Finals are over, Christmas is coming and I'm still reeling from our trivia championship last week. Here I am plowing through backlogged shows on our DVR (doing my "homework" as Mandy and I call it) and reflecting on a great year, pop culture wise. Sure the economy is in the tank, gas is expensive yada yada yada but did you see Jersey Shore!? In honor of our win last week (and in honor of being bored) I thought I would put together this list...
My Top 5 Pop Culture Moments of 2009.
5. Respectable critics return to At the Movies. With Siskel no longer with us and Ebert battling thyroid cancer and Roper moving on, the network made the worst decision possible and tried to make the show "hipper" (please note the ""). The result was nothing short of a televisual train wreck. The new format tanked faster than the Jay Leno Show and after a few months the producers were searching for new hosts. After the debacle that was the two Bens (Lyons/Mankiewicz), the twenty five year old franchise regained its credibility by hiring two highly respected critics. Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune has long been one of my favorite critics whose tastes seem to most mirror mine and I have always enjoyed reading A.O. Scott's reviews in the New York Times. I still hate the "See it, Rent it, Skip it" device and hope they move to a star, number or grade scale but for now I'm just enjoying a show that seems produced for me.
4. (Tie) Animated Movies and Documentaries. There has long been the misconception that animated movies are only for children. While plenty of animated movies certainly are aimed at youngsters there seems to be a new crop of films that appeal to everyone. Up, Coraline, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ponyo, 9, Monsters vs. Aliens are all films that seem to transcend the genre.
Now that movie making equipment and film distribution is readily accessible more documentarians are able to get their message/story out there. Whether it's released through the internet or in the movie theater documentaries are available now more than ever for us to watch and discuss. Food, Inc., The Yes Men Fix The World, Anvil! The Story of Anvil, The Cove, It Might Get Loud, The People Speak, 30 for 30, and Good Hair (still need to see it) all have me excited to learn.
3. HD. I know that I am late to the game on this one but last December Mandy and I were given an HDTV and we have never looked back. I still have yet to find something that I won't watch in HD (even Charlie Rose). Watching sports in HD is a revelation. When I have gone to games this year there is a part of me that thinks that being home on my couch is equally as exciting as being there to witness the game live. Aside from sports, Survivor in HD adds an element that could even convert the haters.
2. Podcasts. Another device that I was late to the game on. In January I downloaded my first podcast from iTunes and my world changed. There is a podcast for everyone and everything you can imagine. The amount of content available is very overwhelming and it is why I kept away for so long. But now I have at least five podcasts that I check in with every week.
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Seinfeld Reunion. I still can't believe that this happened. The genius to reunite the Seinfeld gang within the world of Curb is something that only the mind of Larry David could concoct. Any other reunion would have been incredibly cheesy and could tarnish the memory we all have of that 90s gem. The best part is the episode of Seinfeld they write doesn't seem to miss a beat. The best part of the season was when Jason Alexander leaves the show on account of Larry and the crew is left without a George. Larry decides that since the character is based on him anyway he would be the best to play the part. In a fantastic meta moment (pictured above) Larry dresses as George and tries to play the part that was based on him but made famous by Jason Alexander. He fails miserably Personally, as much as I love Curb I would have been happy to see this be the series finale. I just don't know how they can top this season.
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