Gallery: Kittehs, Chatbots, Kim Jong-Il: The Best Viral Videos of 2011
01cat-mom-hugs-baby-kitten
They come out of nowhere. They're typically bizarre. They more often than not include cats. And every year, we gather around them like the first campfire that ever was. We're talking, of course, about viral videos. Really, they're hard not to love. They're quick bursts of audiovisual joy that brighten our days just when we need them to. In essence, they are magic — internet magic. Wired.com asked the fine folks at [I Can Has Cheezburger?](http://icanhascheezburger.com/) to help us compile a list of the best/funniest/goofiest viral videos of 2011. CEO/big cheese Ben Huh had something to say about all of them, too. (In true internet-geek fashion, all but one of his comments came in under 140 characters.) So, without further ado, may we present the Best Viral Videos of 2011. __Above:__ 'Cat mom hugs baby kitten' -------------------------- The title pretty much says it all. A kitten has a nightmare and starts shaking. Mama cat consoles the wee one in a very sweet, very sleepy hug. __Ben Huh sez:__ "And after viewing this video, the internet's heart did grow three sizes bigger."
02ai-vs-ai-two-chatbots-talking-to-each-other
'A.I. vs. A.I. Two chatbots talking to each other' -------------------------------------------------- Probably the funniest thing ever to come out of the [Cornell Creative Machines Lab](http://creativemachines.cornell.edu/AI-vs-AI), this chatbot-to-chatbot conversation starts politely and then dissolves into a rather interesting argument about which bot believes in a higher power and which bot is a unicorn. Strangely enough, it ends up sounding like a conversation on 4chan. __Ben Huh sez:__ "What happens when you let two Cleverbots talk to each other? Awesomeness."
Flow dynamics of black fly filter feeding; © Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta03choosing-your-landing-spot-fail
'Choosing your landing spot FAIL' --------------------------------- Pro tip: Before you go flipping yourself off a cliff, check out what's below you. Remember the family jewels, son. __Ben Huh sez:__ "The winner of the next Darwin Award ..."
04eharmony-bio-video
'eHarmony Video Bio' -------------------- Most viral videos about cats actually *show* cats, but this ([probably staged](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgkc5LLEZao)) clip just features one lady, "Debbie," discussing in teary detail how much she fancies felines. It's sweet, until it gets creepy. __Ben Huh sez:__ "This woman's (probably fake) eHarmony dating video makes it easy to understand how 'lonely crazy cat ladies' become 'lonely crazy cat ladies.'"
05north-korea-party-rock-anthem-ft-kim-jong-il
'North Korea Party Rock Anthem ft. Kim Jong Il' ----------------------------------------------- Military images from North Korea. Video of Kim Jong-il, the country's "Dear Leader" (who was [reported dead this week](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREA_KIM_JONG_IL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-18-22-08-46)). LMFAO's "[Party Rock Anthem](http://www.billboard.com/news/lmfao-s-party-rock-anthem-named-billboard-1005343552.story)." All in one place. These are the things YouTube was made for. __Ben Huh sez:__ \[Echoing the video's description on YouTube.\] "Ain’t no party like a Pyongyang party, cuz a Pyongyang party is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY."
06nyan-cat
'Nyan Cat' ---------- [Nyan Cat](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/nyan-cat-pop-tart-cat), which started out as an 8-bit animation, sprang up everywhere after the original video hit the web. It got mashed up, covered by guitar players and turned into a smooth-jazz jam (Huh's personal favorite version). But the original remains timeless. __Ben Huh sez:__ \[Referring to the ["Smooth Jazz Cover"](http://youtu.be/AaEmCFiNqP0)\] "A smart soundtrack to your next cocktail party."
07super-bass-by-sophia-grace-brownlee
'Super Bass By Sophia Grace Brownlee' ------------------------------------- Mini-princess Sophia Grace Brownlee's version of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" took her all the way [to *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*](http://youtu.be/f9573kGBtuE), where she and her sidekick Rosie actually got to sing the song with Minaj herself (awww). Minaj called her a "superstar." Now everyone knows who the eff she is. __Ben Huh sez:__ "Toddlers and Tiaras: Karaoke Edition."
08ultimate-dog-tease
'Ultimate Dog Tease' -------------------- Poor pooch. This dog could not have a more sad-looking face. Someone please throw this dog a bone. At least it's for [a good cause](http://talkinganimalmerch.com/). __Ben Huh sez:__ "We all shed a tear for the saddest dog in the world. Meanest prank ever."
09webcam-101-for-seniors
'Webcam 101 for Seniors....' ---------------------------- You know all those e-mails you send to your friends containing ill-advised Facebook posts from older relatives? This is what it looks like on the other side of those posts. Bet you wish you didn't know how much they talk about boobs. __Ben Huh sez:__ "They wouldn't have had so much trouble if they had bought a Mac."
10boot-leg-fireworks-gone-wrong
'Bootleg fireworks gone wrong' (NSFW) ------------------------------------- A pretty good example of "how good times go bad," it appears as though only a bush was harmed in the making of this video. It could've been so much worse. Luckily, the end result is just funny. __Ben Huh sez:__ "This July 4th brought to you by Michael Bay."
