One Last Look: 2010 In Review -Part 3 Of 3-Make Me Smile - The Cultute of Pop, DVD, Movie, TV, Pop Culture Review

One Last Look: 2010 In Review -Part 3 Of 3-Make Me Smile

Posted: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 16:34:49 PST

In tough times like our nation has experienced in recent years, joy and laughter are just as valuable as a pay check. The mix of individuals and programs profiled below certainly took my mind out of sorrow mode providing much needed temporary respites and I hope some did for you, too.

Conan O’Brien-While most television pundits wondered if Conan’s brand of humour would play to the 11:35 pm crowd, I was more concerned about backstabbing NBC executives instigating another Jay Vs. Dave scenario…but I thought Jay and the Peacock left such nonsense in their rear view mirrors. Instead like doppelganger Peter Pans, wickedness prevailed in another round of late night wars…for a while, until Conan had the last laughs at the front and back of the year. 

Using his last weeks on The Tonight Show as a sounding board that resulted in some of the funniest work of his career, O’Brien gained new fans joining his loyal, newly dubbed Team Coco faithful. Throw in an unprecedented, innovative musical-comedy tour in the wake, a candid 60 Minutes sitdown and a history making deal with cable stalwart TBS, O’Brien ended a tumultuous period by not only defeating his nemesis in the ratings, but also rediscovering the Conan that made his Late Night days so appealing rather than the toned-down ringmaster of the show formerly known as Jay’s….and Jay’s again.

Sometimes, the best revenge is being yourself.

 

 Betty White-A most unlikely hero in showing the power of social media, Betty White had a dream year that even she couldn’t envision, especially that of a performer entering her eighth decade in the business. A witty and warm acceptance speech at the SAG awards, the Facebook instigated, Emmy Award winning Saturday Night Live appearance (an episode that should rank with the early glory days of the program) and the best thing about You Again..geez, White’s agent must have an ever ringing cell phone. But if he or she fails, there’s always Facebook…although according to Betty's SNL monologue, it’s a complete “waste of time.” 

Jimmy Fallon-High school guidance counselors always say to do what you love. Thanks to a post SNL movie career going down the tubes, Jimmy Fallon got a chance to see if he could realize a life-long dream to host his own late night talk show. Like former Late Night occupant Conan O’Brien, it took a while to find his sea legs, but once he did, he proved to be the most appealing newcomer to come around the block in years.

His child-like wonder and boundless enthusiasm for his guests may exhaust casual viewers, but I find his attitude extremely charming. In addition, his interviewing skills are impressive for someone with such little experience. Not all his comedy bits succeed, but for every Head Swap there’s wickedly funny parodies of Justin Beiber, cult TVshows and the always hilarious Thank You Notes (in a league with David Letterman’s sadly abandoned Viewer Mail).

In a year in which he welcomed such elusive late night nusical guests such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Keith Richards, it’s beyond certain that Fallon’s best y­ea­rs are yet to come.

America’s Got Talent-At first, I’d rejected this show as being a way for NBC to jump on the American Idol bandwagon by way of Star Search. Still, I gave it a try this past summer and much to my surprise, it proved to be vastly superior to FOX’s previous season of Idol with an appealing variety of acts that for me recalled sweet memories of The Ed Sullivan Show. Nick Cannon proved an affable host, judges Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan offered intelligent commentary (although the latter tended to be a little too buzzer happy to even the best acts) and some great performers were discovered as a result, my faves being ballroom dancers Anna and Patryck, magician Michael Grasso, the Blue Man Group-ish Fighting Gravity and the enormously gifted Jackie Evancho, whom I feel will have a much more successful career than likeable but ultimately forgettable winner Michael Grimm. 

Modern Family-Television’s most likeable and talented ensemble since the Friends crew avoided the dreaded sophomore jinx with episodes that often times topped its debut season. Particular standouts: The Old Wagon where Phil provides his family one last ride in his beloved vehicle that goes downhill in more ways than one, Chirp finds Phil hunting down a malfunctioning smoke alarm while Cameron and Mitchell are at odds over Lily’s appearance in a TV commercial, and Dance, Dance Revelation pits Claire versus Gloria volunteering at their son’s elementary school dance.

If the second half of Modern Family’s follow up year proves hilariously consistent, it’ll be no surprise to see them in the Emmy winners circle once more this September.

Bobby Cox-Veering away from the usual pop culture picks of the year path, I have to pay tribute to one of my favorites in the sporting world…

When he arrived at the park known as The Launching Pad in the late 1970’s, baseball’s Atlanta Braves had seen better days, post Hank Aaron. Unfortunately, Cox could do no better than a fourth place finish in 1980…still, it was the best finish for the Bravos in nearly a decade. An impatient Ted Turner gave him the boot a year later, a move he regretted almost immediately. Luckily, Cox accepted the chance for a second act returning as general manager, a challenge even more daunting than that of the dugout.

Three years behind the scenes made him realize that he yearned to be back there…and following the firing of Russ Nixon, Cox returned to the grind kicking off an amazing two decades of highs and lows no one could have predicted from a perennial cellar dweller: Fifteen consecutive playoff appearances, three Manager of the Year Awards, 158 ejections (a record he’d prefer you’d forget) and one long overdue World Series title in 1995.

With help from pitching coach Leo Mazzone and general manager John Schuerholtz, Cox helped instigate the careers of some of baseball’s finest including John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Dave Justice, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Jason Heyward, to name but a few. In addition, Cox’s competitive yet low key managerial style and close relationships with his players earned enormous respect not just from his rosters, but opponents, the media, behind the scenes, the front office, and even ballpark personnel.

Despite the many departures fellow fans and I have experienced with America’s Team throughout the years, this will be by far the biggest adjustment…ever. Though Cox will remain with the team as a special advisor, dugout cutaways on the TV won’t be the same minus visuals of the sunglasses donning, ever sunflower seed chomping familiar figure I’ve become accustomed to.

Here’s to you, #6….

 Paul McCartney-In a year in which he released no new material (save for a reissue of Band On The Run), Paul McCartney experienced a career one nonetheless. Book ended by his first concert performance at the fabled Hollywood Bowl in nearly 45 years to an historic first time gig at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater, the former Beatle received three lifetime achievement awards honoring his five decades plus body of work.

In June, McCartney was invited to the White House by long time fan President Obama to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. Previously awarded to ­Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, the latter honoree participated in a commemorative concert that also featured performances by Faith Hill, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris and Dave Grohl.

In mid-summer during his first ever concert tour visit to Nashville, McCartney was feted by Music City songwriters with an honorary induction in the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, a very appropriate honor since country music provided McCartney with some of his biggest influences, particularly boyhood idol and close friend Carl Perkins. Thrilled with the award to such a point, McCartney didn't wanna let it go when officials offered to mail it to one of his business addresses or homes jokingly quipping, “I don't trust you”.

But McCartney's biggest, most high profile award came last month when he was bestowed a Kennedy Centers Honor, an accolade previously slated several years back until a family wedding caused a scheduling conflict. The ensuing delay made the event much more special given the timing. Saluted in song by long time admirers including James Taylor and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, the night left two unforgettable moments ingrained in fan's minds: McCartney's emotional reaction midway thru Mavis Staples exemplary rendition of Let It Be and a joyous audience sing along to the beloved finalchorus of Hey Jude that transformed the Kennedy Center into a rock arena.

Finally, McCartney concluded a memorable year with two of his best television appearances: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, which showcased a well prepared host asking intelligent questions resulting in one of the best, most relaxed interviews the former Beatle has ever given, not to mention the satiric host-guest duet on the original version of Yesterday (a.k.a. Scrambled Eggs) and McCartney's moving tribute to John Lennon (Here Today) in memory of his best friend/songwriting partner on the 30^th anniversary of his tragic death....and several days later, he saluted Lennon once more on Saturday Night Live during one of his four musical performances (a record for a musical guest) with a touching medley of A Day In The Life/Give Peace A Chance.

All that and a wonderfully silly impersonation of Camilla Parker Bowles on Weekend Update. 

Cory Booker-If you don't recognize this man's name, I'm not surprised. No, he's not a hot new musical artist, Eva Longoria's new boy toy or the reserve quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. He's the mayor of Newark, New Jersey who left many drop jawed during the horrible blizzard that hit the East Coast at 2010's end by (dig this) helping dig people out of trouble spots, shoveling snow and tweeting updates on his Twitter feed urging citizens to look out for one another in addition to getting to his followers in need of help.

Wait a minute....isn't this something the mayor of New York should have been doing in his backyard?

It sounds like something out of an Andy Griffith episode, but what a wonderful example Mayor Booker set for the rest of the country...and it is my hope that the Webster's people put a picture of him in their next dictionary by the word Samaritan....because Mayor Booker is a damn good one.

Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains-My love affair with this Jeff Probst hosted reality show peaked somewhere around the middle of the Y2K decade...because how could the wonder of a man called Rupert Boneham be voted off....it just wasn't right, people! So I deserted.

But sometimes life gives us second chances...or in Rupert's case, a third time lucky along with 19 other Survivor alumai to not outwit, outplay and outlast...no, no, no...that would have been too easy...the name of the game this time? Return, revenge, redemption...sounds more like a dismissed Rocky Balboa ad campaign line doesn't it?

How could I resist the chance to see old faves like Rupert, Boston Rob, the wickedly lovely Jeri, Colby aka The Colbster and others again from the glory days of the show...besides, there was no WAY the big man was gonna lose this time, right?

Alas, poor Yorick for thy Rupert didn't slay the other wonder...the wonder of a woman (and boy, I do mean a woman) named Lady Parvati...or Parvati, actually. But her sexy, charm the snake appeal was no match for the wily game play of past winner Sandra Diaz-Twine who emerged the victor for a season that marked one of the greatest and most watched in the history of the program.

Brett Michaels-Up until this past year, most people's impression of rocker Brett Michaels was that of a rock and roll stud who yearned for his Rock Of Love even going as far to take his groupie carnival on a bus during Season 3...and the results were nearly as disastrous as The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film in the process.

Image overhaul time, indeedy.

So imagine my surprise when the occassional Poision frontman joins the new cast of Celebrity Apprentice...most of us thought he'd be gone within two to three weeks. Instead, we saw a side of this guy that revealed a savvy, ambitious, fiercely competitive but no less amiable team player. Despite a near family crisis and health problems, Brett toughed it out the whole way through with humor and class.

However, on the verge of the live reunion show, Michaels had both an appendectomy and a brain hemmorage, the latter nearly killing him...but just like the tenacity he displayed on the program, the rocker made an amazing recovery just in time to hear the magic words, “You're hired” from Apprentice big man Donald Trump. But hold the happy ending credits, for days later Michaels suffered yet another health scare due to numbness on the left side of his body owing to a hole discovered in his heart....still, yet again, Michaels perservered just in time to be one of the surprise guests on the American Idol finale....and speaking of season enders, he gave long time fans quite a thrill when proposed to long time companion Kristi Gibson on the concluding episode of his reality series Life As I Know It.

Let's hope the road ahead is “Thorn” free for this rock and roll maven.

Other things I enjoyed in 2010: Toy Story 3, Late Show With David Letterman, Dancing With The Stars, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Florence and the Machine, Turner Classic Movies, House M.D., The Bachelor, Lennon NYC, When You're Strange: The Doors, Andy Griffith Show marathons on TV Land.

So what were some of the people and things that got you thru 2010? Hit me back at the contact us link at the top of the page...and I hope you all have a health, happy, prosperous and hopefully better New Year.

-J.R.

Jeffrey Rosado is a pop culture historian, writer and performer.

Follow Jeff on Twitter: @marquee_man