2002 Fun Facts, Trivia and History

2002 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2002:

• World Changing Event: United States President George W. Bush “Axis of Evil” speech
• On January 1, Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union’s member states.
• The Top Song was Lose Yourself by Eminem
• Influential Songs include: The Rising by Bruce Springsteen, Stole by Kelly Rowland, Cleanin’ Out My Closet by Eminem, A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton, and Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne
• The Movies to Watch include Spider-Man, Barbershop, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Chicago, Lilo & Stitch, and Scooby-Doo
• The Most Famous Fictional Person in America was probably Spider-Man
• People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Ben Affleck
• Elon Musk founded SpaceX
• Notable books include: John Adams by David McCullough and The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• Price of a postage stamp in 2002: 37 cents
  Wendy’s Single burger with cheese: $2.25
  Land O Lakes butter, 1 pound: $3.99
• The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno
• The Conversation: The Stand by Your Ad provision is a federal act requiring candidates to state “I approved this message” in all political advertisements, to discourage them from making controversial claims or attack ads.

“The Quotes”
“My precious.”
– Andy Serkis, Gollum, in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

“What happens here, stays here”
– Las Vegas

The Scandals:
Michael Jackson dangled Prince Michael II, off a balcony from a Berlin hotel room, earning him the nickname “blanket.”.

Enron’s 2001 surprise bankruptcy was just the beginning when its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, was implicated in a huge accounting fraud scandal. AA was also dissolved in this scandal.

R & B singer R. Kelly liked to twiddle with underage girls, according to the visual evidence of videos he made.

Winona Ryder was sentenced to three years probation, 480 hours of community service, $3,700 in fines, $6,355 in restitution, and ordered to attend psychological and drug counseling after being found guilty of stealing $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue.

Raelian UFO sect/sex cult scientists announced that they, through their company called Clonaid, had cloned the first human baby. They didn’t.

TV Star Murder?
Robert Blake, best known as TV’s Baretta was charged, then acquitted for murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.

Ted Williams had his head separated from his body and frozen – he and his children agreed to each have it done so they could once again be together at some point in the future.

Pop Culture Facts & History:
Steve Fossett finished his non-stop trip around the world via balloon on July 4th. It took him 14 days, 19 hours and 51 minutes.

Muggle” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003 defined as a person who is lacking a skill. Muggle is also a 1930s jazz slang word for someone who uses cannabis.

Fujitsu made a device called the “iPAD” in 2002. Apple had to pay $4 million to Fujitsu to buy the trademark.

Every car made after 2002 has an “Emergency Release” cable inside the trunk in case of kidnapping.

Claritin, invented as a prescription medication in 1993, became an over-the-counter allergy medicine.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 2002: $1,900,000

The Master of Disguise, a flop film from 2002, is only 65 minutes long but it includes 15 minutes of end credits in order to qualify as a feature film.

1st Appearances & 2002’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:
Ugly Dolls, Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition

FOX’s American Idol Premiered

Broadway Show – Hairspray (Musical) Opened on August 15, 2002 and closed on January 4, 2009

East End Show – We Will Rock You (Musical) Opened on September 25, 2002 and closed on May 31, 2014

East End Show – Stomp (Dance Musical) Opened on September 25, 2002

Broadway Show – Movin’ Out (Dance Musical) Opened on October 24, 2002 and closed on December 11, 2005

2002 Billboard Number One Songs:
December 15, 2001 – January 25, 2002:
U Got It Bad – Usher

January 26 – February 22:
How You Remind Me – Nickelback

February 23 – March 8:
Always On Time – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti

March 9 – April 19:
Ain’t It Funny – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule

April 20 – June 28:
Foolish- Ashanti

June 29 – August 16:
Hot In Herre – Nelly

August 17 – October 25:
Dilemma – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland

October 26 – November 8:
A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson

November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003:
Lose Yourself – Eminem