2016 - the year hated by so many.
Ali. Bowie. Prince. Haggard. Zika. Fisher and Reynolds. Election. Cohen. Syria. Michael. Boko Haram.
Was there anything good about last year? Well sure - here are a few highlights for this inaugural edition of On Brand +.
Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. It's hard to remember two actors who comedically generated as much interest and impact as Baldwin and McKinnon did during the 2016 election cycle. Both not only satirized what was going on with this wackiest of election years but made Saturday Night Live appointment viewing again.
"Old-chella." Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know - this Baby Boomer is going to crow a bit. How about those oldies who generated a sellout within hours of tickets going on sale, which then generated a second weekend of sold out tickets and hospitality!? The Desert Trip festival boasted 13 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions and 73 platinum studio albums among the performers. Let's tip our cap to The Who, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, and Paul McCartney - all "forever young."
The Crown. If you haven't checked out The Crown on Netflix, do it now. A top flight ensemble cast, elite production values, and insight into Queen Elizabeth's ascent to head of the monarchy makes this binge-worthy viewing. John Lithgow as Winston Churchill is a performance worthy of Emmy consideration.
Spotify. The music streaming service developed my favorite campaign of the year in a nod to the oddity of 2016. The data-driven outdoor advertising utilized hyper-localized placements with quirky facts and figures from its own data, all with the sign-off of "Thanks 2016, it's been weird." One headline said "Dear person who made a playlist called 'One Night Stand with Jeb Bush Like He's a Bond Girl in a European Casino.' We have so many questions." It's fun copy for a medium that too often features lackluster creative.
Cleveland. Cleveland!? Yes, Cleveland. The Cavaliers won the NBA title. The Indians made the World Series. And, the strangest U.S. political party nomination ever took place at the Republican National Convention in this city.
Pokemon Go. I still don't get it. But, for a few weeks this summer Pokemon Go was the thing.
Megyn Kelly. In this oddest of political years, Megyn Kelly stood out. Her sharp questioning of political candidates (including the President-elect), her participation in the takedown of Roger Ailes, and her best-selling book elevated Kelly to premier status among on-air journalists and an A-list spot on celebrity lists.
James Corden. The late night host succeeded in generating prime time material through the eclectic list of guests appearing on his Carpool Karaoke. Adele, Bruno Mars, Michelle Obama, Gwen Stefani and others combined with Corden to generate close to one billion YouTube views of his karaoke bits with various stars.
Make America Great Again. Whether one agrees with this line or the person who uttered it, over and over and over again, the phrase struck a chord with a segment of the U.S. voting population. And, that group of voters ultimately generated a win for Donald Trump. In a presidential race and outcome that has caused angst, anger, depression and consternation, how can we not have #MAGA on this list?
There you have it - a few of my highlights from 2016. What can we expect in the new year? I, for one, hope that examples of peace, hope, love and patience make it on this list 365 days from now.
