Not a year goes by though, that doesn’t leave in its wake a wealth of indelible events that greatly impact — if not permanently alter — the landscape of entertainment. For the sake of comprehensive reflection, I’ve taken the liberty to include politics, world events, religion and technology as part of this landscape. With characters like Kanye West and Nicki Minaj, innovators like Apple and Google, sports phenoms like LeBron James and Michael Vick, etc., this year has followed in the pattern of memorable years past.
2010 has left us with much to reflect on, as well as whet our appetites for what 2011 will bring. Here are the top names and moments that made news.
In Music
Erratic – Kanye West. I could’ve sworn I ran across that in the Webster’s desk reference, but … regardless of West’s emotional instability, his immense talent and mastery in manipulating the media, finds him at the end of 2010 still the King of Pop Hop (note: my official poor man’s copyright) and one of the few that can achieve record-breaking music sales in an all but failed record industry. Taylor Swift-gate is behind him, George Bush is traumatized by him and his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the top-selling albums of the year.
Chris Brown, a onetime R&B sensation of Justin Beiber proportion, found himself completely shut out of the industry by what seemed to be an unforgivable act, only to do a complete industry about-face by capitalizing on the steppingstone that made him hot in the first place. He seized the moment in his performance of “Man in the MIrror” during the BET Awards’ tribute to his idol, Michael Jackson, to pull off the ultimate act of contrition. His tearful performance restored his standing to most and the focus is once again on his gifts.
Rihanna has had a banner year, for what exactly I’m not entirely sure, but the wattage of her star coming off the domestic abuse scandal has become near white-hot. She did release a new album this year (Loud), but it’s really her persona that has sent bloggers a-blogging and tongues a-wagging over the course of 2010. Fiery red wig aside, she’s become somewhat of a socialite and fashion icon, setting trends and effectively distancing herself from the rest of the competition. Tragedy to triumph, I’d say.
Light skin is back in. The quintessential fair-skinned ambassador, El DeBarge, spent the better part of the last two decades addicted to drugs and wallowing in the shattered pieces of a once skyrocketing career. But during a surprise BET performance, his woes became a thing of the past. A medley, a tight falsetto and a smile instantly returned the crooner to near former glory, and ushered in at year’s end, a new album, a successful tour and a throng of adoring female fans.
As if Will and Jada Smith’s empire weren’t already secure enough, the celebrated couple spawned not one, but two little entertainers poised to fill their artistic shoes. Jaden, as the able-bodied mini-thespian (Karate Kid) and the fashion-forward Willow, with hair to “Whip,” the attitude to match it and an instant hit single to boot, demonstrated that apples truly don’t fall too far from the tree in 2010.
Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj brought attention to the female MC in 2010. Lil Kim, once the reigning queen of hip-hop, found herself in heated contention for the title — whether deserved or not — when newcomer Nicki Minaj, aka the Black Barbie, bogarted her way into the game with mic a-blazin’. After a few heated exchanges and record-breaking first week sales for Minaj’s Pink Friday, the end of 2010 finds Lil Kim holding what seems to be the short end of the stick with a charge from her fans to reinvent herself and stage a comeback.
Fantasia went from the stage of “American Idol” to gold- and platinum-selling albums, a successful Broadway run, and a popular reality show, and established herself as a household name. But, with blessings come curses, the Good Book says. All the triumph temporarily gave way to an adulterous scandal (she was recently exonerated of any involvement) with boy toy Antwaun Cook and Fantasia attempting to take her own life in the aftermath. Not a good look, as she would’ve left a precious daughter behind, but apparently checking out early wasn’t in the cards for the singer. She’s since picked up the pieces and is back to business touring and promoting her new album, Back to Me.
Usher Raymond made good on the best business decision he’s ever made. In 2009, he signed a young white kid by the name of Justin Bieber and in 2010 Bieber’s become one of the biggest charting and selling teen sensations in a very long time. If Usher wanted to rest on his laurels, he’s padded them with wads of Bieber-generated cash to make them quite comfy.
Our once-thick Oscar and Grammy-winning overnight sensation, Jennifer Hudson, bore a child with husband David Otunga and shrank by untold pounds after signing a lucrative Weight Watchers contract over the course of 2010. After unbelievable tragedy — the murders of her mother and nephew — her resilience and apparent triumph this year have been jaw dropping.
In Sports
Lebron “King” James made an unprecedented move in the world of sports in 2010 by leaving his hometown and team in decidedly narcissistic fashion. The crown bestowed upon him by Cleveland fans was snatched and he earned the new distinction of “most hated man in basketball.” In a self-produced televised special, James announced his decision — not having shared it with even the top brass of the Cavaliers — to sign with the Miami Heat. The move created a would-be super team in South Florida with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and set off a hailstorm of criticism that is firmly in place as 2010 comes to a close.
Football’s victor-turned-villain-turned-victor again, Michael Vick, took it back to the basics and used what no one can take away — pure talent — to regain respect. After a failed reality show aimed at restoring his character in the eyes of Joe Public, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, creating just the right recipe to allow him to shine. He recently put his foot in his mouth by expressing his desire to own another dog, but 2010 ushered in a turning tide for the football star.
Serena Williams clenched her 13th Grand Slam tournament win in 2010 by winning Wimbledon for the fourth time. She is one of only five women in the history of the sport to win all four slams during the course of her career. She hasn’t played since, though, and ends the year in a bejeweled foot cast due to a nagging injury. 
In Television
Lil Kim may have had her crown snatched from atop her lace front, but a true queen lays it down at her leisure. The queen of all media, Oprah Winfrey, announced this year that she will be ending her historic talk show after the current season. She came, she conquered, and now she’s leaving to start her OWN network. She revealed that her passion for meeting the demands of her “Oprah Winfrey Show” viewers has finally taken its toll and she now wants to work fewer hours.
In Religion
Arguably the top mega church pastor in the country, the once-revered Bishop Eddie L. Long found himself embroiled in a shocking scandal involving homosexuality and young men in 2010. Four “mentees” from the high profile religious leader’s LongFellows Youth Academy filed lawsuits claiming coercion of a sexual nature against him and seeking unspecified damages. The allegations turned the religious community on its ear, prompting much-needed dialogue on the church and homosexuality, prosperity preaching and pulpit hypocrites. From the time of the filings to year’s end, Long’s defense went from having five stones to throw to “let’s quietly settle out of court.”
In Politics
Barack Obama had his hide tanned during the midterm elections bloodbath that resulted in a congressional shift to a Republican majority, putting the first black president between a Democratic rock and a Republican hard place. Additionally, two of our most respected Democratic congressional stalwarts — Charlie Rangel, who was ultimately censured; and Maxine Waters were battered by allegations of corruption that shook the Congressional Black Caucus.
In World Events
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill dominated the mid-part of the 2010, setting off a ripple effect that both set an already ailing economy back and gave President Obama a Bush-like black eye, as it was arguably designated as the new president’s Hurricane Katrina. And speaking of natural disasters, an earthquake hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti and all but permanently destroyed a country that has historically been at the butt end of what seems to be God’s cruel sense of humor. Haiti has historically been plagued with poverty and strife, and the year ends with more of the same, including rampant rape and a cholera epidemic.
In Technology
No discussion about pop culture can be had without the mention of steadily snowballing social networks, Twitter (which played host to the celebrity-laden million-dollar Keep a Child Alive campaign) and Facebook. Both are now permanently interwoven in our culture, with an excess of 65 million tweets going out per second and 500-plus million Facebook users in 2010, ensuring the technology is here to stay. (Facebook’s frontman was just named Time magazine’s Person of the Year.)
Apple continues to push technology beyond its limits by being the Beyoncé of technological innovators. There’s just something cool about Apple’s products and the company’s cachet finds nearly every store it owns running over with people just browsing around. Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, which has become that must-have item for the tech savvy consumer — no matter how redundant the innovation may be.
Google, a formidable brand in its own right, also managed another foothold in 2010. The company released the iPhone competitor, Google Android, to rave reviews this year, which didn’t necessarily “kill” Apple’s iPhone, but did make enough waves to make a respectable dent in Apple’s market share.
Although 2010 certainly seemed like a whirlwind, we beheld antics, achievements and catastrophes that no doubt moved us another step in our journey through life. Entertainment plays a major role in our progression through life, and thusly, to the close of this eventful year, I say, “cheers” to one more giant leap.
