NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� I鈥檒l get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too!
Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit to the delightful . But, hear us out 鈥� there鈥檚 something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year.
There were new trends, as always. became a thing, as did And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests.
There were breakups 鈥� Bennifer is, again, 鈥� and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. And some things stayed, remarkably, the same: and kept on breaking records and making history.
So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here鈥檚 our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane:
January
It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved 鈥淪esame Street鈥� figure: 鈥淓LMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?鈥� The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. 鈥淣ot great, Elmo. Not great,鈥� says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called 鈥淏ARBENHEIMER,鈥� which makes its awards season debut at the But perhaps the comes from neither film: , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation.
February
Valentine鈥檚 Day 鈥� a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that鈥檚 not quite what we get with 鈥淲ho TF Did I Marry?,鈥� REESA TEESA鈥檚 depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas 鈥� where she shares a with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory.
March
鈥淲hat was I made for?鈥� BILLIE EILISH sings at channeling BARBIE. And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear 鈥� but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? and sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, 鈥淲ICKED.鈥� Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre 鈥淒UNE鈥� popcorn bucket. And BEYONC脡 carves her space in country music with which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart.
April
Tennis, anyone? The game鈥檚 been around for centuries, but it鈥檚 having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing the story of a struggling comedian鈥檚 extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix.
May
滨迟鈥檚 time 鈥� or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for 鈥淲ICKED.鈥� ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of 鈥淲hen You Believe.鈥� If the 鈥淲颈肠办别诲鈥� tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK. 滨迟鈥檚 been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called 鈥� both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck.
June
Welcome to BRAT SUMMER! CHARLI XCX releases her , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines 鈥渂rat,鈥� as 鈥渃haracterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.鈥� At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS with his cheery number 鈥淥MG.鈥�
July
Bonjour, it鈥檚 time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by perched on the EIFFEL TOWER, singing her heart out 鈥� in the rain, too. over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci鈥檚 鈥淭he Last Supper鈥� (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born 鈥� including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND, rugby player ILONA MAHER, and bespectacled 鈥減ommel horse guy鈥� gymnast who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Also capturing hearts: yep, born this month. Her name means 鈥渂ouncy pork.鈥�
August
This is them ... now: After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: a reunion tour. Will they be Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON'S act 鈥� even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet arguably neither demure nor mindful with her 鈥渒angaroo鈥� move. Cute animal alert: 滨迟鈥檚 Major League debut! perky pooch does
September
One of the year鈥檚 biggest breakout artists, withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, the franchise鈥檚 first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he鈥檇 later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though 鈥� she鈥檚 announced as part of the new 鈥淒ancing with the Stars鈥� lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN, Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians.
October
鈥淒une鈥� Chalamets! 鈥淲onka鈥� Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when He doesn鈥檛 enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK, and 鈥� in a very Washington version 鈥� Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG, who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. Turning to basketball, who鈥檚 that dancing with USHER? Why it鈥檚 ELLIE THE ELEPHANT, the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot.
November
does a pretty good laugh on 鈥淪aturday Night Live,鈥� but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON, SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season 鈥� apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP. As for MOO DENG, she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch. And THAT brings us back to 鈥�.
December
Director JON M. CHU鈥橲 emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers and, in a veritable tidal wave, which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes 鈥� and no one knows how far they鈥檒l go.
Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press
