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Number 1

I'm French, Chew on Me

Sophie the Giraffe, the European teething toy that's sweeping America.

Josh Levin | NUMBER 1 | Monday, March 7, 2011, at 6:49 AM ET

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The Hardest-Working Hand in Show Business

How ventriloquist Jeff Dunham became the country's most popular stand-up comedian.

Josh Levin | NUMBER 1 | Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at 4:58 PM ET

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Monster Truck

Is the Ford F-series' 27-year reign at the top of America's sales charts about to end?

Josh Levin | NUMBER 1 | Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, at 12:19 PM ET

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Gazing Into the Crystal Football

Why high-school recruiting gurus are better than NFL scouts at finding gridiron talent.

Josh Levin | NUMBER 1 | Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at 6:52 PM ET

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"AXXo You Are a God"

The secrets of BitTorrent's top movie pirate.

Josh Levin | NUMBER 1 | Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at 6:53 AM ET

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Is Classical Making a Comeback?

The hottest musical genre of 2006.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at 12:18 PM ET

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The Purloined Sirloin

Why is meat the most shoplifted item in America?

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at 6:28 AM ET

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The Other Trojan War

What's the best-selling condom in America?

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at 12:32 PM ET

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The Little Documentary That Could

What's IMAX's biggest hit? A schlocky NASA film.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at 1:31 PM ET

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Candy Licker

A best-selling book about cunnilingus and thugs.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, June 2, 2006, at 7:18 AM ET

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Big Guns

The wild success of a massive Smith & Wesson revolver.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, May 5, 2006, at 1:27 PM ET

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So Take Off All Your Clothes

The quick-change artists who dominate the NBA halftime circuit.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, March 24, 2006, at 12:43 PM ET

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I Don't!

Why people in Connecticut have cold feet.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at 4:49 PM ET

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The Shrimp Factor

Americans love it now more than ever. Why?

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at 5:51 AM ET

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The Shorts List

Amazon's selling stories and essays for 49 cents. Is anybody buying?

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at 11:26 AM ET

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El Chavo

The enduring popularity of a Mexican sitcom about a street kid who lives in a barrel.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, at 11:24 AM ET

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A Breath of Snow and Ashes

The romance novel at the top of the New York Times best-seller list.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at 4:36 PM ET

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The Sin City UMD

Why gamers are watching movies instead.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, at 6:31 PM ET

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Ranch Dressing

Why do Americans love it so much?

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, at 7:28 AM ET

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Top Dog

Why Americans love Labrador retrievers.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, July 8, 2005, at 5:04 PM ET

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Dora the Explorer

How Nickelodeon slew Barney.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, June 24, 2005, at 5:34 PM ET

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Judge Judy

The most-watched court show for 452 straight weeks.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Friday, May 27, 2005, at 12:03 PM ET

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Jeff Foxworthy

He's the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time. Really.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Thursday, April 21, 2005, at 3:25 PM ET

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J.K. Lasser

The dead accountant who wants to do your taxes.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 5:50 PM ET

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The Big Applebee's

The restaurant at the top of the casual-dining heap.

Brendan Koerner | NUMBER 1 | Thursday, March 31, 2005, at 2:16 PM ET

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Number 1

Sophie the Giraffe, the European teething toy that's sweeping America.

How ventriloquist Jeff Dunham became the country's most popular stand-up comedian.

Is the Ford F-series' 27-year reign at the top of America's sales charts about to end?

Why high-school recruiting gurus are better than NFL scouts at finding gridiron talent.

The secrets of BitTorrent's top movie pirate.

The hottest musical genre of 2006.

Why is meat the most shoplifted item in America?

What's the best-selling condom in America?

What's IMAX's biggest hit? A schlocky NASA film.

A best-selling book about cunnilingus and thugs.

The wild success of a massive Smith & Wesson revolver.

The quick-change artists who dominate the NBA halftime circuit.

Why people in Connecticut have cold feet.

Americans love it now more than ever. Why?

Amazon's selling stories and essays for 49 cents. Is anybody buying?

The enduring popularity of a Mexican sitcom about a street kid who lives in a barrel.

The romance novel at the top of the New York Times best-seller list.

Why gamers are watching movies instead.

Why do Americans love it so much?

Why Americans love Labrador retrievers.

How Nickelodeon slew Barney.

The most-watched court show for 452 straight weeks.

He's the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time. Really.

The dead accountant who wants to do your taxes.

The restaurant at the top of the casual-dining heap.

From The Root & Foreign Policy