The World and Everything in It - December 31, 2021

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Happy New Year’s Eve!

Today, remembrances of those who made their mark on stage and screen.

NICK EICHER, HOST: Plus if you plan to stay home for New Year’s Eve, we’ve got some ideas for what to watch.

And your prayers for 2022.

REICHARD: It’s Friday, December 31st. This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

EICHER: And I’m Nick Eicher. Good morning!

REICHARD: Up next, Paul Butler with today’s news.

PAUL BUTLER, NEWS ANCHOR: COVID changes New Year’s plans » Revelers are preparing to ring in the new year tonight in New York City. But fewer people than normal will be packed into Times Square, thanks to the rapid rise in COVID infections.

Mayor Bill de Blasio banned crowds from the iconic celebration last year. But on Thursday he said the city’s high rate of vaccination made it possible to hold this year’s party more or less as usual. Vaccinations and masks are required.

Chicago and Boston are also moving ahead with New Year’s celebrations. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu urged people to have fun but stay safe.

WU: As we come together to celebrate community, our joy, and a fresh start in 2022, we must also recognize the moment that we still very much are in.

Other cities, including Atlanta, cancelled their celebrations.

The rising COVID case counts have also played havoc on college football, with at least five bowl games canceled outright. Others are moving forward with last-minute team changes.

And on Wednesday, the Westminster Kennel Club postponed its annual dog show until later in the year.

Severe New Year’s weather » Meanwhile, residents in several other parts of the country are likely to spend New Year’s Day cleaning up from severe weather.

A line of thunderstorms rolled across the South late Wednesday and early Thursday. Randy Price is the mayor of Winfield, Alabama, where strong winds reduced several downtown buildings to rubble.

PRICE: It is amazing that we had no injuries or fatalities. And it’s amazing, you know, how we was looked after that way.

More storms are expected across the South on Friday and Saturday as a strong cold front moves through the area.

And in the Pacific Northwest, heavy snow blanketed Seattle and Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. Officials closed about 80 miles of Interstate 90 over the Cascade Mountains due to “near zero visibility.”

The unseasonably frigid weather is expected to last through the weekend.

Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes » And in Colorado, a fast-moving wildfire forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate on Thursday.

The fire burned nearly 600 homes, a hotel, and a shopping center northwest of Denver.

Gov. Jared Polis called the 1,600-acre fire “absolutely devastating.”

POLIS: This area, for those who don’t know this area, of Boulder County, is right in and around suburban developments, stores. It’s like the neighborhood you live in. It’s like the neighborhood any of us live in.

Evacuation orders covered the cities of Louisville and Superior, about 20 miles northwest of Denver.

So far, officials have logged fewer than 10 reports of injuries. But the Boulder County sheriff warned that number could grow.

Biden asks Supreme Court to let it end the Remain in Mexico policy » The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to review its decision to end the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy. WORLD’s Leigh Jones has more.

LEIGH JONES, REPORTER: The policy requires non-Mexican immigrants to wait across the border until their asylum hearing.

President Biden put an end to the policy in February. But in August, a federal judge ordered the government to reinstate the policy because it didn’t follow the right process for ending it.

A federal appeals court upheld that ruling, and the administration reinstated the policy earlier this month.

But in its appeal to the Supreme Court, the administration said the policy exposes migrants to unacceptable risks and detracts from the Executive Branch’s foreign-relations efforts to manage regional migration.

The high court previously denied the administration’s request to keep the policy on hold during the appeals process.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Leigh Jones.

Biden-Putin phone call » President Biden and his Russian counterpart talked by phone for nearly an hour on Thursday.

Vladimir Putin requested the call to continue discussing issues the two leaders addressed during a video conference earlier this month. That conversation focused on the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border and Moscow’s demand for security guarantees.

Neither the White House nor the Kremlin commented on Thursday’s call after it was over.

But before the call President Biden said he intended to emphasize diplomacy, even as Russia’s aggressive moves toward Ukraine alarm U.S. allies.

The two leaders will continue discussions next month at a meeting in Geneva.

Iran launches space rocket » AUDIO: [SOUND OF ROCKET]

Iranian officials say they have launched a rocket into space although the timing of the launch wasn’t immediately clear.

According to state-run television, the rocket held a satellite carrier bearing three devices. Officials have not described any of them or said whether they made it to Earth’s orbit.

But a Defense Ministry spokesman said the “Phoenix” rocket reached a height of 290 miles.

Neither the U.S. State Department nor the Pentagon had any immediate comment on the news.

The launch came amid a holiday pause in negotiations over the Iran nuclear agreement. Talks are set to resume in early January.

I’m Paul Butler. Straight ahead: notable deaths from stage and screen.

Plus, our final set of prayers for the new year.

This is The World and Everything in It.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: It’s Friday the 31st of December, 2021.

So glad you’ve joined us for today’s edition of The World and Everything in It. Good morning, I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. First up: the last in our series of notable deaths. Today, those who made their name on stage and screen.

You may already know about some of the people in these arenas who died this year. People like Steven Sondheim, Dustin Diamond, and Cloris Leachman.

REICHARD: WORLD senior correspondent Katie Gaultney picks up our coverage of other notable names.

SONG: “Constantine,” The Help

KATIE GAULTNEY, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: First up, actress Cicely Tyson. The Oscar-nominated actress rose to stardom for her role in the 1972 movie Sounder, about a family of sharecroppers in the Great Depression. In this memorable scene, Tyson’s character Rebecca catches a first glimpse of her husband returning home after being imprisoned at a work camp.

TYSON: It’s Nathan… Nathan! Nathan!

Tyson refused to play drug addicts, prostitutes, and housemaids, and she gravitated toward roles that dignified black women. But, she wanted her craft to supersede her race.

TYSON: I think it’s a shame that I would have to be known as the most foremost black actress of our time./ Why?/ Because I would like to be known as a good actress of our time.

She won a Tony Award at age 88 for her role in the stage play, The Trip to Bountiful. She also won two Emmys for portraying the title role in the 1974 TV movie The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Her book Just as I Am: A Memoir came out on Jan. 26th, two days before her death. In it, she revealed hidden struggles, like birthing a baby girl at age 17 and a sexual assault by someone she considered a professional mentor. She had an on-again, off-again relationship with jazz great Miles Davis that spanned 20 years.

In her twilight years, Tyson received more honors—including a Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to the arts. Tyson died January 28th at the impressive age of 96.

And just eight days later, the world lost another giant of the stage and screen in Christopher Plummer. He died February 5th at the age of 91.

SONG: “Eidelweisz,” The Sound of Music

That song, of course, rendered beautifully by Plummer in the film adaptation of The Sound of Music. Plummer disliked the movie, though, deriding it as “sentimental.” He called the role of Captain von Trapp an “empty carcass.” Plummer preferred to use his classical training to play Shakespearean roles on stage and television. Here he is in a 1964 television performance of Hamlet:

PLUMMER: To die, to sleep—no more—and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks…

Plummer won an Oscar, two Tonys, and two Emmys over a seven-decade career.

Our next entry takes us to another stage legend under the sea.

SONG: “Under the Sea,” The Little Mermaid

Samuel E. Wright died in May at age 74. His renown extended beyond his role as the voice of the crab Sebastian in the 1989 Disney movie, The Little Mermaid. He also starred in Broadway plays, including The Tap Dance Kid and The Lion King. He earned two Tony nominations, and that song—“Under the Sea”—won the “Best Song” Oscar in 1990. He was married for nearly five decades to Amanda. They had three children.

Moving from “Under the Sea” to The Love Boat.

MACLEOD: There’s something for everybody on board.

SONG: Theme from The Love Boat.

Actor Gavin MacLeod portrayed a genial cruise ship captain in the 1970s and 80s. He died at the age of 90 this May. MacLeod also played a reporter on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. But career frustrations drove him to a low point.

MACLEOD: I started to drink… It got worse and worse and worse and one night, I got so out of it, I said I’m not worth anything… I didn’t have God, and I drove off the top of Mullholland Drive.

His rock bottom brought him to saving faith. He turned his attention to Christian film, and with his wife became a host on the Trinity Broadcast Network.

MACLEOD: When I realized that I could be forgiven of my sin and become born again and be given a new role in Christ, I’ve never stopped thanking the Lord for that.

And the world said “goodbye” this year to a big personality who became a bright spot in many people’s morning routines.

SONG: Today Show theme

Affable TV weatherman Willard Scott died September 4th at the age of 87. He spent 35 years sharing the forecast and wishing a “happy birthday” to centenarians on the Today Show. But earlier in his career, he played Bozo the Clown and was the first Ronald McDonald. Raised in a Baptist family, Scott often said if he hadn’t become an entertainer, he would have been a preacher. He retired in 2015 after 65 years with NBC:

SCOTT: I’m going to be fading off into the sunset and going over yonder…

Now from one funny man to another. Actor Norm MacDonald died in September after a private battle with cancer. He was 61.

MACDONALD: A French man who calls himself “the snake man” was arrested this week for climbing up the side of a Manhattan high rise. Yep, he climbed right up the side of a high rise. Just like a snake. (laughter)

A comedian on Saturday Night Live, he earned a reputation for droll wit as the show’s Weekend Update anchor. But he defied Hollywood norms by expressing his faith in Christ. Here he is talking to TV host Larry King, who also died this year:

KING AND MACDONALD: You get a lot of attention on Twittersphere for being open about your religious views. What are they?/ I’m a Christian. It’s not stylish to say now./ Are you devout?/ Yes./ You believe in the Lord./ Yes, I do.

And for our last entry of the day, a golden age actress.

POWELL AND ASTAIRE: Do you love me or don’t you?/ No, I don’t!/ Quit stalling, I want a direct answer!

That’s Jane Powell starring opposite Fred Astaire in 1951’s Royal Wedding.

POWELL AND ASTAIRE: How could you believe me when I said I love you, when you know I've been a liar all my life./ You’ve had that reputation since you was a youth./ You must have been insane to think I'd tell you the truth…

She also featured with Howard Keel in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Powell died in September at age 92.

She made her talents known at an early age, signing a contract with MGM when she was 14. She delivered a memorable rendition of “Ave Maria” as a young teenager in the 1946 Technicolor musical Holiday in Mexico.

SONG: “Ave Maria,” Jane Powell

The stories she could tell: She was a bridesmaid in Elizabeth Taylor’s first wedding and sang at the inauguration ball of Harry S. Truman. Her career spanned nearly 70 years.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Katie Gaultney.

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Friday, New Year’s Eve, 2021. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Coming next on The World and Everything in It: New Year’s movie night.

If you’re staying home tonight and need some ideas for what to watch, our reviewers have you covered.

EICHER: We asked three of our reviewers to think back and share some of the best shows and films they’ve seen during the last year.

You’ll hear from Sharon Dierberger, Collin Garbarino, and Emily Whitten, who starts us off.

EMILY WHITTEN, REVIEWER: My family watched quite a few TV series this year, but my favorite of all might be season 1 of Cranford. A BBC production from 2007, Cranford is based on a novel of the same name by Elizabeth Gaskell from 1851. Here’s a clip from the trailer.

CLIP: The heartwarming tale of ordinary lives…’Dr. Harrison, Mary wishes to go on the lake, and she insists she can row’…transformed in one extraordinary year…

Like Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, this series includes a sweet romance or two. But the book’s title hints at the larger scope here. Cranford is the name of a small British town, and in it, we follow the story of a reluctant group of townsfolk making their way—slowly—into the modern era. Brace yourself for explosive cultural upheavals caused by trains, modern medicine, and marriage across class lines.

CLIP: I could never have mistaken you, Mr. Holbrook. 

As you just heard, Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench plays the central character, Miss Matty Jenkins. Viewers may also recognise Jim Carter from Downton Abbey as Captain Brown and Imelda Staunton of Harry Potter fame, who offers some comic relief as a headstrong townswoman.

CLIP: Mrs. Forester! A new young doctor is coming to live in our midst.

Be aware, the series includes surgery in the days before anesthetics, so younger kids and the faint of heart may want to skip those scenes. I’ll also warn you that for storytelling reasons, the second season isn’t worth watching in my opinion. That said, Season 1 offers some eminently binge-able family fare, especially if—like me—you have teen girls anywhere in the near vicinity.

CLIP: Captain Brown, the railway will be the end of Cranford. I think it will be the end of Cranford as we know it…

I’m Emily Whitten.

SHARON DIERBERGER, REVIEWER: Here in Minnesota, one of our simple winter delights is cozying up in front of the fireplace with a great book or movie, family and friends gathered close, and hot chocolate to go around.

We can’t let New Year’s slip by without checking our annual holiday classics list. We’ve seen these so many times we’ve memorized lines and speak them along with the actors—and yet, we always see something new. Here are a few:

Announcer: “Holiday Inn. Never has there been such a show as this. From Easter to Christmas. From the 4th of July to Thanksgiving. There’s a song for every holiday, and a holiday for every song.”

Bing Crosby singing” “Be careful, it’s my heart. It’s not my watch you’re holding, it’s my heart.”

We start with Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds. Bit of trivia: that song “Be Careful It’s My Heart” was expected to be the big hit in this film.

Instead, “White Christmas” grabbed people’s hearts and became the inspiration for the movie, White Christmas with Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.

Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney singing: “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Just like the ones I used to know….” 

Of course, that’s a must-see–with lots of fun banter, music and lyrics. My husband kindly tolerates me singing along:

Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen singing: “Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister, and Lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man.”

Then, without fail, comes It’s a Wonderful Life.

Clarence Oddbody, the angel: “You see George, you really had a wonderful life.”

George, yelling: “Yeah!!!!!!! Merry Christmas.”

Suzie: “Look Daddy, teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.”

My husband knows every Mr. Potter and George Bailey quote. And he sounds more like Jimmy Stewart than Stewart does:

AUDIO: Clip of Mr. Dierberger imitating Jimmy Stewart

Well, it’s definitely better than my impression anyway….

Not as many people may have seen It Happened on Fifth Avenue. The film stars Victor Moore as a squatter who appropriates the New York mansion of a wealthy family when they head out-of-state for the winter. An assorted group of good-hearted, but down-on-their-luck people join him. Many funny subplots and romances ensue. Even the police join the caper:

Policeman: How long you been living here?

McKeever: “Well, I’ve been here for the past three winters. And speaking for my friends here, they’re very nice people. Ex-servicemen with their wives and children—who are merely, shall we say, taking advantage of much needed shelter. You wouldn’t want to arrest them on Christmas Eve, now would ya…”

Finally, Christmas in Connecticut, with Barbara Stanwyck, takes us back again to simpler times. Stanwyck gets into hot water because she writes a cooking column, pretending to be an accomplished homemaker. She actually can’t cook a lick and has no husband and baby as she claims. She suddenly has to become the person she isn’t, in her farmhouse that really isn’t hers. It’s a comedic plot with lots of mix-ups.

Barbara S.: “Who says there isn’t any Santa Claus? Look what I found in my stocking.

Dennis M.: laughs, “Heaven help a sailor on a Christmas like this.”

Sydney G: laughs, “This is the jolliest, merriest Christmas I ever spent!” [Laughs]

Who doesn’t love happily-ever-afters? Happy New Year!

I’m Sharon Dierberger.

COLLIN GARBARINO, REVIEWER: As I started thinking about my favorite movies and TV shows from 2021, I noticed a theme emerging. Some of the best entertainment this year reminded us of the importance of family.

MUSIC: “Colombia, Mi Encanto” 

My family’s favorite movie for all ages this year is easily Encanto. The animated film feels fresh and relatable because Disney abandoned its old formula for this one. There are no princesses or villains. Instead, we see family members work through the pain caused by unmet expectations. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs are pretty great too.

MUSIC: "The Mysterious Benedict Society" theme

Disney also hit a home run with the family-friendly series The Mysterious Benedict Society. In this show, four orphans go on an adventure to save the world from an evil genius who’s spreading lies. Even though the series features orphans, it has family at its heart. And I was impressed by how well the message seemed to conform to a Christian worldview. My kids and I are definitely looking forward to season two next year.

MUSIC: WandaVision theme

The best TV show for teens and adults this year has got to be WandaVision. Yes, it’s a Marvel superhero series, and yes, we’re all feeling a little bit of superhero overload. But WandaVision was by far the most inventive show of 2021, taking a couple of Avengers and dropping them into classic sitcom episodes. It’s bizarre Twilight Zone-ish stuff, and in the first few episodes you have no idea what’s going on. But at its core WandaVision is a show about the heart’s desire for family. The final episode disappointed me a bit, but on the whole WandaVision was a big risk that paid off. Most people should see the Avengers movies before watching WandaVision. But my wife watched the series with me and enjoyed it, despite never having seen the films.

MUSIC: Marvel theme

In 2021, several movies from totally different genres emphasized the importance of family, and I don’t know which is the best. You could check out the sci-fi epic Dune, the sports biopic King Richard—whew, Will Smith might win an Oscar for that one—the superhero adventure Shang Chi, or the coming-of-age drama Belfast. There have been a lot of winners this year. But one relatively quiet movie stuck with me longer than I expected.

In Cry Macho, a much too old Clint Eastwood serves as a father figure to a troubled teenager.

Mike: I’ll tell you something. This macho thing is overrated. Just people trying to be macho to show that they’ve got grit. That’s about all they end up with.

The boy thinks being a man means being tough and violent. Eastwood’s character shows him a more authentic—really a more Biblical—understanding of masculinity rooted in protection and care for others. Cry Macho has a slow pace, but it’s worth watching.

Sure, 2021 had its share of shows that promoted self-reliance and rugged individualism. But the stuff that really hit home reminds us how everyone needs the love of a family to thrive.

MUSIC: “Colombia, Mi Encanto—Instrumental”

I’m Collin Garbarino.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Friday, December 31st. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

Well, it is the last day of 2021. And if you’re like me, you’re praying that 2022 will have a little less turmoil than the last 12 months. But if not, we know that God is sovereign and he works all things for the good of those who are called according to his purpose.

BERG: This is Linda Berg from Woodbury Minnesota reading from Isaiah chapter 30 Verse 18 but the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion for the Lord is a faithful God bless it are those who wait for him to help them

READING: First Corinthians 13 four through eight. Love is patient and kind love is not in the verbose it is not arrogant or rude it has done insists on his own way it is not irritable or resentful. It is not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things love never ends.

PRAYER: The Valley of vision a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, prayer for the new year. Oh Lord length of days does not profit me except the days are past in my presence in my service to that glory. Give me a grace that precedes, follows guides sustains sanctifies aides every hour, that I may not be one moment apart from the, but may rely on by spirit to supply every thought. Speak in every word, direct every step, prosper every work, build up every note of faith and give me a desire to show fourth I praise testify thy love, advanced thy kingdom. I launched my bark on the unknown waters of this year with the father is my harbor do son at my Helm, the Oh Holy Spirit filling my sails. Guide me to heaven with my loins skirt, my lamp burning my ear open to thy calls my heart full of love my soul free. Give me Thy grace to sanctify me thy comforts to cheer thy wisdom to teach thy right hand to guide thy counsel to instruct thy laws to judge thy presence to stabilize me that I fear be my all thy triumphs my joy, amen.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Well, Nick, it’s that time of year.

NICK EICHER, HOST: Well, yeah, that time of year that it ends, we count it down, the ball drops—that what you mean?

REICHARD: Well, yeah, in a manner of speaking! You know when you drop the ball, as in, mess things up?

EICHER: Ahh, the annual blooper reel. I kind of love that.

REICHARD: You know it! Johnny and Carl put together a bunch of goofs, mistakes, flip-ups and slubs.

EICHER: Just like that. I wonder if we should do this again and see if they’ll cover for us.

REICHARD: Yeah, I don’t think so. Let’s leave it. You don’t want a cleaned-up introduction to a reel full of mess-ups.

Besides, my mother says it develops our character. So, let ’er rip, guys.

AUDIO: [BLOOPER REEL]

NICK EICHER, HOST: Time now to thank the dedicated team that made this week’s programs possible:

Kent Covington, Katie Gaultney, Kristen Flavin, Josh Schumacher, Jenny Lind Schmitt, Myrna Brown, Emily Whitten, Sharon Dierberger, and Collin Garbarino.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Carl Peetz and Johnny Franklin are the audio engineers who stay up late to get the program to you early! Leigh Jones is managing editor. Paul Butler is our executive producer, and Marvin Olasky is editor in chief.

We still have a few hours left in our December Giving Drive. Thank you so much if you’ve given already—your generosity is overflowing—and that allows us to do so much more! If you are a last-second person like me and you want to make a gift—consider this my friendly reminder—the calendar’s about to flip. WNG.org/donate!

The Bible says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

Lord willing, we’ll meet you back here on Monday.

Go now in grace and peace. And Happy New Year!

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.