PopHampton: The Four Seasons of Hamptons Pop Culture
It’s hard to believe that 2014 is almost over. So much happened over the course of this year that it’s easy to forget all the crazy, exciting stuff that occurred. With the world so full of real-life drama, it’s important to remember all the “pop drama” that keeps us gasping and laughing. And let’s face it, folks—the East End is chock full of pop drama, thanks to the crazy, wonderful personalities that populate it throughout the year.
Oh, winter—once the holiday excitement is finished, there’s not a lot to look forward to during the first months of the year. No, I’m totally kidding! The beginning of 2014 was super-exciting. Take, for example, Sag Harborite Billy Joel beginning his historic residency at Madison Square Garden—the monthly concerts have proven so popular that his residency will continue well into 2015. The Golden Globe Awards in January seemed to love The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the career of Hamptons regular Jordan Belfort, who was embroiled in a high-profile fraud scandal on Wall Street in the 1980s. Leonardo DiCaprio played the controversial figure and won a Golden Globe for his work. Other wintery highlights: Water Mill’s Jennifer Lopez returned to judge American Idol; NBC pulled the plug on The Michael J. Fox Show, a ratings-stunted comedy starring the Quogue resident; CNN canceled AC 360 Later, a lighter, late-night news show hosted by Quiogue’s Anderson Cooper; and comedienne and talk show host Joy Behar moved to Sag Harbor. As winter wound down, the Academy Awards honored films featuring East End favorites, with Blue Jasmine (featuring Alec Baldwin) and Her (starring Amagansett’s Scarlett Johansson) being nominated for multiple awards.
The flowers started to bloom in the spring, but it wasn’t all roses and daisies in the world of pop culture—Amagansett power couple Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin went through one of the most curious breakups in recent memory. Paltrow drew lots of criticism for her goop blog post “Conscious Uncoupling,” which detailed her pretentious-sounding philosophy about separating from Martin. Paltrow also angered some when she compared herself to working moms on E! “I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it’s not like being on set,” the star said. Martin proceeded to date 24-year-old Jennifer Lawrence, and Paltrow actually gave them her blessing! Mix in a bonkers feud with East Hampton’s Martha Stewart, and Paltrow had a tumultuous 2014. Here’s hoping things quiet down for her soon!
Luckily, spring wasn’t all breakups and turmoil. Hamptons visitor Hugh Jackman drew rave reviews for his performance as Wolverine in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and ScarJo stole the show in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And How I Met Your Mother’s final season—which took place in the fictional Far Hampton—ended its run with a poignant episode that divided fans’ opinions.
Summer is the busiest time of the year for the East End, and this year was no exception. Hamptons-set medical dramedy Royal Pains returned in June, featuring actual Hamptons locales. The “krazy” Kardashian family spent their summer in the Hamptons for Kourtney and Khloé Take the Hamptons, which is currently airing on E! The Kardashians set up shop in Southampton with their pop-up DASH boutique, while Kourtney’s boyfriend Scott—who grew up in the Hamptons and went to the Ross School—got into some trouble with his hard-partying. Khloé and Scott even made an appearance on the season finale of Royal Pains!
As the leaves started turning in the fall, the 2014-2015 TV season commenced, with ABC’s soapy Revenge returning for a fourth season and Showtime debuting The Affair, a moody mystery/drama set and filmed in Montauk. The Affair has earned several nominations in the upcoming Golden Globes. Revenge has a spotty track record when it comes to its Hamptons accuracy, and this season is no exception. For weekly Revenge recaps, head to DansPapers.com.
And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Sagaponack’s Jimmy Fallon, who had a second child, Frances Cole, on December 3.