Tuned in
Nickelodeon could be the station to watch for tomorrow’s hottest new actors, Tribune television reporter Allan Johnson says. “Nick has got two shows that we may need to keep our eyes on in January. One is the all-new `All That’ (7 p.m. Central Time Jan. 19), with an all-new cast of teen comedy performers. The second is ‘The Nick Cannon Show’ (7:30 p.m. Central Time Jan. 19), starring a fave from `All That’ who goes into real-life situations like getting involved in a family dinner or a baseball game, and hanging out with celebrities like Britney Spears, Eddie Murphy and others.”
Readers’ picks:
– “SpongeBob Squarepants” (Nickelodeon). “He’s really weird but always happy.” –Maya R., 13, of Chicago
– “Friends” (NBC). “It’s going to be like ‘The Simpsons’ and keep going strong.” –Glenna R., 13, of Chicago
– “Alias” (ABC). “I think it’s a great show with a great plot line.” –Nick F., 13, of Chicago
– “That ’80s Show” (Fox, premieres Jan. 23). “The previews look pretty funny.” –Matt C., 14, of Chicago.
– Cartoon series. ” `The Simpsons,’ `Futurama’ and `King of the Hill’ will still be strong because they’re popular with kids and the humor appeals to adults.” –Spencer H., 14, of Chicago
Your prediction: ————–
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Pop fizz
Britney Spears was everywhere in 2001 and don’t expect a change this year, says Maureen Ryan, an editor with the Tribune Arts and Entertainment section. “Though the boy bands may be fading, I predict that Britney won’t be going anywhere for at least a year or two. But the increasing disorganization of the music industry means that record companies will be willing to take more chances, and we might see in 2002 the emergence of talented newcomers like Nelly Furtado, the Gorillaz and Jill Scott. The biggest success story of the new year will be the continued dominance–and influence–of hip-hop.”
Readers’ picks:
– Redman and Wu-Tang Clan. “They’ll only get hotter.” –Spencer H.
– Nickelback, Gorillaz and Linkin Park. “You really want to dance and sing along.” –Robin B.
– Alicia Keys (the name as published has been corrected in this text). “She’s accomplished, not just one of those people who sings nasally.” –Nina B.
– Alien Ant Farm. “I like their remake of Michael Jackson’s ‘Criminal.’ ” –Nick F.
Your prediction: —
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Deja view
Watch for familiar favorites to fill the big screen, Tribune movie reporter Mark Caro says. “Expect 2002 to be the year of the big brand names. New `Star Wars’! New `Harry Potter’! New `Lord of the Rings’! New `Men in Black’! Oh, yeah, and don’t forget about the `Spider-Man’ (could be cool …) and `Scooby-Doo’ (um, don’t think so …) flicks. And maybe–just maybe–someone will come up with a good original idea too.”
Readers’ picks:
– “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (out in November). “Everybody really liked the first one.” –Maya R.
– The Austin Powers movie “Goldmember” (out in July). “The second one was the best.” –Matt C.
– “Lord of the Rings” sequel “The Two Towers” (out in December). “It’ll be a hit with kids.” –Nick F.
– “Scooby Doo” (out in June). “It looks like fun.” –Katherine B., 13, of Skokie
– “Spider-Man” (out in May). “I’m excited to see it.” –Nick F.
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Back to work
Will the economy recover in 2002? Tribune markets columnist Bill Barnhart says: “I’m sure it’ll improve. The economic reports in the last several weeks indicate the worst of the recession is over. Retail sales have held up fairly well; consumer confidence continues to climb, even though there’s still concern about unemployment; and the federal reserve has been lowering interest rates, which puts money into the hands of the people.”
Readers predict:
– “The economy will get better. Probably the war in Afghanistan is going to stop in early 2002 and everybody will be happy again.”–Nikki C., 10, of Chicago
– “It’ll get a little better. It has gone down because of Sept. 11, and people have not spent as much money on pleasurable things because they have felt guilty.”–Robin B.
– “It’s going to get worse because of what’s happening with world events. Everyone is too scared to spend.”–Nick F.
– “It’ll get better but slowly because people aren’t that confident about spending money. It’ll start to build next year.”–Spencer H.
Your prediction: ———–
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Gold fever
How many medals will U.S. athletes take home from the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? More than ever–five gold medals, 21 total medals–predicts the Tribune’s Olympic sports reporter Philip Hersh. “Thanks to event inflation and home snow advantage, the U.S. will win a record number of medals–eight more than its previous best, set at Nagano in 1998. There are 30 more medals at stake than there were four years ago. One surprise: The U.S. will not win a figure-skating gold for the first time since 1980.”
Readers predict:
– Two gold, five total medals. “I don’t think the U.S. will win that many because there are really good people from Russia, Poland and those cold countries.”–Robin B.
– 12 gold, 27 medals. –Katherine B.
– 15 gold, 20 medals. –Maya R.
– Seven gold, 13 medals.
“I think [figure skater] Michelle Kwan will get gold or silver.” –Nikki C.
Your prediction: ——–
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Mr. Popular?
Not many–if any–modern American presidents have enjoyed higher approval ratings among voters than President Bush has during his first year in office. But can the president keep it up? Tribune national political correspondent Jeff Zeleny says: “President Bush has a difficult year ahead, particularly with the war on terrorism still underway and the economy still sluggish. His popularity depends upon the success of those efforts, but holding an approval rating of 80 to 90 percent for another year will be a major challenge.”
Will President Bush remain as popular? Readers predict:
– “No. People have looked up to him because he could deal with aftermath of Sept. 11. Now that things are more calmed down, I don’t think he’ll stay as popular.” –Nina B.
– “No. People will get tired of the war.” –Matt C.
– “If we win the war, yes, he’ll be as popular. If we don’t win the war, maybe.” –Nikki C.
– “Yes. People will still support him.” –Maya R.
Your prediction: —-
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Seriously, folks
Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller predicts Americans will be in the mood to delve into movies, songs and books that have depth and will turn away from entertainment that’s all about attitude and fluff. She says: “Look for longer novels about multi-generational families; movies with complex characters; and music that’s about more than romance. In: Steven Spielberg, earnest poets. Out: Adam Sandler, ‘N Sync, smart alecks.”
What else will people be talking about this year? Readers predict:
– Rebuilding the World Trade Center. “I think we should rebuild one building and have the other as a memorial site. We should build the outline of the building in black, like a ghost, and leave the rubble around it. It’d be haunting.”–Robin B.
– The human transporter, a new high-tech, motorized scooter by inventor Dean Kamen. “It seems cool.” –Nick F.
Your prediction: ———————–
Seeing double
Tribune science reporter Peter Gorner predicts: “The promise of stem cells–especially embryo cloning–will continue to be the biggest story in science. Also, new advances in genetic screening coming from the Human Genome Project will enable us to tell the future while there’s still time to alter it.”
Readers predict these scientific issues will be big:
– Cloning. “Its technology that can do good or bad, and it’s really important. You could duplicate things like endangered species.” –Spencer H.
– Vaccinations against biological warfare. “Scientists will want to prevent more anthrax outbreaks and stuff.”–Glenna R.
– Electric cars. “People will be interested in them because of CFCs and pollution.” –Maya R.
– Global warming. “It sounds really scary. Scientists will be thinking about what can happen and how it can affect us.” –Nick F.
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Box it up
Tribune computer columnist James Coates predicts Microsoft’s new Xbox computer game system won’t catch on. “What we’ve seen with the Xbox is the games don’t have the same kind of imagination and rapport with the audience that PlayStation games do or even the Dreamcast had. No one is talking about this game or that game being a really great game.”
When it comes to video games and systems, readers predict:
– “Xbox, the Microsoft console, and [Nintendo’s] GameCube will be popular.” –Spencer H.
– “New game systems will push video game quality so it’s better and better.”–Katherine B.
– “Xbox will do the best. Better games will come out because of the new systems.”
–Matt C.
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True blue (and red)
Michelle Crowe, a Chicago stylist who regularly writes about fashion for the Tribune, says people will once again be wrapped up in anything red, white and blue in 2002.”I do think patriotic is going to continue into the new year, basically because of the Olympics. Anytime we have the Olympics, everybody gets sporty and flag-inspired.”
Readers’ picks:
– Sweater coats. “They’re really comfortable, cool-looking and practical.”
–Katherine B.
– Tank tops. “Some of my friends are wearing them year-round under sweaters or sweatshirts.” –Nikki C.
– Baggy jeans. “Here to stay are baggy jeans and big clothes. As long as rap is in, that’ll be around.”–Spencer H.
– Comfort clothes: “It’s going to be something that you wear at home and never thought about wearing out, like slipper-like shoes or pajama-like shirts in really flowery patterns.”
–Robin B.
Your prediction: ————-
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