LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Chances are in 2012, you were watching just as much reality TV (if not more!) as you were scripted small screen fun, and this year there was no shortage of drama, thrills, excitement and unexpected hits… “redneckognize” that reality TV rocked this year!

As AccessHollywood.com counts down The Top 12 Headlines Of 2012, we continue with 2012’s breakout reality TV star, TLC’s Honey Boo Boo, Alana Thompson, who took the country by storm. With her wild antics, even wilder (but loving) family and catchphrases, the pint-sized star racked up huge ratings and tons of Hollywood fans!

Access was graced with Honey Boo’s presence many times this year, including an impromptu song by the youngster about fellow reality TV star Kim Kardashian, HERE!

But it wasn’t always perfect when Alana visited. Check out Honey Boo Boo getting a little sour with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Access Hollywood Live, HERE!

2012 was also filled with plenty of “Bachelor”/“Bachelorette” love and loss of love.

After getting engaged, “The Bachelorette’s” Emily Maynard and Jef Holm called it quits in October, something Emily called “heartbreaking.”

ABC announced that the next “Bachelor” to search for love will be Sean Lowe, who was previously eliminated by Emily. And, will “Dancing with the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke be the next “Bachelorette”? See what she told Access about possibly handing out roses to would-be suitors, HERE!

“DWTS” crowned two mirrorball champs in 2012, first was Donald Driver and partner Peta Murgatroyd, followed by Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, who took home the trophy for the “All-Stars” edition. See what Melissa and Tony had to say to Access after their recent big win, HERE!

But let’s be honest, the “Dancing” is great, but we also love all the skin in the ballroom! Check out some the hottest shirtless men from 2012 and years past, HERE!

Reality TV singing competitions were also huge this year, both for their contestants and judge shakeups (“The Voice,” “American Idol” and “The X Factor” all mixed it up!)

“The Voice” Season 2 winner Jermaine Paul chatted with Access’ Billy Bush earlier this year about his big win and how his family has been his rock during his rocket to stardom. Also, “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips was with AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman the morning after his big win, where he revealed what was in store for his future.

MTV’s “Jersey Shore” will come to a close this year after six seasons — and countless “GTL” sessions. So, what do Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino think everyone will be doing 10 years from now? See what they told Access, HERE!

Plus, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi gave birth to her first child, baby Lorenzo, in August, which dramatically changed her life.

“I love Lorenzo so much – he’s perfect, he’s an amazing baby,” the 24-year-old reality mom told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover in October. “I used to care about like, partying, like what’s going on tonight, what am I going to wear, and now it’s like, what is Lorenzo going to wear to bed? He’s so cute, I just wanna cuddle with him.”

Also, scripted and reality TV blurred this year on “Survivor: Philippines,” with the addition of former “The Facts of Life” star Lisa Whelchel – who played Blair Warner on the ‘80s sitcom.

Find out why she told AccessHollywood.com that child/teen stardom didn’t help her when it came to navigating her way through the game, HERE!

Tomorrow, our countdown continues with the #9 headline of 2012, as we look back at the rise of “The Hunger Games.”

And check out our #11 headline — the 2012 Award Show Roundup — HERE!

-- Jesse Spero

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