2010 was a red-letter year for us. And by us, I'm speaking both of BYUtv and the world at large. So in the style of that famous talk show host, here are a few of my Top 10 lists for your perusal (in no particular order):
GOOD THINGS OF 2010
1. WORLD CUP
Yes, as far as sports go, football is America's darling, but we saw a lot of love for the world's favorite sport during the 2010 World Cup. The final match between Spain and The Netherlands had us all on the edge of our seats.
2. IPAD
Debuting in April, the sleek 10-inch touchscreen tablet wooed thousands of technophiles and regular old Apple-lovers alike.
3. TOY STORY 3
In a somewhat lackluster year at the movies, I was happy to sit in a theatre packed with my twentysomething peers as we laughed and cried to this final installment of the franchise that put Pixar on the map.
4. CHILEAN MINERS RESCUED
After a greuling 69 days underground, the whole world held its breath with anticipation as the the 33 Chilean miners were finally rescued and reunited with their families.
5. SURPRISE WEDDING RECEPTION
Though the honor of most-watch YouTube video of 2010 goes to young popster Justin Beiber, arguably one of my favorites goes to New York comedy troupe Improv Everywhere. They staged a surprise wedding reception for an unsuspecting couple. What resulted was one of the kindest pranks the internet has ever seen. Watch here.
6. CUPCAKES
I know the cupcake craze hit the coasts 6 years ago, but cupcakes have finally hit saturation and now suburbanites can also partake of the wonderful and weird flavors of gourmet cupcakes.
7. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON
This video.
8. GOOGLE STARS
This "ditigal-stargazing" program from the incredibly-inventive Google actually premiered in 2007, but it finally hit mainstream in 2010. Google Stars lets you see the beautiful night skies by mapping out the stars. Be sure to check out the stunning images captured by the Hubble Telescope. Try it out.
9. E-LEGS EXOSKELETON
Perhaps one of the most exciting inventions of 2010 was the eLegs Exoskeleton, a robotic device that enables parapalegic people to, well, stand up and walk. Watch the incredible video that demos the technology here.
10. UNDERCOVER MESSIAH SING-ALONG
Nothing could round out the year better than this impromptu Messiah concert at Macy's.
GOOD THINGS AT BYUTV IN 2010
1. NEW BYU BROADCASTING BUILDING
This was the year we moved from a South Provo warehouse into our new super-high tech facility. Find it next to the Marriott Center.
2. BYU FOOTBALL GOES INDEPENDENT
Perhaps no one is more excited about this than we are. We've got some exclusive broadcasting rights for games in 2011, along with ESPN. This announcement has secured BYUtv's role as the home of BYU Sports. Watch Dave McCann and BYU coaches discuss here.
3. PREMIERED NEW SHOWS
This year we welcomed Food Nanny, The Generations Project, and the new True Blue to our roster. Look out for new seasons of all 3 in 2011.
4. NEW LOGO
We got a makeover in 2010. A fresh new look to match our fresh new outlook on fun and inspiring shows in the coming years.
5. NEW WEBSITE
We added a host of features to our new website. Explore for a while. We'd love to hear what you think.
6. BYUTV IPAD APP
It's almost here! Stay tuned!
7. NEW DIRECTOR OF CONTENT
Former IMAX producer Scott Swofford joined our forces in October, hot of the heels of the new mormon.org campaign. We're excited to have such a creative leader at the helm of our content.
8. HD TRUCK
We must have been extra good this year. Not only did we get an amazing new building, we also got a great new high-definition truck. See a few photos here.
9. NANNY PLAN APP
Our first app premiered this summer. It is a great tool to help to plan 2 weeks of dinner, and to get your famliy back around the dinner table. Try it out.
10. BYUTV 10TH ANNIVERSARY
In 2000 we started our first over-the-air broadcasts. It's been ten years and our growth has been exponential. We'll continue to bring you great shows, apps, and tools to help you see the good in the world.
