2016: The Best In TV, Music, Film And Stage

By Darlene Donloe

The year, 2016, will go down in history for many reasons. To say there were memorable moments would be an understatement.

From shocking politics, to international issues, to wondrous Olympic achievements, to global warming, it was simply unforgettable. Along the way, we lost some giants in entertainment – too many to mention. Too many were gone too soon. It was a stellar year in music, theater, television and especially film.

Below is my take on the best that 2016 had to offer in entertainment.  It is only based on the music, theater, television and films that I listened to or watched – so if your favorite does not appear – I may NOT have seen it.

BEST MOVIE:

Moonlight – A24

Hidden Figures – 20^th Century Fox

Birth Of A Nation – Fox Searchlight

Manchester By The Sea – Roadside Attraction/Amazon Studios

Kicks – Focus Features

Kati Kati

Loving – Focus Features

Queen of Katwe – Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films

Hands of Stone – The Weinstein Company

Fences - Paramount

BEST TV SHOWS:

Greenleaf - OWN

Queen Sugar - OWN

This Is Us - NBC

Insecure - HBO

 Underground - WGN

Atlanta - FX

Survivor’s Remorse - Starz

Blackish - ABC

Luke Cage - Netflix

Star - Fox

BEST DOCUMENTARIES

13th

I Am Not Your Negro

Olympic Pride – American Prejudice

Like Cotton Twines

Mavis

Maya Angelou – And Still I Rise

BEST LOS ANGELES THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

Fly – Pasadena Playhouse

Father Comes Home From The Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3 – Mark Taper Forum

Recorded in Hollywood – Kirk Douglas Theatre

The Mountaintop – Matrix Theatre

Kinky Boots - Pantages

No Place To Be Somebody – Robey Theatre Company - Los Angeles Theatre Center

A Raisin In The Sun – Ruskin Group Theatre

Grey Gardens – Ahmanson Theatre

Dreamgirls – Valley Performing Arts Center (Northridge)

The King And I - Pantages

BEST ALBUM:

Gregory Porter – Take Me To The Alley

A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service

David Bowie – Blackstar

Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution

Rihanna - Anti

Prince – 4Ever

Beyonce - Lemonade

Solange – A Beat At The Table

Frank Ocean – Blonde

Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book

BEST SONG:

In Common – Alicia Keys

Formation – Beyonce

Work – Rihanna

One Dance – Drake

Lake By The Ocean - Maxwell

Take Me To The Alley – Gregory Porter

Mardi Gras In New Orleans – Allen Toussaint

Blessings – Chance The Rapper

We The People – A Tribe Called Quest

Cranes In The Sky – Solange

Drone Bomb Me – Anohni

Pink + White – Frank Ocean

I Can’t Give Everything Away – David Bowie