Popular TV viewing?

Just reading about the year's best and worst TV programs of 2012.  I am proud to say (boast, boast!) that of all the 20 programs listed as the 'worst', I am not guilty of watching even one of them.  I am also proud that, of the 30 'best' programs, I have only watched 4 (four!) of them. Thirteen listed 'best' programs I have never even heard of! What were they? (Of course, I will not name them, but do wonder where they have been hiding).
And, now I am wondering WHY exactly I am proud of only enjoying FOUR of what have been named the 'best' on TV this year. Why am I proud of this fact? Is this a sign of being elitist or smug? Or am I saying that I don't watch much TV?...because that is simply not true. I do enjoy watching TV to relax at night time. But what I consider to be the 'best' -  and the shows that are my favourites -  never seem to be listed as "everyone's favourites".
Which leads me to the ratings.  How on earth can programmers claim to know how many people watched which program? It's ridiculous! I know NO-ONE who has ever been asked to record their viewing habits.  Come to think of it, if anyone I knew had even been asked to do such a thing, I think (hope!) they would have refused. I mean, if you think it would be a good ide to record every minute of your TV viewing time, I think it would be time to (as they say) "get a life". Perhaps that's why the big viewing numbers seem to be for the dumber shows. Only bogans or people who don't have anything better to do with their lives than record what they are watching on TV would surely be inclined to do that "job". Ooops, there I am being elitist, but.......?