The Pop Culture Pundit

Thanksgiving–a time for family, friends, food…and pop culture of course. Some watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; others root for their favorite football team. Others, like myself, even watch all the iconic Friends Thanksgiving episodes. In honor of the Thanksgiving spirit (even if it’s a little belated), I have compiled a list of popular culture I am thankful for this past year. When you’re tired from leftover turkey, read this list, enjoy, and grab the remote to watch some TV, movies, or music videos. 

1. Glen Powell

Glen Powell had a breakthrough year in 2024 with three hit movies, including Anyone But You, Hit Man, and Twisters. His momentum has continued this year with the TV show Chad Powers, film The Running Man, and his recent appearance on Saturday Night Live. Powell gave perhaps the most wholesome monologue ever where he revealed he brought his UPS driver after telling him he was hosting four years prior (which was tragically cancelled due to COVID). More Powell–and Chad Powers!–pretty please.

^{SNL via YouTube}

2. Taylor Swift Finally Owning her Masters

I do not need to state on this blog the cultural impact of Taylor Swift, because I’m pretty sure she’s the most famous pop superstar on the planet. But after years of Swift’s masters dispute playing out in the public eye, it feels like a victory for not just her, but for fans too, that she has finally achieved her dream of owning her music herself. It’s an understatement to say she’s changed the entire music industry (and broken a bajillion records too. We love the hustle). Now we can all listen to the original “Style” without feeling guilty! 

3. Zack Morris is Trash YouTube series and Zack to the Future podcast

I’ll admit I don’t watch much YouTube or listen to many podcasts–except, it seems, when it comes to anything Saved by the Bell related. A show I once despised for its lack of continuity and ridiculed for being labeled “Educational and Informative” is now giving me life. Dashiell Driscoll’s hilarious sendup of Saved By the Bell’s Zack Morris frames the beloved 90s icon as an infamous, sociopathic narcissist. Zack Morris indeed got away with some insane schemes–just look at some of the Zack Morris is Trash episode titles: 

“The Time Zack Morris Put a Baby in a Gym Bag Then Lost HIm”

^{Funny or Die via YouTube}

“The Time Zack Morris Got His Best Friend Scheduled For Dissection By The Government”

^{Shoutout to my dad for introducing me to this beautiful universe of chaos (Funny or Die via YouTube)}

If that wasn’t enough, in 2020, Driscoll teamed up with Zack Morris himself, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, where the two discussed Saved By the Bell together on the Zack to the Future podcast. Though I doubt the podcast will ever get renewed despite ending abruptly in the middle of season 3 of Saved by the Bell, I can only hope–after all, crazier things on Saved by the Bell have happened. 

4. Hilary Duff’s Return to Music

^{Hilary Duff via YouTube} 

I cannot believe it has been ten years since Ms. Lizzie McGuire last released music, including the chef’s kiss of a song that is “Sparks”–but now luckily, eleven years later, she is giving us more with the upcoming (and appropriately titled) album Luck…or Something. The new single “Mature” shows her beautiful metamorphosis, fitting right into the pop soundscape of today. Wake up, wake up. It’s time to dance (maybe even on a Saturday night). 

5. Mr. Fantasy

^{MR. FANTASY via YouTube}

I love Mr. Fantasy. I live Mr. Fantasy. I am a FANtasy you could even say. The alleged alter ego of KJ Apa seems to be breaking the Internet every other week, first with his debut single “Mr. Fantasy” and now with his debut live performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where he was dressed as a pirate no less. With his new song “Catapult” dropping the day after Thanksgiving, who needs leftovers from the big meal when Mr. Fantasy is keeping us fed!? 

6. Kevin Costner Movies

^{Orion Pictures via YouTube}

Two of my favorite movies of 2025 weren’t even from this year–or this century, for that matter. Before Kevin Costner was known for dramatically leaving Yellowstone, he was lighting the movie theater on fire with dramatic, shocking, and thrilling films. My two favorite movies of his are both from 1987–The Untouchables is a thrilling (if factually dubious) retelling of the criminal investigation leading to Al Capone’s arrest, while No Way Out is a whodunit suspense flick that’ll leave you guessing until the very end. The acting, the music, and the action were all top tier. Don’t look up the endings to either–it’s better going in not knowing. 

7. Movie Re-Releases in Theaters

Speaking of watching throwbacks, two of my favorite films I saw in the theater were also not from this year. I had the pleasure of watching my favorite movie of ALL TIME, Back to the Future, in the theater for the first time EVER. Then, I saw Twilight for the first time, and it was so hilariously bad I need to watch the rest of the franchise immediately. Now is my time to make a public plea to theaters–please re-release Point Break for its 35th anniversary next year! I need to see Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves skydive together on the big screen.