It cannot be disputed that 2016 was an interesting year. Full of ups, downs, and in-betweens, there was always something entertaining to look at or listen to keep your attention. Whenever I like to look back, I of course reexamine myself and goals that I achieved or didn't.
But often what I find sometimes more telling overall about the year is looking at the art made during this time. Being a huge advocate and aspiring creator in the arts, I love criticizing and analyzing works seeing their resonances in our time now. And boy did we get a plethora of new and engaging works that we should be very thankful for. From the best to the underrated to the plain old confusing, there are a lot of great artists to be in awe of this year.
TV:
Best Sophomore Season- Jane the Virgin
Best TV Show Finale- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Season 2
Biggest WTF Finale- Orange is the New Black, Season 4, Poussey
Best Reality Show- Real Housewives Orange County Season 11
Best New Comedy Special- Bo Burham: Make Happy
Most Underrated New Show- Love
Most Overrated Comeback- American Horror Story
Most Surprisingly Exciting New Season- 90 Day Fiancé
Most Anticipated Revival with Mixed Results- Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Most Surprising Wonderful Netflix Binge- The Crown
Most Annoying Show that is Advertised Far Too Much- Too Close to Home
Most Recommended Show to Binge- Stranger Things
Film:
Best Breakout Film- Moana
Best Underrated Film-Tallulah
Best New Musical Film- La La Land
Best Animated Sequel- Finding Dory
Best Unexpected Sequel- My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Best Attempt to Continue the Harry Potter Universe with Mixed Results- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Most Anticipated Theatre Lovers’ Dream- Fences
Most Disappointing Film- Suicide Squad
Most Surprising, but Well Deserved Hit- Zootopia
Most Disappointing Ending- Me Before You
Most Likely Produced to Just Be a Box Office Hit- Passengers
Most Important Movie- Hidden Figures
Theatre:
Best New Musical- Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Best Revival of a Musical- Falsettos
Best Broadway Transfer- Hamilton Chicago production
Best New Play- Eclipsed
Most Underrated Score- Waitress
Most Anticipated Broadway Premiere and Cast Album for 2017- Dear Evan Hansen
Most Forgettable Revival- The Cherry Orchard
Most Innovative Staging of Classics- The Crucible and A View from the Bridge
Most Adorable Onstage Pairing- Amelie (Phillapa Soo and Adam Chenlar-Beret)
Breakout Musical Star- Cynthia Erivo
Best New Trend: Sight Specific Theatre (Ragtime on Ellis Island, Violet on Boston bus)
Music:
Best Surprise Album Drop- Adele (25)
Best Album- Beyonce (Lemonade)
Best Christmas Album- Leslie Odom Jr. (Simply Christmas)
Best Music Video and Overall Killing it This Year- Sia, “The Greatest”
Best Collaboration but with Problematic Music Video- Coldplay and Beyonce, “Hymn for the Weekend”
Most Overrated Band- The Chainsmokers
Most Overplayed Song- Anything by Twenty One Pilots (“Heathens”, “Ride”, “Stressed Out”)
Most Overrated Album- The Hamilton Mixtape by Various Artists
Most Underrated Album- Remember Us to Life by Regina Spektor
Album that Everyone Should Listen to- Joanne by Lady Gaga
