What's next? Pop culture predictions for 2022
By PJ Grisar
This week, we've reviewed the best of 2021. Today, we look forward to the new year, and the pop culture events we can only dream will come to fruition.
2021 was a year of new beginnings — not just for our newly reopened society, but also for the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to mutate into increasingly scary-sounding novel Greek letter variants. And so, we end 2021 on a note of uncertainty. In a year like this, when Taylor Swift surprised us with a 10-minute chart-topper originally written for a decade-old album, Drake boycotted the Grammys and Facebook began its shadowy metaverse, we need a dependable sense of what to expect in 2022. Look no further than this list. The rules: predictions must be funny, and if they turn out to be right, that’s largely accidental. Without further ado, here are our absolutely on-the-mark pop culture predictions for the coming year. Ten are below. Read the full list of 22 here. New progress in NFTs
The Israeli Ministry of Culture unveils an NFT of the Kotel. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel convenes to debate whether this counts as idolatry.
Leonard Cohen inspires
Kanye West, finally catching wind of Leonard Cohen’s mean poem about him, releases a diss track of the late singer-songwriter that samples “Dance Me to the End of Love.” It’s in poor taste, sure, but it’s actually West’s best single in years.
Sandler chic
Adam Sandler, after being spotted noshing on street pickles in unglamorous winter wear one too many times to escape the internet’s notice, launches a fashion line, Happy Madisons. Dubbed “shlubleisure” by GQ, its signature items include pre-rumpled shorts, graphic tees inspired by the shops on the Venice Boardwalk and a partnership with Adidas that bundles long tube socks with low-top sneakers. A musical theater triumph
Lin-Manuel Miranda announces a partnership with Yeshiva University's theater club to launch a musical about the life and times of Benjamin Cardozo. A sample lyric: “Everybody knows I’m the poet laureate of jurisprudence/Repping Common Law just like I’m reppin all the Juden/You know my reputation, my legal acumen/Appeal to me as Chief Judge, but you can call me Ben.” An unexpected 007
Richard Kind leaves cinephiles speechless when he’s cast as the new James Bond — can you say license to kvetch?
People's Sexiest? Maybe not.
Paul Rudd’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive title is revoked on a technicality when he is revealed to be a charming, ageless vampire. “See, he’s not alive but undead,” a People spokesperson says.
Jeopardy finally gets a host
After a nationwide search, Hadassah Levine, 63, president of the trivia league at Temple Beth El in Coral Gables, Fla. is named the new permanent host of “Jeopardy!”
Surprising erotica
Henry Kissinger, 99, releases “Diplomacy After Dark," a book of erotic poetry. Commentary gives it a glowing review, calling it “a modern day Song of Songs.”
Pop icons, meet vegan meat
Japanese Breakfast, the performing name of musician Michelle Zauner, joins HAIM and Impossible Meats to produce a new line of meatless breakfast ham, J.B. Haim. Its kosher status is broadly debated in Jewish circles, but Canter’s Deli wastes no time adding it to their menu. Sally Rooney, again
Sally Rooney’s new campus novel, “Respectful Differences,” follows the tortured interior monologues and lengthy ideological email exchanges of two Columbia University undergrads — one a member of the college’s J Street chapter, the other the president of the student Jewish Voice for Peace. The Forward writes 65 articles about it. Support Independent Jewish Journalism The Forward is a non-profit 501(c)3 so our journalism depends on support from readers like you. You can support our work today by donating or subscribing. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of US law. Make a donation ➤ Subscribe to Forward.com ➤ "America’s most prominent Jewish newspaper" — The New York Times, 2021 |
