20 Sort-of-Awesome Videos To Entertain, Inspire, Amuse, or Just Help Drive The Doldrums Away

Let’s face facts: We’ve all been cooped up way too much for way too long. As much as we may love our family...well, I'll let you complete that sentence. We have Zoom fatigue. We need distractions, and there are just so many times you can watch The Godfather, Shawshank, or The Big Lebowski, and just so many books you can read (I’ve personally read over 100 books this year – seriously!). With politics basically ruining social media this year, you could be forgiven if you don’t even want to wade through the morass that is the web to try to find something enjoyable to pass a few minutes. Well, I’ve taken the time to do that for you (your welcome!), and have put together this list of YouTube videos that just might provide you a few minutes of entertaining fun.

Here is what you won’t find on this list:

• Military reunions
• Gender reveals
• Surprise proposals
• Political posts
• News bloopers
• Music or movie reactions
• Anything from Family Feud
• Supposed “Influencers” of any sort doing anything

What you will find are personally selected gems that I enjoyed and feel are worthwhile and entertaining. Frankly, I’d be surprised if you haven’t seen most of these already. But on the off-chance you haven’t, here we go, production style, but in no particular ranking order:

Like all events, this affair should begin properly, so here we go with one of the most surprising respectful, coolest, and flat-out amazing performances of the national anthem. Of course, I’m talking about Marvin Gaye’s soulful, toe-tapping rendition at the 1983 NBA All Star Game, which had the players swaying and toe-tapping – and the crowd clapping in beat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

Now as you’re settling back into your seats, let’s get the show started with the opening musical sketch from the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards (you know, back when people still watched awards shows), featuring Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Betty White and the cast of Glee performing a surprisingly quality version of Born to Run. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2d9UecusfQ

And while we’re focused on Hollywood, how about an incredible a cappella tribute to legendary film score composer John Williams by the Gin and Tonics at Harvard’s 2017 graduation ceremony? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odq2p2P-_rM

But this show isn’t just about music. Next we take you 120,000 feet above the ground to watch Felix Baumgartner’s 2012 record-setting freefall space jump (yes, you heard that right!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvbN-cWe0A0

And as if that wasn’t crazy enough, Luke Aikins sort of tops that by jumping out of a plane at 25,000 feet – without a parachute! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaANi96Z-Wg

Now, to catch your breath, I present Bob Uecker’s address upon his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mr. Baseball had the audience rolling with laughter – and incredibly, did it all without a single prepared note. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7dG5HCKeWA

With sports on the mind, how about the greatest (and longest) Hail Mary of them all? I’m referring, of course, to Doug Flutie’s miracle pass to his roommate Gerard Phelan that brought Boston College from behind to defeat Bernie Kosar and the University of Miami juggernaut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-_uYyVlxrk

And that’s not even the craziest conclusion to a football game on this list. Not when we have Cal beating Stanford AND the Stanford marching band! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfebpLfAt8g

Speaking of heroics, who could ever forget the gregarious Charles Ramsey alertly spotting something amiss and saving several women in Cleveland from a kidnapper who had been imprisoning them in his basement? Ramsey became an internet sensation for his interviews during the aftermath, which culminated in Dead Giveaway, one of the funniest musical productions ever offered to the viewing public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Ghf5mxf5Y

I’m not usually a big fan of these kind of productions, but even I can’t help but love the creativity in gathering all these old-time classic stars in all their glory to dance to Uptown Funk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1F0lBnsnkE

And if you fancy music appropriation, the West Des Moines School’s start of the year meeting for its teachers turned into a flash -mob-style performance of a particularly decent quality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGMlPDlY094) rendition of "One Day More" from Les Mis, but without the heartfelt emotion that was the backbone when the staff at Lemán Manhattan surprised their Head of School with the same song to celebrate his Retirement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ1kX9jqgo8

But enough singing already! Let’s take a bit of a break from the musical and showcase a few comedic gems from another era, like George Carlin’s explanation of the difference between baseball and football is remarkable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkqNiBASfI  

And as strange at 2020 has been, can you imagine this word association skit with Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor ever seeing the light of day on SNL these days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuEBBwJdjhQ 

And does it get any better than Ricky Gervais roasting everyone and everything Hollywood during his multiple gigs as host of the Golden Globes Awards? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeH0mz0REi4

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include not one, but two emergency goalies being literally pulled from the stands to fill in during NHL games and who steal the show, first for the Chicago Blackhawks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG-IGNvfrg8 and then again when a 42-year-old Zamboni driver saved the day for the Carolina Hurricanes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlBsR1WIT0U

As I bring this performance to a close, I invite you to enjoy a truly haunting performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, bathed in purple lighting, when they opened up a 2016 concert at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn with this emotional version of Purple Rain in tribute to Prince, who died suddenly earlier that day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MazWETYgWRM 

If Prince’s music isn’t your thing, try Bruce’s simple, heartfelt singalong acoustic version of Take It Easy performed earlier that year in Chicago as a tribute to Glenn Frey of The Eagles, who had passed away earlier that day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1FglT0Ko_4

Feel free to let me know if you enjoyed the list, and definitely recommend other videos in the comments!

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!