Yes, it was a pretty awful year news-wise. Ebola. ISIS. Boko Haram. Putin. Kim Jong Un. Syria. Missing Planes. Israel-Palestine. The list goes on. But, in the escapist realm of popular culture, there were several developments that gave us reason to rejoice. Here are the 14 things we were grateful for in 2014.
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It’s very strange, this idea of viewing a cultural icon through a different lens; all the things we cherished about said person can come off as entirely disconcerting. This goes doubly so for the crazy sweater-wearing, puddin’ pop-lovin’ Cosby. America’s beloved uncle was actually their creepy one. There may be a very, very small chance that this is one giant conspiracy, but so many women have come forward with similar-sounding stories of sexual assault at the hands of Cosby (a pill, unwelcome fondling/sexual advances, fuzzy memories), that it’s almost impossible to believe. But we should also find solace in the fact that, after years of running rampant, the ex-sitcom star was finally exposed for being the scumbag that he is—and his dozens of alleged victims were finally given some peace of mind.
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We lost so, so many pop culture icons this past year that there’s too many to name. But here are a few: Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lauren Bacall, Joan Rivers, Mike Nichols, Harold Ramis, Joe Cocker, James Garner, Shirley Temple, Maya Angelou, the list goes on. But instead of mourning the loss of these beloved legends of stage, screen, and the written word, we should be grateful for all the wonderful memories they gave us; that we were able to be around and witness the greatness of The Graduate or the sultry “look” or the poignant prose of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
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The most surreal pop culture news story of 2014: A hacking group dubbed “Guardians of Peace” penetrates Sony’s servers as apparent payback for the Seth Rogen and James Franco-starring Kim Jong Un assassination comedy The Interview, leaks sensitive company information online, threatens theaters screening the film, the movie gets yanked, and the U.S. government turns around and blames North Korea for the hack—even though it’s looking more and more like an inside job by the day. But really, we should be a little bit proud that we live in a country where a cinematic satire about two idiots assassinating a ruthless (current) dictator could even get made.
Sony Pictures
Praise be to Legolas for smacking that lil’ shit Justin Bieber upside the head in Ibiza for creeping on his ex-wife (and mother of his child), Miranda Kerr. I never thought I’d congratulate the guy who needed synthetic hair glued to his chest because he couldn’t grow it himself in Kingdom of Heaven, but seriously, bravo. We all want to, and you did it.
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Yes, they are cultural caricatures of the first order. But they’re ridiculousness—and ability to entertain—knows no bounds. Whether it’s West ranting at the fashion industry, their silly Annie Liebovitz wedding photo that West said took 4 days for him to retouch, or Kardashian’s absolutely mental ass-bearing Paper magazine cover bearing the hashtag #BreakTheInternet, it’s been a fun ride. Can’t wait to see what insanity y’all produce in 2015.
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Viral videos are usually stupid, and pointless—like that kid hopped up on meds coming back from the dentist, or (insert parody here). But rarely do they actually have an impact. And the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge allowed us to see our favorite celebrities (and friends) douse themselves with freezing cold water, and in the process, raise over $100 million for ALS research. Some good, harmless, and very meaningful fun.
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Jennifer Lawrence really is the next Meryl Streep. Or the first Jennifer Lawrence. Either way, she’s something else. The 24-year-old Oscar winner turned in a pair of impressive performances in a couple of big blockbusters, X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, went through a break-up, and became the face of “The Fappening”—the widespread hacking of celebs’ nude photos. But Lawrence took the hit in stride, unleashed a fiery response, and emerged even stronger and more likable than she was before. This gal has balls of steel.
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He plagiarized comics, showed up at the Berlin Film Festival with a bag over his head, held a performance art exhibition where he silently wept in a room with fellow Angelenos (also with a bag over his head), got kicked out of a performance of Broadway’s Cabaret for chain-smoking and acting a fool, and conducted a one-hour interview in complete silence. He also turned in a pair of delightfully weird performances in Nymphomaniac and Fury. Yes, Shia LaBeouf is completely and utterly bizarre, but… pretty damn amusing?
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“Nobody’s Perfect.” The famous last words from the comedy classic Some Like It Hot were tested with the union of Beyoncé and Jay Z. But when Bey’s little sis Solange unleashed her fists/feet of fury in a viral elevator video after the Met Ball, well, the public realized that their idolatry was a tad misplaced. Nobody is perfect, or #Flawless. And that’s just fine.
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The two Ocean’s Eleven ringleaders finally tied the knot—first, Pitt married longtime love Angelina Jolie in a private, hush-hush ceremony. Then, George Clooney married star lawyer Amal Alamuddin in a very public affair in Venice, Italy. But now the male population can rest easy knowing that these two “perfect” gents, with their unattainable panache, are finally off the market. Keep calm and carry on.
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Taylor Swift purchased a luxury loft in Tribeca and moved to New York City earlier this year. Then, she was installed as the city’s cultural tourism ambassador, and filmed a truly embarrassing video where she (mis)pronounced words like “bodega”—even though there is no way in hell she’s ever set foot in one. But you know something? If Jon Stewart’s OK with it, then we are, too. Swift makes a damn fine cultural ambassador, and we’re glad to have her considerable tax dollars (net worth: $200 million) helping the city. We could use a bit of her unbridled optimism, too.
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For over two decades, Richard Linklater has been one of the most brilliant—and wildly underappreciated—American filmmakers. The guy’s name almost never comes up in conversations of today’s greats. It’s a damn shame, because he’s produced so many impressive movies, including: Dazed and Confused, the Before trilogy, Waking Life, and Slacker. But Boyhood, his 12-years-in-the-making experimental film project documenting the growth of a child from age 6-18, is a bona fide masterpiece, and cements Linklater’s status as one of the great ones.
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What a year for The Daily Show’s alums. Stephen Colbert signed off of The Colbert Report with an epic finale. John Oliver’s HBO program Last Week Tonight debuted, and became a must-watch half-hour replete with satire and some serious journalistic chops. Steve Carell might be nominated for an Oscar for his chilling turn as a sociopathic socialite in Foxcatcher. Oh, and Larry Wilmore was tapped to take over for Colbert with The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Also, the master of ceremonies, Jon Stewart, released his feature directorial debut, Rosewater, and brought some much-needed sanity (and clarity) to an otherwise mental news year.
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Goodbye, Derek Jeter. You are a legend who played the game of baseball the right way—no small task in the Steroids Era. There are too many memorable moments to name, really. “The Catch.” “The Flip.” “Mr. November.” And he did it all with a wink, a knowing nod, and a friendly tip of the cap. Jeter will go down in history as one of the greatest New York Yankees—and baseball players—ever, and it was a pleasure watching him do his thing over the years.
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