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December 28, 2014

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Pop culture’s biggest moments from another wild year of celebrity fun

JUST for fun, let’s try to picture the year in pop culture, all in one image.

We might begin with a singer oddly named Adele Dazeem, belting “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.” Suddenly a friend would pour a bucket of ice water over her head. Adele would immediately tweet the moment on her new iPhone 6, hashtag #icebucketchallenge, while Ellen would pop out and take a group selfie that would #BreaktheInternet.

Now let’s get more serious. It’s always a challenge to capture a year in pop culture, but we try nonetheless. Herewith, our annual, highly selective trip down memory lane:

March:

It’s OSCAR time, and this year’s show — the most-watched in a decade — gives us a slew of pop culture moments. Introducing Idina Menzel, John Travolta mangles her name in epic fashion, creating a new star: “the one and only Adele Dazeem.” Ever the Broadway trouper, Menzel doesn’t miss a beat as she sings the girl-power anthem “Let It Go.” Lupita N’Yongo completes her rapid ascent to superstardom with a supporting-actress trophy for “12 Years a Slave,” which wins best picture.

And speaking of superstars, Ellen Degeneres takes that famous selfie with a gaggle of ‘em, causing Twitter to crash for 20 minutes and beating the previous champion for retweets, a photo of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Time for a new phrase in Hollywood-speak: “Conscious uncoupling,” the term used by Gwyneth Paltrow to describe her enlightened split from Chris Martin. Oh, and Obama pitches his health plan to young people via an unusual platform: Zach Galifianakis’ comic Web series “Between Two Ferns.” Some conservative commentators call it undignified.

June:

Let’s turn to sports: It’s World Cup time, and who says America doesn’t love soccer?

People are glued to their TVs, iPads, phones and other devices for the US games, and a hero is born: Tim Howard, the US goalie, who even in a 2-1 defeat to Belgium makes a record-setting 16 saves. He becomes a social media darling — on Wikipedia, he briefly becomes the Secretary of Defense, edging out Chuck Hagel. And he inspires an Internet meme naming all the “Things Tim Howard Could Save.” (Example: The dinosaurs from extinction.) Oh, and Germany goes on to win the tournament.

August:

Whoever would have thought a bucket of ice would become a pop culture phenom?

Celebs and regular folks alike take on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, generating many millions of dollars to fight the disease. Epic screams are heard, but the most entertainingly blood-curdling comes from Oprah Winfrey. And what would August be without a wedding? A sad note to the month: The death of Robin Williams, whose manic energy graced screens big and small, leaves a gaping hole in the cultural landscape.

September:

The new iPhone 6 arrives, with its larger screen and inevitable prestige factor. Apple also unveils its smartwatch, bringing the features of an iPhone to one’s arm, and Microsoft spends US$2.5 billion for the company that created the hit game “Minecraft,” popular on mobile phones. Sadly, the world loses deliciously tart-tongued Joan Rivers, a trailblazer for women in comedy.




 

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