By Bry’onna Mention ·Updated January 7, 2022
New year, same pandemic! Closing out the first week of the year 2022—though it feels like an extension of 2021 with the loss of Sidney Poitier—there is still so much to look forward to. As announcements of new shows, books, goals, ventures, and babies, rolled in, you might have been too distracted to catch it all. So, here’s a few things you might have missed this week.
1. Saturday Night Live Is Back In 2022 With Ariana DeBose and Roddy Ricch
Looks like the longest running sketch comedy series is back. Saturday Night Live took a lot of hits in the beginning of the pandemic, but miraculously pushed through, broadcasting sketches from cast members’ homes. However, SNL’s Holiday episode hosted by Paul Rudd was cancelled due to the Omicron variant surge. Hobbling along into the second leg of its 47th season, SNL returns later this month on January 15 with first time appearances from West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose as host and Roddy Ricch as the musical guest.
2. And The Winner Is… ?
Speaking of taking hits, award season is looking shaky again too. This week, it was announced the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show scheduled for January 31 was postponed. In a joint statement from CBS and the Recording Academy, the Covid surge “contains too many risks.” The Golden Globes, however, is still on, but will be a completely private affair. Viewers will receive winner updates via Twitter. It will not be live-streamed. But that’s not due to Covid. Earlier in 2021, NBC released a statement that the 2022 Golden Globes would not air after backlash of many snubs from critically-acclaimed Black productions like HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Judas and the Black Messiah. With hopes of reform, the network’s statement said “Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”
3. Rihanna Teases New SAVAGE X FENTY Store
In a rare appearance on Instagram, Rihanna updated her 116 million followers that she had a whole new experience for them. No, it’s still not a new album. The 33-year-old singer-turned-billionaire business mogul posted an image of a Savage X Fenty store to announce she’s launching in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)
4. January 6th Is Unofficially Eugene Goodman Day
January 6, marked the one year anniversary to the Capitol Riot. While much of the coverage from big media outlets focused on reactions from the Democrats (Dick and Liz Cheney were the only Republicans present) and Capitol staff and officers, Americans deserved an update from Officer Eugene Goodman. Video footage showed that Officer Goodman, single-handedly, distracted the mob of rioters away from government officials by leading them in the opposite direction. Other footage showed him redirecting Sen. Mitt Romney away from the mob as well. As Officer Eugene Goodman still works at the Capitol, we continue to celebrate him as an American hero.
Remember Officer Eugene Goodman today. pic.twitter.com/kukLXP053N
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 6, 2022 5. Coko Trapped On Interstate For Hours
Hundreds of people were stranded on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia due to dangerous road conditions from a winter storm. SWV songstress,
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