to see what hygge looks like.

Hygge (pronounced "HOO-gah") has no real English translation, but essentially describes the feeling you get when you're comfortable.

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Examples of things that are hygge are candles, snuggling under a blanket, and drinking hot coffee from a mug on a cool morning.

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When something is hygge, you say it's hyggelig ("HOO-gah-lee"): "That was a hyggelig evening."

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The INSIDER Summary:

• This year has been the Golden Age of the TV Sitcom.
• Ten writers voted on the best TV comedies of 2016. "Broad City" and "Silicon Valley" made the cut.

Throughout all the talent interviews we’ve done in the television worldover the last year, one common thread is that, whether it’s press-speak or not, networks are loosening their grips on the creative process. Out of the box is the starting point and niche is the new norm.

We’ve called this the Golden Age of the TV Sitcom. It’s not just sitcoms, though. It’s dark comedy, it’s thriller-mystery comedy, alt-comedy, web series, broadcast sitcoms (yes those still made the list!), faux talk shows, animated series, and parodies. TV’s investment in the diversity of thought and talent in the comedy world has been years in the making, but it’s really starting to flourish across the entire medium.

The evidence is in the polls. When it came time for the Den of Geek writers to crown the top comedies of 2016, we increased the size of our electorate (10 writers, up two from the previous year) and it resulted in 36 different shows receiving votes. That’s 13 more shows than our 2015 list and it speaks to the volume and quality out there right now. It also speaks to the competition. The top four comedies of 2016 were separated by one vote each. Voting matters! Get out and vote, people! 

The top three comedies of 2015 as voted by Den of Geek staff–Comedy Central’s Review and Nathan for You and Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty–all went on extended hiatus and sat out 2016. They’ll return in 2017 (Review, sadly, for the final time), but that means we have an entirely new crop taking the coveted Gold, Silver, and Bronze on our list. Here we go… 

Honorable Mentions: 

Baskets (FX), Love(Netflix), Horace and Pete, Difficult People(Hulu), Speechless(ABC), Great Minds with Dan Harmon (History), Check It Out! with Dr. SteveBrule(Adult Swim), The Good Place (NBC), Vice Principals(HBO), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend(The CW), The Last Man on Earth(Fox), Younger(TVLand), People of Earth(TBS), Drunk History (Comedy Central), Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), Haters Back Off (Netflix), Bob’s Burgers (Fox), Fleabag(Amazon). 

Dishonorable Mention:

All Three Televised Presidential Debates 

16. The Mindy Project (Hulu)

From a drunken confession at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding to a romantic comedy expert Ob/Gyn, Mindy Lahiri is the perfect combination of comedy, charm, and a bit of ridiculousness (ok, a lot actually.) Mindy’s ability to always be herself adds a realness to an over-the-top, but hilarious, character. Her love for romantic comedies (similar to the real Mindy Kaling) such as You’ve Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally is often referenced whether blatantly or subtly and play a huge role in Mindy’s quest for love. She is always striving for that perfect “meet cute” and though it tends to put her in uncomfortable situations, they are memorable moments for audiences.

Every season has returning favorite characters and new cast members that bring a new element to Mindy’s journey. In season five, it’s clear there is no end for fresh plot lines. With new cast members Bryan Greenberg (Bessie, How to Make it in America) and Rebecca Rittenhouse, (Blood & Oil) Mindy and her support group (her co-workers) continue to fuel the heart of this show. Whether it’s the awkwardness or embarrassing moments, Morgan’s plentiful misunderstandings or Mindy’s unabashed trueness to be who she is—no matter how foolish she may seem—it will have you laughing on the floor. 

- Lindsay McGhee

15. Broad City (Comedy Central)

There is no series quite like Broad City. If one hundred years from now the human race is no more and the Tralfamadorians come and take over the planet and the only remnant of us is Broad City, that would totally suffice.

The Comedy Central hit stands in a pot-hazed girl-power category all its own and nothing can even top it’s feminism, hilarity, and progressive nature. Even heading into its fourth season, Broad City still has all the gusto and appeal it did when it first hit the Comedy Central lineup back in 2014. 

Co-creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer managed to make a third season that topped all the other seasons in ridiculousness while having their characters grow and deal with real-life situations like new relationships, rent money, and unrealized dreams culminating in a “soul-searching” trip to the motherland of Israel, which turns into a hunt for a tampon. We can’t say we’re surprised. 

Broad City is best at shining a bright neon light unto the fact that it is okay to be flawed and have no idea where your life is going. Abbi and Ilana make no apologies for who they are and are pioneering this “hot mess” culture and owning it. They are both strong women with strong personalities who aren’t afraid to speak up and be a little weird.  

- Daniella Bondar

14. Blunt Talk (Starz)

Starz’s Blunt Talk began its existence last year primarily showcasing a surreal gimmick with the reverential Patrick Stewart playing a narcissistic, emotionally unstable, capricious, iniquitous television journalist Walter Blunt. Those weekly hijinks, complemented by Blunt’s eccentric show staff, worked out well enough for the inaugural season. Yet, with the initial shock of seeing Stewart cursing, drinking and picking up a transsexual prostitute settled, the second season had its work cut out.

Fortunately, Blunt Talk has evolved effectively in this year’s sophomore outing. While the whimsies of Stewart’s Walter Blunt remain the running gag, the supporting cast have stepped further into the limelight, building on the show’s delightfully demented dynamic. The exploits of Walter’s ludicrously devoted manservant Harry Chandler (Adrian Scarborough) shine the brightest. Additionally, staff member Shelly Tinkle (Mary Holland) has become one of the most curious characters on television. While quixotically pursing over-extended ambitions to host Walter’s show, Shelly's also fielding unrequited romantic feelings for co-worker Celia (Dolly Wells), who’s dating co-worker Jim (Timm Sharp), regularly making feeble machinations to induce their breakup.

Blunt Talk does have its share of warts and there are still occasional moments when it seems to be trying too hard to push the characters’ idiosyncrasies. However, the show has managed to clear a rather sizable second season hurdle, becoming much more than its initial premise. I, for one, am keeping my fingers crossed for a renewal.

- Joseph Baxter

It's that time of year — the time to look back and reflect on the roller coaster of 2016. But we're here to peer back into a place known for celebrating the oddities of the internet. We're talking, of course, about Imgur. 

Imgur is self-described as "the internet's super entertaining image sharing community site and app used by 150 million people monthly around the world." We asked Imgur to round up some of the best images and GIFs that made the people think "WTF?!" this year, because who doesn't need a little more weird in their 2016?

Let's dive into the weirdness.

With over 2.5 million views on Imgur, this GIF submitted with the simple title of "seals with guns" speaks for itself.

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This is a WTF album worth scrolling through (if you dare). Deep sea creatures are more horrifying than you'd imagine.

The images are taken from a Russian deep-sea fisherman who has been posting his finds on Twitter.

Okay here's where things get a little more gross. This Imgurian posted photos of medical scans of a woman's body allegedly occupied by hundreds of worms.

As President Barack Obama reflects on his time in office, he has a way of acknowledging his waning time in the position: A joke about his graying hair.

"Right now, we are waging war under authorities provided by Congress over 15 years ago — 15 years ago," he said during a speech reflecting on his administration's counterterrorism strategy.

"I had no gray hair 15 years ago."

Indeed, despite his close-cut hairstyle, it’s impossible not to notice the trademark presidential graying, as the president’s short black hair has become more of a salt-and-pepper color.

And though some dermatologists maintain that Obama is the latest victim of the expedited presidential aging process, appearing to age faster due to the stress of the office, others say that it’s more attributable to natural aging than stress.

Other studies, including a comprehensive analysis of elections dating back to the 1700s, have found that heading a nation can take years off a leader's life. That analysis, from the Harvard Medical School, found that elected heads of government, on average, have lives almost three years shorter than the candidates they defeat.

Here’s how the country's past presidents have looked near the beginnings and ends of their respective terms.

SEE ALSO: POWER RANKINGS: Here's who has the best chance at being the next US president

Obama takes the oath of office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.

Obama speaks during his year-end 2016 news conference at the White House.

Former President George W. Bush makes a phone call shortly after the 2000 election.

A behind-the-scenes look at "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" was released by Lucasfilm earlier this year at the annual "Star Wars Celebration" event. It showed new scenes and the camera work that went in to creating some of the most incredible shots from the upcoming film that hits theaters on December 16.

In the video, actress Felicity Jones who plays Jyn Erso explained what it was like to film, "Your heart's beating and you're actually in this situation [...] You get something very genuine that you couldn't have planned."

The film tells the story of a group of rebels on a mission to steal plans for the Empire's Death Star. Here are some shots from filming without any special effects added in.

Nina Godlewski contributed to an earlier version of this post.

In this shot featuring Scarif Stormtroopers, the blue screen is visible in the background.

The rain blowing off of Jones in this shot is being forced back thanks to a burst of air, not special effects.

RAW Embed

This large structure looks like it could be part of a ship in the new film, suspended near a screen.

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As a kid who grew up with futuristic video games, reruns of "The Jetsons" on TV Land, and an overactive imagination, I'm more than ready for the "house of the future."

But with so many smart-home products on the market, it's hard to separate the good ones from those that aren't quite ready for primetime.

I've used all the products on this list, except for the last one, and all of them have made my apartment smarter, and my life easier.

SEE ALSO: 20 must-have tech accessories under $20

DON'T MISS: 9 tech gadgets that’ll make your everyday life easier

Amazon Echo

Every smart home needs a hub. Whether you opt to use Apple's HomeKit and Siri, Samsung's SmartThings and an app, or the Amazon's Echo and Alexa.

After going back and forth for almost a year about whether I was comfortable having an "always listening" device in my apartment, I decided to take the plunge. It's been great. In addition to being able to ask the Echo a whole bunch of questions about the news or weather, it gives you the ability to interact with smart-home products using only your voice. It's amazing.

Voice operation removes a layer of friction between me and my smart-home devices that I didn't know would be there. It's so much more natural and fluid than fumbling through an app. All of the devices on this list are Echo-compatible, and honestly, I wouldn't buy a smart-home product if it wasn't.

Amazon Echo, $179.99, available at Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs

My first post-Echo purchase was Hue bulbs. At first, they seem absolutely unnecessary, and while they're a definite luxury, they're extremely useful. My apartment only has one source of light — a ceiling lamp. It got annoying to get up and cross the room to flip the light switch before going to sleep each night. Instead, I say, "Alexa, turn off my bedroom lights," and boom, they're off.

I can also set the bulbs to rotate between different colors, which is nothing more than a fun party trick, but hey, it's nice to have fun once in a while! These bulbs were the smart-home device I was looking forward to trying the most, and they haven't disappointed.

Philips Hue Starter Kit [2nd generation], $169.77, available at Amazon

A Philips Hue Lightstrip

In the same family as the Hue Bulbs, the Hue Lightstrip is a very thin, but very bright light strip. Once you have one set of Hue devices set up, it's dangerously simple to add more. This light strip lives in my kitchen, underneath a set of cabinets. Having these on all night (and able to be turned off with a single voice cue) has saved me a bunch of stubbed toes during nighttime trips to my bathroom.

Like Hue's bulbs, the power strip can be dimmed, which is great because I need these to be a room-filling nightlight, not a beacon.

Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus,$89.99, available at Amazon

Hey America, you forgot a huge pile of junk in the wilderness.

Abandoned by the US Air Force in 1947, Bluie East Two is one of several World War II and Cold War installations left to crumble in Greenland after the military lost interest in maintaining them. (Another, from the Army's secret "Project Iceworm,"could soon leak toxic nuclear waste into the environment.) 

"Bluie" was military code for Greenland during the war with Germany. Bluie East Two was one of three aircraft bases maintained on the Danish territory in North America as part of the US Atlantic defense scheme of the period.

In two trips in the summers of 2014 and 2015, landscape photographer Ken Bower traveled to Bluie East Two to shoot the hulks of rusted equipment, aviation-fuel barrels, and collapsed buildings still strewn across the earth at the lip of great fjord. He said he hopes his images bring attention to the problem, along with a petition to clean up the site he's circulated in hopes of catching the White House's attention.

Here is what he saw.

SEE ALSO: The National Park Service just turned 100. We visited one of its filthiest, forgotten sites.

AND: Here's a cautionary tale about why we shouldn't colonize any Earth-like neighboring planets

"Going down the fjord on a sunny day," he said, "if the sun is hitting these barrels it kind of looks like flowers from a distance."

That's why the Inuit people who live in the area call the rusted remains "American Flowers."

"From the beach there's a little hill that goes up, probably at least 100 feet or so, so that you'll see lines of barrels," Bower said.

It’s no secret that skyrocketing home prices are turning once livable cities into playgrounds for the rich. As the housing market recovers from the devastation of the 2008 economic collapse, median home prices are rising while many American’s wages are stagnating.

However, those who have always dreamed of owning a home need not fret. Outside the rapidly growing megacities in America, there are a number of towns where opportunities are high and housing prices are well below $250,000. Many smaller cities such as Chattanooga, Tennessee are flush with high-tech industries, cultural events, and breathtaking scenery that rivals anything found in one of the country’s overpriced metro areas.

Here are 30 cities, ranging from burgeoning municipalities to established boomtowns, where homeowners can settle down without collapsing into debt.

SEE ALSO: The 15 US cities where residents have the healthiest finances

DON'T MISS: Here's the salary you have to earn to buy a home in 19 major US cities

1. Albany, New York

New York’s capital is a city often overshadowed by the immensity of New York City. However, Albany offers the one thing New York City can’t — affordable home prices. The median home price in Albany hovers around $195,000, and has even gone down 9.4% from 2006 prices. In addition to the welcoming prices, Albany’s citizens are treated to a diversified job industry dominated by tech sectors, well-paying government jobs, and the healthcare industry.

2. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Nestled along the mighty Rio Grande river, Albuquerque, New Mexico has remained an ideal place for modest home prices and candidates seeking well-paying careers. The booming city’s median home prices sits at $187,000. Tech industries have flocked to the Southwestern metropolis, forming the New Mexico Technology Corridor. More conventional government jobs are also available, bolstered by a rich set of universities ranging from the University of New Mexico to National American University.

3. Atlanta, Georgia

Appropriately known as the “Jewel of the Southeast,” Atlanta, Georgia is easily the best place to do business south of the Mason-Dixon line. Global companies including Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting, UPS, and more call Atlanta home. In addition, recent infrastructure improvements such as the Beltline and Ponce City Market have made Atlanta a more attractive city for prospective home buyers. Where most cities with a high standard of living demand high incomes, Atlanta’s median home price is a scant $183,000.

The American Dream has transformed over time.

To find out what it means to Americans today, personal-budgeting company You Need A Budget and market-research company OnePoll surveyed the financial aspirations of 2,000 Americans.

The result is a list of 30-plus signs that indicate achievement of the modern American Dream, ranging from paying for a Netflix account to shopping at Whole Foods to owning a second home.

Below, find 16 signs from the survey that you've "made it." And remember: Just like the Dream has evolved over time, it also varies from person to person. Whether or not you've truly "made it" isn't about your car or travel schedule. It's completely up to you.

SEE ALSO: The 25 most expensive ZIP codes in America

DON'T MISS: How much money you need to save each day to become a millionaire by age 65

You own property valued between $1 million and $2 million.

Homeownership in the US fell to a multi-decade low in July 2016. Less than 63% of Americans owned a home, potentially in part due to millennials prioritizing paying significant loans for their education over buying property.

Among those who do own a home, many don't know how its value changes over time, according to a 2015 Zillow survey. If seven-figure property signifies the American Dream to you, make sure you know what your home is worth (and what could trash its value).

You have $7,425 in your checking account.

Surveyed Americans said maintaining $7,425 in their checking account was a sign of success.

According to certified financial planner Sophia Bera, the right amount to keep in your checking really depends on how much you make.

"A good rule of thumb is to keep at least one month of net pay in your checking at all times. Look for a checking account with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Even better, find an account that reimburses ATM fees from other banks," Bera wrote on Business Insider, adding that it's smart to keep your checking and savings at different banks to avoid the temptation to dip into one or the other.

You go on at least two annual trips abroad.

While Americans collectively leave hundreds of millions of vacation days on the table every year, survey participants agreed that embarking on at least two trips abroad annually is a sign of achieving the American Dream.

And increasingly, they want those vacations to have value.

An American Express Travel survey of US adults earning $100,000 or more revealed that 81% of Americans are seeking deeper and more personalized experiences abroad, while 73% "said they would be willing to exceed their budget to have a unique local experience when they travel, and more than half said they would splurge to enjoy the cuisine of a particular destination."