Whining about 2016 is so 2016.
We must shake it off. "Quitters never win and winners never quit," like Carol Brady said. (Darn you 2016 for snatching Florence Henderson from us!) Let's focus on some little things to feel excited about in 2017.
Color
Every year, Pantone, "the world-renowned authority on color" designates the Color of the Year. And usually it colors us unimpressed in the process. But this year Pantone rose (and we don't mean Fuchsia Rose, 2001's Color of the Year) to the occasion with Greenery. Drools Pantone on its selection: "Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature's greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signal consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate."
In other words, it's green. Mmmm, it's green apple Jolly Rancher green! Double mmmm, as a friend pointed out: "It's appletini green!"
Bachelor
Speaking of getting wasted, The Bachelor has kicked off its 21st season (7 p.m. Mondays, ABC; only two episodes have aired and most of the crazies are still there). This time it's Nick Viall -- a repeat franchise loser from The Bachelorette as well as Bachelor in Paradise -- looking to find love. Of the 30 contestants vying for Viall, one is Arkansas' lovely Raven Gates from the teeny town of Hoxie (population: 2,719) who owns a boutique in Jonesboro. Here's hoping she comes in second or third and becomes the next Bachelorette. We really don't want her getting with Viall. He seems, well, vile.
Apprentice
Now that Donald Trump apparently has some other gig or something, The Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger is at the helm of The New Celebrity Apprentice (7 p.m. Mondays, NBC) croaking "You're terminated" to a bunch of D-listers and has-beens. Of course, the next one fired could be Arnold. The two-hour season premiere was seen by 4.9 million viewers -- that's down quite a bit from Trump's 6.8 million viewers in January 2015. "I'll be baahhk?" That remains to be seen.
Super Bowl
We don't know yet who's playing in the Feb. 5 Super Bowl. And I don't care now that my beloved Baltimore Ravens choked (darn you, 2016 ... no, this can't be blamed on 2016. The numeral to be shamed is No. 5, quarterback Joe Flacco), I'll still choke down nachos, wings and beer, regardless of who competes. We do know who the halftime talent is, and that's none other than beef-wearer and singer Lady Gaga, who is certain to deliver a very "rare" performance when the "steaks" are this high.
Beauty and the Beast
Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson as Bell and Dan Stevens as the Beast is coming out this year. This new take on the tale as old as time comes out ... March 17?! We have to endure yet another two months when we've already been waiting since the first trailer release in November? Waiting on Beauty is starting to turn ugly.
Solar eclipse
There will be what is being referred to as the Great American Total Solar Eclipse (see, America really will be great again!) on Aug. 21. According to Space.com, "the moon will completely blot out the sun for observers in 12 states from Oregon to South Carolina in the first total solar eclipse visible from the United States mainland since 1979." What a sight that will be to see! Or not. Cautions the website: "NEVER look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, except when the solar disk is completely occluded (during the brief period of totality); serious and permanent eye damage can result." Yikes! The closest we will be getting to an Eclipse in 2017 (even 2016 never tried to blind us!) is chewing a pack of sugar-free gum.
Great American Total Solar Email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
What's in a Dame is a smirk at pop culture. You can hear Jennifer on Little Rock's KURB-FM, B98.5 (B98.com), from 5:30-9 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Style on 01/10/2017