The movies, shows, and music that defined 2020

The boys from San Dimas are back and received relatively positive reviews. The third film in the franchise, and a sequel to 1991's Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, marks the return of  our heroes, once again played by Keanu Reeves and  Alex Winter. They're still trying to find musical glory and write a prophesied song that they hope to bring unity to the world. It's a fun romp and was much needed during these difficult and uncertain times.

Kazakhstan's favorite journalist is back and he's hellbent on having some fun with the United States' government. From Vice President Mike Pence to Rudy Giuliani's infamous bedroom tuck show, this was one of the more anticipated films of the year because of its controversy involving the latter. Overall, it's another example of Sacha Baron Cohen's talent, that still might not be for everybody, but is worth celebrating. 

The first of two films directed by Spike Lee that enjoyed critical acclaim in 2020. Featuring Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, and the late Chadwick Boseman, the Netflix film follows a group of black, aging Vietnam veterans, who go back there looking for the remains of their squad leader. As well as something else, potentially more valuable, that they left in-country. 

Bringing two heavyweights like David Byrne and Spike Lee together just exudes greatness. They did not disappoint. This HBO production brings together two of entertainment's most creative minds. Under Lee's direction, the look of this concert film with the conceptual brilliance of Byrne -- and his music -- makes it one of the truly special visual moments of 2020.

Though the film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2019, its official release came in March 2020. It's the story of two men -- "Cookie" (John Magaro) and Lu (Orion Lee) -- traveling the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800s looking to get rich while also selling baked goods, made from the milk of one lone dairy cow. The premise sounds uniquely interesting and comes off even better on film.

Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson might not be everybody's cup of tea, but this Judd Apatow film shows a side of the comedian that many never knew was there -- or cared to uncover. It's a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama about Davidson's character Scott, a slacker with various medical issues whose firefighter father died on the job while he was a kid. There are plenty of laughs, but also some heartfelt moments that make the movie an underrated project.

Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen. Talk about some Hollywood heavyweights. Alice (Streep), a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, is finally poised to finish her latest manuscript and will do so on the Queen Mary 2 en route to an award ceremony in the United Kingdom. Old friends Roberta (Bergen) and Susan (Wiest) come along. Reportedly, most of the dialogue in the comedy-drama was improvised. Which is probably why it works so well.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Lovers Rock was regarded as one of the best films by many respected credits. Franklin (Micheal Ward) and Martha (Amarah-Jae Aubryn) meet at a reggae party in West London during the early 1980s, and their relationship moves forward with plenty of passion and intrigue. It's part of McQueen's "Small Axe" anthology 

Ben Affleck stars as Jack Cunningham, an alcoholic laborer who's having a difficult time in life. Hoping to brighten his outlook on things and taper his drinking, Cunningham is offered a job coaching his high school alma mater's basketball team. The same school where he shined as a young athlete. The experience isn't easy for Cunningham, or those around him, but potentially rewarding. Affleck earned praise for his performance.

Who says there is nothing good on network television? ABC has a good one in this procedural drama that debuted in mid-November. From the mind of David E. Kelley, Big Sky stars Ryan Phillippe and Kylie Bunbury, as private investigators who team with Phillipe's character's ex-wife (Katheryn Winnick) to solve the mystery of two kidnapped Montana sisters. Although, they eventually find there's more to the case.

Kaley Cuoco goes from one hit in The Big Bang Theory to another budding gem in HBO Max's The Flight Attendant. Cuoco stars as Cassie Bowden, a promiscuous, alcoholic flight attendant who has too much of a good time one night in Bangkok. Though she tries to go on with her life, as usual, she's unable to leave that night in the past. And not necessarily of her own doing.

With sports on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans needed a fix to compensate. ESPN came to the rescue in April and May with this 10-episode documentary about the Chicago Bulls' dynasty of the 1990s. Especially the dynamics and detail of their final title season of 1997-98. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson were all involved with this in-depth look at one of the most successful runs in sports history.

It was a bittersweet 2020 for this hilariously brilliant series. Season 6 was one of the best, and perhaps, most endearing of any during the run of the series. However, it was also the last for the Rose family, and our time together with them at Schitt's Creek's Rosebud Motel. The series and the cast, particularly Dan Levy, totally cleaned up at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards. At least we have the memories -- and streaming options to enjoy it all.

The good news for fans of this HBO Max vehicle is that it's been picked up for a second season. In Season 1, Anna Kendrick stars as Darby, an adult woman whose love life and relationships we follow through the years. It's a creative approach that we've come to rely on and appreciate from the many streaming services and platforms that are out there -- and certainly popular during a global pandemic.

Season 2 of this Star Wars-related series on Disney+ might be better than the stellar original run from 2019. Sure, we finally got to see under the hood and into the eyes of "Mando." Meanwhile, "The Child," aka Grogu (yes, that's his official name) has shown off some new powers but been separated from his buddy. At least we got a little blast from the past -- Boba Fett -- is around to help. 

Period dramas have done quite well in recent years, and The Queen's Gambit miniseries has followed the trend. It's been a huge hit for Netflix since its first showing in late October. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as young chess prodigy Beth Harmon. We follow along with all the trials and tribulations -- as well as her own demons -- that make up her life, starting as a young girl in the 1950s. 

After eight years between studio albums, one of the great singer/songwriters of the 1990s was out with his some long-awaited new music. Critics used words like "classic" and "masterpiece" to describe Fetch the Bolt Cutters, which was released in April. The record, which showcased Apple's remarkable piano playing and bluesy, complex voice, earned the Grammy nomination for Alternative Music Album. The single "Shameika" was also nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. 

Two studio albums in 2020 make Bad Bunny one of the hardest-working recording artists of the year. However, it seemed like a matter of time before Bad Bunny earned this type of recognition. February's YHLQMDLG release falls under what was described as old-school reggaeton. In November, El Último Tour Del Mundo came out, and the Puerto Rican rapper broke away from that reggaeton style but still became the first Spanish-language album to hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

While the massive hoards of K-pop fans were unable to catch this popular South Korean boy band live for most of the year, there were plenty of opportunities to enjoy the madness on the internet and through various streaming services. The group also put out two Korean-language studio albums in 2020 -- Map of the Soul: 7 and Be. Both, of course, were huge successes as BTS remained an international pop force.

The L.A.-based sister trio (Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim) has truly been a force on the pop-rock scene since its exceptional debut Days Are Gone from 2013. In 2020, the band put out its third record, Women in Music Pt. III. It was one of the most anticipated efforts of the year, and when finally released in late June, did not disappoint. Thanks to tracks like "Summer Girl" and "Now I'm in It," the album was nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy.

In addition to putting together the "One World: Together at Home" virtual concert, Gaga also delivered one of the most acclaimed records of 2020. When Chromatica came out in late May, it topped the Billboard 200 -- the sixth straight Gaga album to hit No. 1. The record produced three hit singles, including "Rain on Me," which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The record was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.

MGK, also known as Colson Baker, endured quite the musical transformation in 2020. His Tickets to My Downfall  album took Baker from a solid hip-hop artist to a pop punker. Critics praised the move while fans ate it up, making the album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, one of the better offerings over any genre in 2020. Blink-182's Travis Barker and Rancid's Tim Armstrong were just two of the big names who helped write on the record. 

With live concerts on hold due to the global pandemic, streamed music performances became all the rage in 2020. There was no bigger than this two-hour showcase of some of the greatest musical talents on the planet. On April 18, and put together by Lady Gaga and benefiting the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the likes of Camila Cabello, Common, John Legend, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones , Elton John, and Taylor Swift performed from their homes or other remote locations.

Swift doesn't just do things on a level scale. She's a major entertainment superstar, so everything it grand. So, when it came to releasing new music in 2020, one album was not enough. In July, Swift surprised her fans by dropping her eighth studio album Folklore, spawning four hit singles, highlighted by the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Cardigan." Then in December, she gave her fans a nice holiday gift option with the release of sister album Evermore.

The multi-dimensional singer/songwriter put out his first album in four years. Released in March, After Hours has earned more than its fair share of praise as one of the best records of 2020. It produced four hit singles, with "Heartless" and "Blinding Lights" both reaching the top Billboard's Hot 100. Once things get back to normal and concerts are again an everyday part of life, expect The Weeknd's inevitable tour to be one of music's hottest tickets.