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All Smiles

8 Top Pop Culture Moments of 2020

While it may seem easy to focus on all of the craziness happening in 2020… there really are plenty of good things happening! And while they might not look like much now, we may just be talking about these top 2020 trends for years to come. Just in case you (somehow) missed them, here are some of the top pop culture moments of this year.

Tiger King Docuseries

Just when we thought 2020 couldn’t take any more unexpected turns, Netflix gave us the indescribably strange and unexplainably addicting documentary miniseries Tiger King. Trying to convince your BFF that they needed to watch it sounded something like, “It’s about this guy, Joe Exotic, who loves tigers. But he hates Carol Baskin, this other tiger lady who might’ve murdered her husband. Also, there’s a three-way marriage. Oh, and the tiger guy ran for president.”

tiger

Zoom Calls (and Happy Hours!)

If anyone is thriving this year, it’s the people who created Zoom. The “video telecommunications” platform has been a lifesaver during this era of working from home, learning from home, and, well, doing everything from home. From work meetings to post-WFH happy hours with your fellow-quarantiners, Zoom has been keeping us productive and social.

The J. Lo & Shakira Super Bowl Halftime Show

Sure, the actual football game was entertaining – but it still came second to the halftime show put on by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. The powerhouse vocalists performed a few of their most iconic songs, from Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” to J. Lo’s “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” Especially poignant was their tribute to Puerto Rico, a nod to the U.S. territory’s continued recovery (and need for further assistance) after being hit by both a devastating hurricane and earthquake.

Cheer Docuseries

In a week, half the country went from knowing nothing about cheerleading to being panicked about Jerry’s chances for “making mat” at Nationals in Daytona Beach. The docuseries, which hit Netflix in January, followed the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team journey to the National Cheerleading Championship, becoming a pop culture sensation while simultaneously educating everyone on the otherworldly athleticism of competitive cheerleaders. Oh, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll need a box of tissues handy.

Cheer docuseries

Kobe Bryant Tribute at the Grammys

One of the most heartbreaking losses of 2020 was the shocking death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others in a helicopter accident on January 26th. As the entire nation grappled with the news, Alicia Keys opened the 2020 Grammys, airing that same day, with a beautiful tribute to the legendary basketball player.

“We’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built,” said Keys, on stage at the Staples Center.

After she spoke a few words, Keys was joined on stage by Boys II Men to sing a tear-jerking rendition of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”

John Krasinski’s Some Good News

In a year filled with more than its share of bad news, leave it to our beloved Jim Halpert to remind us of all the good news. Krasinski filmed his YouTube web series from his house, highlighting various feel-good stories and inviting special guests, including cast members from Hamilton and Malala Yousafzai, to join him via video call. Some Good News is the chaser we all need after watching the actual news, and it’s physically impossible to get through an episode without smiling (or even crying happy tears).

The Last Dance Michael Jordan docuseries

Sports fans had reason to rejoice amid season cancellations when ESPN Films and Netflix released The Last Dance through April and May. The miniseries documents Michael Jordan’s renowned basketball career and focuses the spotlight most squarely on his final season with the Chicago Bulls. The 10-episode series aired on ESPN before being released on Netflix, and includes interviews with Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Barack Obama, and Magic Johnson, just to name a few.

Hamilton on Disney Plus

With 4th of July parades and family barbeques canceled, expectations for Independence Day were low… until Disney Plus revealed the surprise it had up its sleeve. This bold, fast-paced, and ridiculously popular Broadway musical was set to release on Disney’s streaming platform in October of 2021. However, the release was bumped up a whopping 15 months to help socially-distanced viewers find a reason to celebrate. Not a theater fan or a history buff? It doesn’t matter – somehow, this hip-hop musical has the power to draw in just about anyone.

It’s easy to focus on the negatives, but as this list reminds us, there are plenty of things about 2020 to appreciate – at the very least for lightening our load.

Find a Painting with a Twist studio near you and put some pep back in your step. Create your very own painting in-studio or “Twist from Home!” From tigers and quarantinis to basketball legends, we’re here to help draw a smile back on your face.

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