Teen Choice Awards 2011 | Best & worst

Host Kaley Cuoco may be just 25, but she already seems a little too old for the crowd as she attempted to work the room. Teens more interested in waving their arms to see themselves on TV competed with Cuoco, who made awkward banter with audience members.   (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Has the pressure of replacing Charlie Sheen in “Two and a Half Men” already broken Ashton Kutcher? The star showed up to collect the award for choice movie actor, romantic comedy all Johnny Depp-ed out with a straw hat, scruffy beard and sunglasses. During his rambling speech, he yelled at the teens in the crowd to stop screaming, gave them wise advice: “Don’t ever charge anything on a credit card if you don’t already have the money in the bank to pay for it.” He then closed out with a lengthy and warbling rendition of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” before wandering off stage.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

By contrast, choice comedian Ellen DeGeneres’ acceptance speech was short, funny and even managed to be touching when she said, “When I was a teen, I was not a teen’s choice. So all you teens out there, it’s never too late.” She then offered to sing the lyrics of “Stairway to Heaven.” Luckily, unlike Mr. Kutcher, she did not follow through on her offer.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Hey, kids, the United States just got its credit rating downgraded this weekend after a blistering political debate in Washington, D.C. But have no fear: If you choose to sit around watching Teen Choice Awards on a summer evening instead of reading news. Kaley Cuoco grabbed an audience member to prove teenagers are smart and asked him what the debt ceiling was. This “typical teen” proceeded to give a knowledgeable (and no doubt pre-rehearsed answer). It may be quickly forgotten in the conga-line of plug-happy stars, but at least the Teen Choice Awards aren’t ignoring reality completely.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

While picking up her Ultimate Choice Award, country singer Taylor Swift delivered her typical awards show mixture of disbelief and sincere joy. She attempted to speak to today’s youth by saying: “It’s been a long time since I was a teenager. Two years.” No, she wasn’t being funny.   (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

“Bad Teacher” star Cameron Diaz took her stage time to quite rightly point out that the film she was winning for was rated R (the same as fellow Teen Choice winner Ed Helms in “The Hangover Part II”) and thank the parents who no-doubt pre-screened her film before allowing their teens to see it. Her heart and mind are in the right place, but she has obviously never been the parent of a teenager.   (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

Somewhere, an underpaid and overworked awards show writer thought putting “Chuck” star Zachary Levi and Kaley Cuoco on stage with a pingpong table and instructing them to adlib for a few minutes would be comedy gold and an excuse for him to leave work early to finally see a bit of his family. That writer thought wrong.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Fox is not missing any opportunities to promote “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.” Not only is it packing the commercial segments with ads for the show, but it gave a variety of TV awards to the cast of “Glee” and had them promote a special 3D segment (which wasn’t 3D for the home viewer).   (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Justin Bieber picked up an award for Choice Male Artist. He told the audience that three years ago, he was just a kid watching the Teen Choice Awards at home in Canada. Time really does fly, doesn’t it?   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

It’s hard to have a serious or heart-felt moment on a stage before hundreds of constantly screaming teens, but Sean Kingston just managed to pull it off with his first network TV appearance after his near-fatal jet-skiing accident. For a just a few moments, the crowd quieted as Kingston thanked everyone. Nice moments can happen when you least expect them.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Surest sign that vampires have reached a saturation point in pop culture? The Teen Choice Awards have a category dedicated only to vampires. This year’s winner was Robert Pattinson. Of course.  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Saturation points aside, the choice vampire category spun the pop culture phenomenon into philanthropy. The award was presented by “Hart of Dixie” actress Rachel Bilson and singer Joe Jonas and its existence benefited the Cancer Bites campaign and those suffering from cancer of the blood.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Worst: Ed Helms’ nationally televised sweat spots.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez keep their hands to themselves! The teeny-bopper couple cut back on the peppy PDA presentation they gave at the Billboard Music Awards and settled for a sweet and simple hug when Bieber accepted one of his awards. As for Gomez‘s performance, the superhero cape she wore as a skirt was a welcome distraction from her wispy performance.   (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” nabbed 17 awards at the show with a movie montage taking the magically un-hazed through the years of the films’ wizarding world. “Avatar” star Zoe Saldana griped about the franchise beating “Avatar” as she presented the evening’s final award with “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth to Tom Felton and Rupert Grint.

The British actors bumbled through their acceptance speech, which was salvaged only when the pair introduced Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe (via satellite!). Radcliffe won the award for choice male summer movie star and declared the franchise and “an absolute dream.”   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)