I used to think I was extremely knowledgeable about popular culture.
Through most of the ’80s and into the ’90s, it was easy to keep up. Music, movies, television … if it was popular, I knew what it was.
Not anymore.
As we approach the end of the year, newspapers and the rest of the media come out with their “best of” lists. The New York Times did a little more this year. Already they’ve done the top 25 movies of the 21st century, the top 25 actors and actresses of the same period and the best 20 dramas since “The Sopranos.”
The best movies? I’ve seen maybe five of them.
Actors and actresses? I knew maybe half the names on the list.
Television dramas? This was the biggest shock to me. Six of the 20 shows on the list are ones I’ve never heard of, and only five — West Wing, Veronica Mars, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men and the Good Wife — are ones I have seen all or most of.
One show on the list is one I’ve only watched a little of, but my wife considers her favorite — “The Americans,” a show about Soviet sleeper agents living in Washington, D.C., during the Reagan years.
The only show on the list that was a pleasant surprise to be there was “Veronica Mars.” I watched all three seasons and enjoyed it tremendously. I was disappointed to see it cancelled and happy to see it make the list.
My own favorite show of the last decade is “Madam Secretary,” but I wasn’t surprised not to see it make the top 20. The one show I definitely think should have been on the list that wasn’t is “Bosch,” Amazon’s wonderful adaptation of Michael Connolly’s detective.
But somebody needs to tell me about “Adventure Time,” “Enlightened,” “Rectify,” “The Leftovers,” “Transparent” and “Atlanta.”
I’ve never heard of any of them. Maybe something will make my watchlist, although “The Americans” has to be first.
What’s that old saying?
“When Mama’s happy, everyone’s happy.”