ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 1-2, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places New Year ‘Get lost 2020’ Some things to leave behind, with caveats By Leanne Italie oom, Zoom and Zoom. Masks, masks and masks. ZSourdough starter and short-order cooking. In these “troubled times,” in our sweat pants and the iso- lation we endure “out of an abundance of caution,” there isn’t much not to be over as 2020 comes to a longed for halt. With the election behind us, along with its deluge of texts and cries of fake news, the year was a mess of common horrors and inconveniences driven by political divisions, racial injustice and the deadly and persistent pandemic, with chronic language to match. But not all things 2020 need to be left behind. More white people have realized racism is real and present. Quppies (as in quarantine pup- pies) and Quittens (the feline equivalent) have enriched mil- lions of lives. Family dinner is back on the table and corona- virus pods have turned friends into family. Here’s a few more things we’re over as we start 2021, and a few things we may just remember fondly: Distance Learning Redfi eld There’s no denying that some kids have done OK and others have suffered greatly from school at home, as have their parents. And when the pandemic sputters to an end, all kids will return to their classrooms. While we wait, let’s talk teacher heroes trying to make the most of their worst case scenarios. They’ve organized drive-by parades and made TikTok dance videos for gym class. They’ve delivered meals to students and written encouraging chalk messages on doorsteps. They’ve transformed kitchens into chemis- try labs and tutored kids through porch doors. Thank you. Renee Zellweger, winner of Best Actress for ‘Judy’, appears backstage at the Bafta Film Awards, in central London on Feb 2, 2020. Zellweger has earned her first Streaming Explosion Grammy nomination this year. The ‘Judy’ soundtrack, which features Zellweger covering songs like ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘The Trolley Song,’ is nominated for best Do those of us who can’t or won’t march back into traditional pop vocal album. (AP) movie theaters miss the big screen experience? Sure. But streaming exploded at just the right time, includ- ing fi rst-run fi lms available at home. That means a diz- zying array of choices, but also that parents don’t have to suffer in the dark through “Trolls World Tour.” It means more couples are cuddling up on the couch and Music more families are making their own popcorn to sit down together for movie night. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator and owner of NBCUniversal, reportedly passed a telling First Grammy nod a thrilling surprise: Zellweger milestone: It now has more streaming subscribers than cable-TV subscribers. What we’re over? Let’s work on decent, affordable Wi-Fi for all. After Oscar for ‘Judy’, is Grammy next? Oh The Bread We made bread. We made bread! WE MADE NEW YORK, Dec 31, (AP): Renée years. Nominees include Burt Bacha- Convincing Zellweger she’s a real BREAD. Yes, we did. And now we’re thinking it Zellweger is known for acting but you rach, James Taylor, Harry Connick Jr. singer is a tougher job. When she’s might be time to stop. As the pandemic brought on could easily write a thesis about her love and Rufus Wainwright, who performs asked when she knew she could sing, baking — and hoarding — madness in March, fl our for music. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christ- she replied: “I still don’t know.” was in short supply for a time, along with yeast. This cover image released by Colum- The entertainer won her second mas” with Zellweger on the “Judy” al- “I still don’t think of myself as a sing- Some companies reported the biggest spikes in sales bia Records shows ‘Letter To You’ by Academy Award for portraying Judy bum. er. I think of myself as someone who’s were for bread fl our. With nothing but time at home Bruce Springsteen. The album was named one of the top 10 of the year Garland in last year’s “Judy,” for which “It was scary to ask Rufus, ‘Hey, trying to sing. Or who works to. I still for plenty of proving and chilling of dough, many in by The Associated Press. (AP) Zellweger did her own singing in front what are you doing? Want to come sing don’t know what I sound like when I’m quarantine tried their hand at bread. And who’s the of live audiences. She was praised for a duet with me?,’” she recalled. “I know just being myself,” she explained. “So, queen? Sourdough, along with her mother. her performance in 2002’s “Chicago.” people say that all the time, but it’s the yeah, I don’t know.” Talk of sourdough starters spread like a loaf on fi re. And she’s an avid concertgoer and live- truth: I really have been singing with She trained heavily to get her voice Boasts of decades-old mothers proliferated. Then the music appreciator who jumped up and Rufus for 20 years-plus in my car.” strong enough to perform in “Judy,” COVID 19 (pounds, not virus) led some to reconsider down in her gown when Eminem sur- which chronicles the last years of Gar- all that baking. prised the audience at last year’s Oscars Remembers land’s life shortly before her death in But, the thing is, we did it! and despite being an A-list star, sneaks Zellweger remembers seeing Con- 1969 at age 47. The Great Outdoors out to concerts just to get her music fi x. nick Jr. live, describing the crooner as “Previously I didn’t know much We’ve hiked. We’ve walked. We’ve dined out- She’s also a proud card-carrying “an authentic person and performer.” about what goes into building a voice doors. As winter descends in cold-weather environs, member of the Beyhive. “What you see is what you get,” Zell- or that it was even possible. I just sort are we over it or merely bundling up to continue seek- “She raises the bar when it comes weger said. “Stomping his foot up there of did what I was told (and I) was very ing space free of walls? Add-on value of leaving one’s to work ethic. I admire with her that if onstage at the Hollywood Bowl and you happy to have things to try. I liked look- home in a pandemic: Being able to wave at the neigh- she’s going to do it, she’s knocking it feel like you’re in the living room with ing at the project and the goal from that bors without stopping to say hello, because coronavi- Wells Denver into the stratosphere or she’s not going him or something.” perspective. It seemed insurmountable rus, and because we’re all introverts now. to do it,” said Zellweger, who gushed “Speaking of the living room,” she otherwise.” The great outdoors has led some to rediscover over Beyoncé’s groundbreaking perfor- continued, “a friend of mine had won Zellweger impressed audiences and what’s right in front of them: their local parks, their mance at the 2005 Oscars. “She was the this lottery thing or bid on something. It critics around the world, winning at the backyards, their decks, their porches. And they’ve Variety north star on that one ... She’s the one was a private concert with Burt ... and Golden Globes, SAG Awards, BAFTAs spent some of their newfound time sprucing them up. carrying that gift we’re all so blessed to Carole Bayer Sager and they played in and Independent Spirit Awards. She had Work from home offi ce views are now trees and gar- experience in one way or another.” the living room. And he played ‘Alfi e’ to practice habits like touring musicians dens and birds for many. LOS ANGELES: Dawn Wells, who played So it should be no surprise - unless in the living room. Oh, believe me. I do to keep her voice together: “Dairy Outside isn’t entirely out of reach for those fac- the wholesome Mary Ann among a misfi t you’re Zellweger - that she’s earned was downloading every moment in my was out the door. No thanks.” ing down winter, and for all who are supremely over band of shipwrecked castaways on the her fi rst Grammy nomination this year. memory - just to savor it and to smile “I never really understood the whole working from home. 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died The “Judy” soundtrack, which features on it.” air conditioning problem, but I did in Wednesday of causes related to COV- Zellweger covering songs like “Over Getting Zellweger to go on and on this experience,” she continued. “I know Dump The Doomscrolling ID-19, her publicist said. She was 82. We bought new distractions and made long to-do the Rainbow” and “The Trolley Song,” about music is light work. The Texan that there are certain cycles where you Wells died peacefully at a residential is nominated for best traditional pop vo- has been going for concerts for years are stronger as a vocalist and less strong lists. We had big pandemic plans, darn it. Perhaps facility in Los Angeles, publicist Harlan we’ve done a thing or two, but the endless time suck Boll said. “There is so much more to cal album - an award Tony Bennett has and she even had tickets for a show that depending on where you are in terms of of consuming negative news has us prone and fretting Dawn Wells” than the “Gilligan’s Island” won a dozen times.