50 Moments in 2019 That Actually Made Us Happy

There were good things that happened in 2019. Really.

I mean, a lot of horrible, disturbing, apocalyptic, humanity-in-crisis, extremely bad things happened, too. But there was a lot to celebrate, laugh at, laugh with, escape to, delight over, indulge in, cry (happy tears) about, and dance to. Things that made us feel something. Something good.

At the end of the year for the last two years, weve called out on social media to Daily Beast readers and staffers. Theres so much focus on superlativesThe Best This, The Worst Thatthat we wondered what things just made us happy, forget about where they might rank on any list. Like last year, we were heartened by the response.

The picks below are by no means an exhaustive list. In an uplifting twist, it would take more time than we have to include all of the years joyous, emotional moments you all singled out. Some are my personal choices. Some are suggestions from The Daily Beast newsroom. Some are from readers responding on social media, and many were recommended by all four. So here you are. Smile, friends.

Kelly Clarksons Kellyoke

There are few pop-culture pleasures greater than Kelly Clarkson singing, well, anything. But its especially gratifying when shes singing one of your favorite songs from your favorite artists better than they did in the first place. Her Kellyoke segments that kicked off each episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show were the daily hit of dopamine we needed this year.

Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers

The Nice Guy Summit we needed and deserved.

J. Lo stripping to Criminal in Hustlers

Jennifer Lopez, at age 50, stripping to Fionas Apple Criminal. Bless everyone involved with this movie.

The Other Two on Comedy Central

An absolutely hilarious series about aging millennial ennui, gay male insecurity, and the oppressive nature of the modern entertainment industry? Thats this well-written and acted? That also features Molly Shannon? In this climate?

Lizzos Tiny Desk concert

Choosing a favorite moment of the last year from 2019s reigning ray of musical sunshine and my pop-culture therapist is nearly impossible. But Lizzos Tiny Desk Concert appearance encapsulates everything thats so great about her. The songs and the talent, stripped down to basics. The stage presence. And a canny ability to poke fun with reverence, in this case by welcoming us all to the Tiny-ass Desk Concert.

The Hot Priest from Fleabag

Anything from Fleabag, really. The entirety of that dinner party premiere. Phoebe Waller-Bridges jumpsuit. The therapy session with Fiona Shaw. Sian Cliffords I look like a pencil haircut. But, really, its the Hot Priest that got us through the toughest parts of this year.

Wendy Williams not knowing what Fleabag is

The years best comedic timing is in this video.

Sorry to This Man

The circumstances behind the years greatest meme are as mundane as they are outrageous. Hustlers star Keke Palmer is shown a picture of Dick Cheney, doesnt recognize him, and begins an unintentionally hilarious monologue about how she has no idea who he is.

Daniel Craigs accent in Knives Out

Turns out James Bond speaking like Foghorn Leghorn is an absolute delight.

Billy Porters red carpet looks

10, 10, 10: 10s across the board. Every. Single. Time.

Olivia Colmans Oscar speech

All Oscar speeches from now on should include a floopy, spitty raspberry sound made with ones tongue.

The brilliant performances in Booksmart

The first time I saw Booksmart, I thought the roof was going to explode off the theater, everyone was laughing so hard.

Adrienne Warrens finale concert in Tina

What Adrienne Warren manages in the final moments of the Broadway musical is a full-on summoning of Tina Turner, a feat of vocal and physical athleticism that is other-worldly.

MEL magazines coverage of gay and Gen Z culture

No outlet is doing a better job surfacing and then explaining the curious phenomena of gay and Gen Z culture. Case in point: The Problematic Legacy of Mr. Peanut, Gay Capitalist. A blend of real, dogged reporting and irreverent humor? We stan. (Are kids these days still stanning?)

June June Hannah

I dont know why spacey steward June Foster never, not once, answered her name when she was radioed on Bravos Below Deck: Mediterranean. But the exasperation of her boss Hannah Ferrier every time she called June June Hannah was never not hilarious.

The kombucha meme

A woman tried kombucha for the first time, couldnt decide if she liked it, and birthed the most versatile meme of the year.

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe was alternately a walking (or kicking) protest, a lightning rod, a LGBTQ+ icon, and, above all, a badass athlete during the U.S. soccer teams run to World Cup victory.

Moira Rose as a half-human, half-crow mutant on Schitts Creek

Catherine OHara is a national treasure.

Every minute of Ma

Ma, you fucking got me. There has never been a truer line of dialogue.

Megan Mullally singing The Man That Got Away

Will & Grace has always been effective at halting the zany and bringing in the gravitas, but never more so than when Karen sang the Judy Garland torch song.

This inexplicable blonde haircut

Why do I find it so attractive? Help.

Emma Thompsons Late Night performance

Emma Thompson gets her own Devil Wears Prada showcase, and watching her deliver those tongue lashings is as gratifying as you could have dreamed.

Forky introducing himself as Im Trash in Toy Story 4

Relatable icon.

The epilogue of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Did I cry? One of my favorite animated film franchises went full-on Born Free with its surprise final scene. Of course I did.

The PEN15 girls

It was the most welcome surprise of the year to see Maya Erskine and Anna Konkles Hulu series, in which the 32-year-old creators, writers, and stars portray middle schoolers alongside actual prepubescent tweens, elevate itself from cute gimmick to one of the most profound, humorous, and empathetically human TV shows of the year.

Billy Eichners voice work in The Lion King

Eichners take on the animated meerkat as a neurotic existentialist turned out to be the highlight of The Lion King remake, and perhaps even one of the greatest voice performances of all time.

Tom and Greg on Succession

You cant make a Tomlette without breaking a few Greggs.

The Bon Apptit test kitchen videos

I cant cook. I wont cook. But I will watch 14 consecutive hours of TV shows and videos of professionals teaching me how to cook and not contemplate the absurdity of those three facts. The series of videos featuring staffers from Bon Apptit teaching everything from how to make a gourmet version of a Snickers to how to cook the perfect Thanksgiving dinner are my new obsessions.

Merritt Wever in Marriage Story

The Marriage Story cast is stacked with award-worthy performances. But the stealth MVP is Meritt Wever playing her specialty: comedic relief that is so rooted in recognizable pathos and humanity, her character becomes the most relatable in the project shes in.

Jennifer Garners delightful Instagram account

Truly the only celebrity worth following on Instagram.

Jennifer Hudson singing The Jeffersons theme

Try watching this once and then not immediately watching it 75 more times after.

Ali Stroker winning a Tony Award

In 2015, Ali Stroker became the first actress who uses a wheelchair to appear on the Broadway stage. This year, she won a Tony Award for playing Ado Annie in the horny revival of Oklahoma! If you did not immediately burst into tears when her name was called, seek therapy immediately.

Baby Yoda

Obviously.

Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler in good movies

Dolemite Is My Name? So good. Uncut Gems? Excellent. Whod have guessed?

Laura Derns Big Little Lies monologues

Rage-filled catharsis snacks.

Keanu Reeves in Always Be My Maybe

An extremely charming cameo in an extremely charming romantic comedy.

The woman yelling at a cat meme

Its always funny!

The rise of Lil Nas X

An openly gay rapper went to No. 1 with a country song featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. The story is so pure and good I dont even care that the song is garbage.

Jean Smart in Watchmen

My beloved Charlene Frazier-Stillfield gets some of the best reviews of her iconic career thanks to her turn as Laurie Blake in HBOs Watchmen.

You were at my wedding, Denise…

With this glorious clapback, Meghan McCain finally contributes something positive to the culture.

The Focus Group sketch from I Think You Should Leave

A good steering wheel that doesnt fly off when youre driving.

AOCs rooftop dance video

A video of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing on a rooftop during her college days was pushed out by critics in an attempt to discredit her. It backfired, obviously, in its lunacy and pettiness. A woman once danced?! The horror!!! Besides, shes got moves.

Natasha Lyonnes cockroach song on Russian Doll

An homage to the legendary way Lyonne pronounces the word cockroach.

Bowen Yangs Saturday Night Live breakout

The discourse surrounding Saturday Night Live is routinely exhausting. Invigorating, however? Bowen Yangs breakout first year on the show, particularly the sketch he wrote and starred in with Harry Styles. Must get rid of toxic in the community.

Little Nai Nai in The Farewell

Ive watched The Farewell more times than any other movie this year. Each time, I laugh, I cry, and I grin from ear to ear every time Little Nai Nai is on screen.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A romance novel about the First Son of the United States and the Prince of Wales falling in love on the best-seller list? Swoon.

The Prom on Broadway

A joy from beginning to end. It closed far too soon, but a movie with Meryl Streep, James Corden, and Nicole Kidman is coming to Netflix.

The @ridingincabswithboys Instagram

Former Daily Beast staffer Quinn Ryans hand-drawn illustrations depicting millennial life and modern relationships are reliably funny, sweet, observant, and fun.

Winston Dukes thighs

The breakout stars of Us.

The Little Women cast eating Wendys

The vibe I want to take with me into 2020.