There are different kinds of exceptional when it comes to Twitter, from the perfectly crafted zingers of Tim Siedell to Arjun Basu’s short stories that says way more than 140 characters should be able to say. The comedians, actors, musicians and others on this list have mastered the art of brevity. The fake accounts are the rare ones who manage to go deeper than the simple joke of their existence. Some, like TweenHobo and NotTildaSwinton have become characters in their own right. And HumbleBrag has identified one of the medium’s most satire-worthy trends (and turned it into a book deal). Here are our 75 favorite Twitter Accounts of 2012.
25. Conan O’Brien – @conanobrien Twitter Bio: The voice of the people. Sorry, people. Followers: 7.3 million Best Recent Tweet: Me loudly singing “Oklahoma!” is just as accurate as a Breathalyzer. Runner-Up: In order to justify eating veal, I just pretend the calf was funnier than me.
24. Ken Jennings – @KenJennings Twitter Bio: Ken Jennings is the author of the new book Because I Said So! Your grandma loves/hates him because he was on Jeopardy! for a long time. Followers: 103k Best Recent Tweet: what if Eeyore recorded an album but everyone was all “is this the new Magnetic Fields?” & he got bummed & hanged himself w/ his own tail Runner-Up: Rationally, I now understand that my parents were always Santa, but I still don’t get how they made it to all those houses in one night.
23. Jon Wurster – @JonWurster Twitter Bio: It’s nice to be nice to the nice. Followers: 29k Best Recent Tweet: Can anyone confirm this thing I just heard about Instagram selling our photos to Obama so he can pick out who goes before the death panels? Runner-Up: If Vince Lombardi was alive now & saw how many players have dreadlocks I am positive he’d say, “Is this the NFL or a Steel Pulse concert?”
22. B.J. Novak – @bjnovak Twitter Bio: One time Larry Davidwas seated at a table behind me at a restaurant Followers: 347k Best Recent Tweet: I am working on a book of advice aimed at Steve Harvey. Runner-Up: do you think the pope is super proud of father john misty
21. Fake AP Stylebook – @fakeapstylebook Twitter Bio: Style tips for proper writing. contact: fakeapstylebook at gmail dot com. No submissions, please. All material copyright The Bureau Chiefs, LLC. Followers: 303k Best Recent Tweet: If you wrote a column making a hilariously incorrect election prediction, an apology or resignat—ha ha just kidding, it’s cool. Runner-Up: Do not bracket nonrestrictive phrases with commas. Nonrestrictive phrases yearn to be free and feel the wind in their hair.
20. Sammy Rhodes – @prodigalsam Editor’s Note: Since this article appeared, it’s been revealed that many of Sammy Rhodes’ tweets appeared on other twitter accounts first.
19. Alec Sulkin – @thesulk Twitter Bio: Breaker of Swift Mustache Hairs Followers: 492k Best Recent Tweet: I can tweet puns if I want because I’m a groan man. Runner-Up: Remember, to thine own self be true. To everyone else, be an astronaut.
18. Brendan O’Hare – @brendohare Twitter Bio: I just started college and it’s whatever and I like comedy things and I am the lead singer of the music band N*Sync. Followers: 5k Best Recent Tweet: “We’ve got too many Irons in the fire.” – Jeremy Irons, assessing a family reunion gone horribly wrong Runner-Up: If you think college is the best 4 years of your life then can you help me catch the person who just threw up all in front of my door
17. Jen Statsky – @jenstatsky Twitter Bio: Writer, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Lead singer, Train. Followers: 41k Best Recent Tweet: Woman across from me will NOT shut up about her where she works. Ugh, I hate job interviews. Runner-Up: “Hey, pass me that flesh colored band-aid.” – Robot asking for duct tape
16. Alex Baze – @bazecraze Twitter Bio: Cynical shell. Soft, chewy center. Followers: 55k Best Recent Tweet: I like to think my father is looking down from heaven and smiling, but he’s actually at an Indian casino with his new wife. Runner-Up: Guns don’t avoid critical thinking by leaning on tired aphorisms. People do.
15. John Roderick – @johnroderick Twitter Bio: Singer of The Long Winters. Followers: 22k Best Recent Tweet: I had to go deep into the farthest recesses of Uniqlo, through canyons of pink jeans with 29” waists, to find the cavern of lost dad-khakis. Runner-Up: Pot is legal in Washington now. Middle-aged Seattle bohemians need to find a new inconsequential law to break to stay edgy.
14. Mike Birbiglia – @birbigs Twitter Bio: History always retweets itself. Followers: 208k Best Recent Tweet: The Rolling Stones are finally hanging up their skin. Runner-Up: Great art makes you feel less alone. Twitter’s totally like, “you’re alone, bro.”
13. The Mountain Goats – @mountain_goats Twitter Bio: born howling Followers: 57k Best Recent Tweet: I guess the oft-cited remark of Lady Astor is really true: the bassist for this one Italian black metal band is completely sick Runner-Up: everybody keeps talking about new industry models so I hid 8 new songs on a chip in Big Mouth Billy Basses around the country. happy hunting
12. Jim Gaffigan – @jimgaffigan Twitter Bio: Husband to hot wife, father of 5, comedian, actor, writer, former sleeper Dad is Fat available for pre order now Followers: 1.4 million Best Recent Tweet: Boy, babies sure don’t like wasabi. Runner-Up: Why do the people that work in coffee shops always seem like the ones that need caffeine?
11. Guy Endore-Kaiser – @GuyEndoreKaiser Twitter Bio: Wilfred, FX Followers: 53k Best Recent Tweet: Are you spectacularly unfunny? But have heard the way funny people talk? Ever considered a career in morning radio? Runner-Up: How come they can send a lifeless, unfeeling robot to Mars, but that lifeless, unfeeling robot can’t be @AnnCoulter?
9. Stephen Colbert – @StephenAtHome Twitter Bio: http://www.ColbertNation.com Followers: 2.8m Best Recent Tweet: I love Xmas decorations! I spray all my windows with fake frost, including my windshield. Apologies to everyone I hit on my way 2 work. Runner-Up: Trapped Andy Serkisin a damp cave under my studio. He seems happy. In 140 characters: Each guest on his show gets an almost-always-hilarious introductory joke.
8. Sixth Form Poet – @sixthformpoet Twitter Bio: Please buy my book, I owe people money. Followers: 61k Best Recent Tweet: “I just want sex, no strings attached.” – Deluded puppet Runner-Up: When people cry for help, it’s normally just a cry for help. In 140 characters: Bone-dry humor from across the Pond.
7. Kelly Oxford – @kellyoxford Twitter Bio: Writer. Designed to make you feel like everything is going well. I am your Perestroika. Followers: 426k Best Recent Tweet: When the kids are being too loud I tell them their faces went through my vagina and then they shut up and run away. Runner-Up: Son yelled, “This Hobo has a cell phone? Who’s he talking to?!” beside a hobo on a cell phone, so I don’t have to see anything else today. In 140 characters: An early rise to fame on Twitter thanks to personal, hilarious stories from everyday life.
6. Michael Ian Black – @michaelianblack Twitter Bio: I make stuff, actually I make up stuff, stories mostly, collaborations of thoughts, dreams, and actions. Thats me. Followers: 1.8 million Best Recent Tweet: One man thought “Let’s name the band Spandau Ballet” and four other men agreed. Runner-Up: Is the end of the world the same time for both coasts? In 140 characters: A glimpse into the brain of one of our most creative funnymen.
5. Modern Seinfeld – @seinfeldtoday Twitter Bio: What if Seinfeldwas still on the air? (Tweets by @BuzzFeedJack and @JoshGondelman.) Followers: 213k Best Recent Tweet: George is caught in his underwear on Google Street View. Jerry is convinced that Dr. Zizmor is a fraud. Elaine is accused of dog racism. Runner-Up: George’s parents claim their house was destroyed by “Sandy,” move in with George. He discovers the house is fine. Sandy is a loud neighbor. In 140 characters: Plotlines for a modern-day Seinfeld.
4. Tim Siedell – @badbanana Twitter Bio: Sometimes I just want to give it all up and become a handsome billionaire. Followers: 634k Best Recent Tweet: I’ll wait for the American version of The Hobbit starring John Krasinski. Runner-Up: The world’s oldest person has died. As is often the case, I assume she lost a knife fight with the second oldest person. In 140 characters: Highest batting average of anyone trying to be funny in their tweets.
3. Patton Oswalt – @pattonoswalt Twitter Bio: Mr. Oswalt is a former wedding deejay from Northern Virginia. Followers: 1.1 million Best Recent Tweet: Wait, which one of The Eagles flew off with a baby? Don Henley, right? I mean, that’s CLASSIC Henley right there. Runner-Up: “Well, this was a gimme.” — whoever has to title the porn version of PACIFIC RIM
In 140 characters: Actor, comedian, Twitter genius.
2. Jenny Johnson – @JennyJohnsonHi5 Twitter Bio: Writer, wife, asshole and owner of 2 dogs. http://www.witstream.com/#jenny_johnson Follow me on Instagram: jennyjohnsonhi5 Followers: 366k Best Recent Tweet: I thought by the time I was a successful 34-year old adult, I’d be tired of putting people’s yard reindeers in sex positions. I was wrong. Runner-Up: Most people don’t realize this, but you can eat organic, gluten-free food without telling everyone around you. In 140 characters: Unfiltered witticisms from Chris Brown’s nemesis.
1. Rob Delaney – @robdelaney Twitter Bio: Comedian, Writer, 6’3 217 lbs. Get ROB DELANEYLIVE at the BOWERY BALLROOM at http://itun.es/us/rHlqI Followers: 694k Best Recent Tweet: Secret Santa one time my cousin Tim & I touched penis heads. (How does Secret Santa work?)m Runner-Up: Type 2 diabetes. RT @McDonalds What is the perfect # of McNuggets – 6, 10, 20 or unlimited? In 140 characters: If anyone is going to make you blush on Twitter, Rob Delaneyis trying his best to be that guy. There is no “too far.”
25. Conan O’Brien – @conanobrien
24. Ken Jennings – @KenJennings
23. Jon Wurster – @JonWurster
22. B.J. Novak – @bjnovak
21. Fake AP Stylebook – @fakeapstylebook
20. Sammy Rhodes – @prodigalsam
19. Alec Sulkin – @thesulk
18. Brendan O’Hare – @brendohare
17. Jen Statsky – @jenstatsky
16. Alex Baze – @bazecraze
15. John Roderick – 
13. The Mountain Goats – 
11. Guy Endore-Kaiser – 
10. Tween Hobo – 
9. Stephen Colbert – 
8. Sixth Form Poet – 
7. Kelly Oxford – 
6. Michael Ian Black – 
5. Modern Seinfeld – 
4. Tim Siedell – 
3. Patton Oswalt – 
2. Jenny Johnson – 