Saturday, December 31, 2022

2022: It Was a Year for the Ages with Narnia's Faves - Part 2 of 2

 Part 2 of 2

 

Let's continue our salute to 2022 by tipping our glasses to some other momentous occasions, most of them good, a few of them not good but of importance for those of us who follow the entertainment industry closet. 

 

•  We love us some hugs.  Here are a few from 2022:

 

From the Is it real or is it Memorex file.  We were told this was Jake's father, Stephen Gyllenhaal that Jake hugs, but we don't ever see his face for some reason. The Gyllenhaal patriarch has been very elusive in Jake's public photos for quite some time now, but for a few random appearances.  


 

 

 

 

From the Rachel Marron/Frank Farmer "Bodyguard" files, this run-and-hug was one for the ages and we love every second of it!

 

 

 

 

And Patrick Mahomes gave us another  2022 Hug Moment, this one came from former teammate Melvin Ingram.



 

  

But this year's Best Hug of 2022 goes to the NHL's Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils.  Narnia suggests having a slice of lemon nearby because the sheer sweetness of this hug could level you.  πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚




Are you still with us after that one?  LOL!  It is just hard to top it.


• From the We-hate-to-see-you-go-but-why-did-it-take-so-long files of 2022, Narnia waved good-bye to meard Gehrig Dieter, who was finally let go by the Kansas City Chiefs and the practice squad professional retired from the NFL prior to the 2022-23 season.  He arrived to the Chiefs in the same class as Patrick and served as his "best bud", despite never finding his way as a permanent roster regular.  But he received a Super Bowl ring and more camera time away from the field of play than on it.  What a career!  smh.  Narnia has not seen a more rewarded meard since the likes of Jensen Ackles' meard, Misha Collins.


• The ultimate rewind of 2022 had to be the return of the Louis Tomlinson/Harry Styles dolls.  They were seen at many stops along Louis's tour, then at Harry's.  We are never too old! 


 

  Here's a bonus extra for winter 2022,














• In the Are We Going To Get a To-Be-Continued in 2023? category, there were some notable co-appearances by none other than Niall Horan and bud Shawn Mendes.  Here they were in February at the Super Bowl.











There are a few past developments catching Narnia's eye which indicate there may have been some missed opportunities on our part and for that we apologize, but aim to rectify! 


• In the Amateur Hour of Photoshopping for 2022, this gem comes via Jensen and Jared's social media team where Jensen and beard Danneel are camouflaged by bad looking vegetation and an enormous table of food [is that table like ten feet wide??], and is Jensen sitting on a phone book?  Again, was this amateur hour? 






















One note to folks:  Many of the social media teams are getting better with the photo shopping, but usually if there is just one aspect of the photo that just doesn't look right, blow it up on a monitor and you'll usually find the flaw more clearly than on your phone.  It's hard to intertwine the fingers with the hand-holding and for the teams to get heights and proportion correct when they're compositing their artists.  They're also using Instagram filters and "blurry" captures to hide that they're merging two faces/heads into one.

This was from the past summer.  Look where Genevieve's head is in mis-alignment with a very long shoulder and her legs.  Plus, she also has no waist here. 





















Look at what is supposed to be her tiny hand vs. Jared's beneath whatever that is Jared is supposed to be autographing.  smh


• It was a tough year to be a follower of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as we watch them in their gradual public separation process, but they have pleasantly surprised by their reluctance to totally bury the other.  They have found their ways within what we could only guess would be the restricting "advice" of their team.  Two big Good for Jensen and Jared moments from 2022,

- Jared as Jensen's +1 at The Boys after-party at SXSW 2022.  I would call this the equivalent of Austin being seen as Jake's +1 (once it was discovered he was en route) at Berlinale in 2012.  I'm sorry, but both times, it is big and defining.  Don't underestimate the significance.

 

Jensen in sherpa collar, Jared on the right


 

And in a When OTP Beams Cross moment, both men attending a Harry Styles concert, and there is no doubt in this one's mind that it was one of the shows in Austin, TX.  Even though it was a fan question at Nash Con, everyone knew that Jared had attended already. And Jensen let it be known that he also attended a show with his kids.  In his answer, Jensen had some great things to say about Harry.  Way to go, Jensen!



 

 Aaaaah, when worlds collide, it is incredible, is it not?!

And although we also saw Jared and Austin on the same set together, no doubt working closely at times in addition to sharing common interests, it was desert sands trying to get them in the same photo, facing the camera together.  And they gave us this moment that we had some laughs with,

 


 












But then, the ship uprighted itself and we received this one from the same setting in the eleventh hour!















Indeed, it is magical when we get these OTP worlds colliding moments!  Cherish them.


• And Raising the Bar in 2022 has been Austin P. McKenzie, who always struck me as the quieter of the two (of him and his boyfriend Kevin McHale), but he has had his nose to the grindstone this past year promoting his music, releasing new music, and overall being highly visible on social media.  Let's face it, whether artists like it or not, social media more often than not, needs to be utilized to full advantage if you want to stay visible to fans and relevant to the general public.  And this is what Austin has been doing.  He is really working hard and appearing to be stepping out a bit more, so huge kudos to him! 

















Come on, Austin, give it up and let us hear the rest of Electric Kiss. πŸ˜‰


• And It Almost Goes Without Saying that in 2022, Harry Styles had a year to remember.  He explored his acting chops and what greater opportunity was there than My Policeman?  His world tour was a mind-blowing success, one that he mastered, even though Sony and the Azoffs nearly worked him straight to the emergency ward.  Harry did all that he could within the confines he was restricted to, shout-outing out to Louis so many times, one couldn't see straight at times, no pun intended. "Hopelessly Devoted to Lou"! Gee, that's really subtle, Harry. There is really nothing else that can be said as to the records and accolades he has received, but Narnia wishes for a gentler, kinder and happier 2023 for him because that guy went through a LOT in 2022. Love on Tour, get it? πŸ˜‰  We are sure that the public has no idea what he has gone through in 2022, nor do we have to.  But we have seen enough of a glimpse, right?


Harry on his home turf in London, 2022


• And If He Could Have, He Would Have for Liam Payne in 2022.  If he could have been allowed to yank the puppet strings out of his back for one minute and make one move on his own, we likely would have seen new music from Liam.  He could have been so much more than someone to be seen with just to benefit others for their projects and brands.  

But through it all, Liam kept his public cool and decorum.  He was professional and classy, not what was made to appear otherwise in manipulated photos and planted stories.  He endured the trickery and bullying of social media memes.  He also got in a couple of his own social media burns this month!  πŸ‘ŠπŸ‘Š

Still, Liam managed to meet with many fans over the year and make their day.  He postponed and delayed career moves for a reason.  Perhaps he wants to do what he wants on his own terms, not to be overshadowed or tainted by a put-upon sideshow.  Liam is doing what he has to for his sake and it should not be for us to question or beg.  We need for him to do what's best for him so that he can re-emerge on his own terms.  Chain Free.











For 2023, we hope for much saner and happier times for the men of One Direction.  What they have been enduring and fighting against during the imposed hiatus has been historic and not to ever be underestimated.  Sony Music has destroyed the likes of Michael Jackson and we all need to look at what has happened to other artists who were in their corral - George Michael and Whitney Houston.  Sony is a hardball player.  Brutal and ruthless.

Louis, Liam, Zayn and Niall have lost the remainder of their twenties since 2016 and Harry will hit 30 in 2024.  No matter what, they'll never get those years back.  A decade in which they've sacrificed aspects of their health, both mentally and physically.  An imposed hiatus that has also affected family and friends because the entertainment industry's closet is all encompassing.  

So we salute our men, especially at the end of 2022, because this was a successful, yet trying year.  We look forward to 2023, because being a member of the LGBTQ+ community can mean making some decisions that can be incredibly tough and unimaginable to have to make. Therefore, being forgiving of impossible choices is highly recommended.

For the two couples who are raising a family together in an underground fashion, Narnia hopes for togetherness and loyalty to one another in 2023.  There's a reason why we don't see much at all of Jake anymore.  Austin is seen on social media, but those videos don't take long to do.  Jared and Jensen?  They're making money while they can to support their family.  We don't always agree with the methods, but there's no doubt these four men are trying to have their family life.


Please be safe tonight and Narnia extends our best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and exciting 2023 for all of you.  Thanks for visiting as always.  





pic sources:  pinterest, wifflegif

our playlist:  Step by Step - Whitney Houston

                     Best Song Ever (Live at San Siro Stadium) - One Direction

                     Freedom! '90 - George Michael

                     Simply the Best - Tina Turner

                     I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra

                     Celebration - Kool and the Gang

                     Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Ritchie

                     Christmas Auld Lang Syne - Bobby Darin

                     What Are You Doing New Year's Eve - The Carpenters

                  


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