Just two weeks into this new year, 2017 is looking pretty goofy.
That thanks to several satisfying goofs on live television, to the amusement of home audiences and social media.
We're keeping score and comparing: Who flubbed most fabulously?
MARIAH CAREY
Technically, Mariah Carey's dropping of the ball during her performance at the New York ball drop happened in 2016. But the finger-pointing endures. Team Mariah blames Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve for mishandling her two-song set that left her unable to sing.
Carey posted an audio explanation to Twitter: "It's a shame that we were put into the hands of a production team with technical issues who chose to capitalize on circumstances beyond our control. ... Listen guys, they foiled me, thus it turned into an opportunity to humiliate me and all those who were excited to ring in the New Year with me."
The production company said in a statement: "To suggest that [Dick Clark Productions], as producer of music shows including the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, New Year's Rockin' Eve and Academy of Country Music Awards, would ever intentionally compromise the success of any artist is defamatory, outrageous and frankly absurd."
It sounds like a juicy plot line for Mariah's World reality show on E! if it gets renewed for a second season.
JIMMY FALLON
During the first few minutes of Golden Globe Awards host Jimmy Fallon's monologue, he told the audience his teleprompter wasn't working.
Funny, funny, thought viewers: The jokester was clearly making a topical jab at Mariah's expense.
"I can think of something," he continued. "Cut to Justin Timberlake please. I'll make up this monologue ... We're here. This is what happens at the Golden Globes. Already you have your Golden Globes moment."
The joke really was on Fallon, who later confirmed there really was a technical difficulty.
After a commercial break, he'd return to quip, "I just got off the phone with Mariah Carey and she thinks Dick Clark Productions sabotaged my monologue."
JENNA BUSH HAGER
Jimmy Fallon wasn't the only one who had a less than shining moment at the Golden Globes. NBC news correspondent (and former first daughter) Jenna Bush Hager made an "oops" too.
While interviewing Pharrell Williams, nominated for Best Original Score for Hidden Figures, the film he also produced, Hager accidentally called the movie that stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae Hidden Fences by mistake. Fences is another acclaimed movie driven by a black cast that received nominations.
Hager wanted to hide her face over the Hidden Fences error, given the resulting Twitter terror.
On the Today show, she explained through tears: "I have seen both movies. I thought they were both brilliant, interviewed casts from both of the movies and if I offended people I am deeply sorry. It was a mistake. Y'all know I'm not perfect. [I'm a] human. And I didn't want anybody to feel lesser than who they are."
Her performance moved actress Octavia Spencer, who tweeted at Hager: "@JennaBushHager We all make mistakes, hon! Thanks for your apology!"
MICHAEL KEATON
See Jenna Bush Hager entry.
Keaton, while announcing the nominees for Best Supporting Actress in a film, made the same exact mistake. He said Spencer was nominated for Hidden Fences instead of Hidden Figures. (Viola Davis eventually won the award for Fences.)
That Keaton did this after Hager's mistake, Twitter again went crazy. One poster wrote: "Hidden Figures doesn't sound anything like Fences. ALL MOVIES WITH BLACK PEOPLE DON'T SOUND ALIKE."
After realizing he was next in line to the Steve Harvey/John Travolta throne and that his moment of mistaken identity had gone viral, Keaton shrugged it off, telling a TMZ cameraman sarcastically, "I'm a horrible person." He finished the brief discussion by saying, "I'm gonna sleep pretty well."
WINNER
And the winner of our most marvelous mess-up is: Jenna Bush Hager. I mean Michael Keaton. Er, well, whomever. We can't tell them apart.
Email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
Spin Cycle is a smirk at pop culture. You can hear Jennifer on Little Rock's KURB-FM, B98.5 (B98.com), from 5:30 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Style on 01/15/2017