Maybe it's because San Diego actually is a big city. Or maybe it's because of our proximity to Los Angeles. Or maybe we're just damn lucky - but the city and region has spawned its fare of pop culture newsmakers (remember MTV's "Real World San Diego?"). But 2009 seemed to be an especially fruitful year for the area's connection to pop culture newsmakers - and not always in a good way. The Union-Tribune's Karla Peterson recently wrote an entertaining article on our connections to the infamous newsmakers of 2009:
Was there something in the water? The air? The fish tacos? Whether it was environmental or just coincidental, San Diego has had one whopper of a pop-culture year.
In any case, I'd have to concur with Peterson's round-up - it has been a stellar year. And it gives me a necessary San Diego angle to write about some of these people - newsworthy or not. Here are some of the infamous from 2009:
Carrie Prejean - Yes, the righteous Miss California made a splash with her anti-same-sex answer during the Miss USA pageant. But what made her infamy juicier was what emerged later: not only were there partially nude photos (no surprise), but a sex tape also materialized. Of course she blamed everyone else but herself for the media blowback. Poor victim.
Adam Lambert - The most flamboyant "American Idol" contestant ever was the most talented and galvanizing ever. And he didn't even win. But the former Mt. Carmel student made a bigger splash by coming out of the closet (no surprise) and stirred up controversy with his sexually charged performance on the American Music Awards. His debut album was a hit, and Barbara Walters was fascinated by him.
Shawne Merriman and Tila Tequila - Why the San Diego Chargers' star Merriman would even be stupid enough to involve himself with reality TV "star" Tila Tequila shows an utter lack of judgment. But their subsequent flaming of each other on Twitter not only exposed their lack of self-awareness, it also spotlighted the powerful force of Twitter to shape public opinion at it's shallowest.
The Amazing Race - now, I'm more of a "Survivor" fan, but the "Amazing Race" is kinda cool, too. And local couple Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney (Barbie and Ken to the show's fans) from San Carlos became the first locals to win the $1 million dollar prize for the globe-trotting scavenger hunt show.
Michael Jackson's Death - Lord knows we had to come up with some sort of San Diego connection to the sensational death of the self-proclaimed King of Pop. And local news media were able to come up with something: not only did Jackson's personal doctor Conrad Murray, who administered the questionable use of anesthesia, once practiced at Sharp Memorial Hospital, it turns out that Jackson's youngest son, "Blanket, was born at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. I know, grasping at straws. That's what the biggest story in 2009 will do.
Tiger Woods - Man, oh, man. Talk about ending 2009 with a bang. The most famous athlete in the world has a long connection to San Diego, playing here during his junior golf days and culminating in his other-worldly 2008 U.S. Open win at Torrey Pines. But the once Teflon image came crashing down when he crashed his Escalade in Florida on Thanksgiving Day and the women that Woods was tom catting around with started climbing out from under his veil of secrecy (or privacy, as he liked to claim). The most visible and embracing of her newfound notoriety was Jaimee Grubbs, formerly of Escondido High and a cocktail waitress who had the infamous Tiger texts and voicemail that brought down the superstar. It was a spectacular train wreck - it it promises to continue to unfold for 2010.
We'll keep you posted on this one;-)
Happy New Year to all. Thanks for your readership and support.
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