15 unforgettable Boston pop culture moments from 2023
As “Barbenheimer” dominated the summer box offices and MSCHF’s big red boots took the fashion world by storm, Boston and the Bay State also slid into the headlines with some big pop culture moments. Local installations turned unlikely viral sensations like Boston’s “Cop Slide” and “The Embrace” sculpture became fodder for comedians and online critics. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck starring in a Medford-filmed Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial gave audiences in and out of Massachusetts a laugh.
Of course, major pop culture phenomena like Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and Beyoncé's “Renaissance World Tour” came to town, dazzling fans in Foxborough, while rising star and Watertown resident Noah Kahan punctuated his big year with a thrilling “Saturday Night Live” performance.
Looking back on 2023, here are 15 of the year’s biggest pop culture moments involving the Boston area. (And for our full list of 23 from 2023 — including “80 for Brady” and a Mass. reunion on “SNL” — visit BostonGlobe.com.)
15. Noah Kahan’s big 2023 culminates with ‘SNL’ performance
New England native Noah Kahan had a very impressive 2023. Not only did the Watertown resident clean up at the Boston Music Awards as well as earn a Grammy nomination for best new artist, but his longtime dream of performing on “SNL” finally came true in December. Kahan, who plays Fenway Park in 2024, served as musical guest while actress Emma Stone hosted.
14. Jennifer Coolidge brings the glam as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year
After celebrating her Golden Globe win for her role in HBO’s “The White Lotus,” Bay State native Jennifer Coolidge returned to Massachusetts in February to take home another prize: Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year. Crowds gathered in the streets of Cambridge to catch a glimpse of the star as she paraded around town with members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Spreading the love around, Coolidge appeared in a video message in May congratulating the cast of a Marblehead High production of “Legally Blonde.”
13. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck’s family situation inspires new NBC sitcom
“Extended Family” debuted this month, an NBC sitcom based on the somewhat complicated, real-life relationship between Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, his wife, Emilia Fazzalari, and her ex-husband George Geyer. The Boston-set series is loosely inspired by how the trio navigates parenting, with the mom and dad alternating time at home instead of making the kids travel between houses. “Extended Family” stars Donald Faison, Jon Cryer, and Abigail Spencer, as well as Boston comedian Lenny Clarke.
12. After months-long strike resolves, Hollywood returns to the Hub
It didn’t take long for Hollywood to get back to work following the lengthy strike that embroiled the industry throughout the summer and fall. A few high-profile productions quickly kicked things into gear once the strike resolved, including “Beetlejuice 2,” with director Tim Burton and star Jenna Ortega spotted filming around Melrose in November. Massachusetts natives Matt Damon and Casey Affleck also got back to work on their new film “The Instigators,” wrapping up production around Boston City Hall. Damon, in firefighter costume, even got a chance to snap a picture with Mayor Michelle Wu.
11. Morgan Wallen fans fill up Fenway Park
P!NK, Guns N’ Roses, and more played Fenway Park in 2023, but one of the year’s biggest shows at the ballpark had to be Morgan Wallen. Fans came out in droves to see the country crooner live during his three-night stint in Boston. Wallen’s hit song “Last Night” helped propel the singer to a big year and even topped Apple Music’s global song charts for 2023.
10. ‘Frasier’ returns to its Boston roots
“Frasier” brought the tossed salads and scrambled eggs back to Boston with Paramount’s new revival series. While Kelsey Grammer returns as Dr. Crane, the character he made famous on “Cheers” and the first iteration of “Frasier,” his return to the small screen hasn’t exactly won the hearts of critics. Despite some lukewarm feedback, viewers were happy to see returning fan-favorite characters like Peri Gilpin’s Roz and Bebe Neuwirth’s Lilith this season.
9. ‘Friends’ fans flock to Central Perk cafe
Inspired by the famous fictional coffeehouse on the sitcom “Friends,” Central Perk opened its doors in Boston this fall. The cafe, located on Newbury Street, features the iconic orange couch from the show, plus plenty of treats that pay homage to the series. Central Perk Coffeehouse also took on a new significance for local fans this year following the death of Massachusetts-born actor Matthew Perry, who played Chandler on “Friends.”
8. Beyoncé and the BeyHive get in formation in Foxborough
Beyoncé gave the BeyHive a lot to appreciate in 2023, as the singer’s “Renaissance World Tour” and accompanying concert film captivated audiences. Her August concert at Gillette Stadium inspired local fans to dress up and get in formation as they celebrated the night’s big moments in style. Fans got to relive the magic with the release of “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” in December.
7. ‘The Last of Us’ turns Boston into a geographically inaccurate dystopia
HBO’s “The Last of Us” gave viewers a new take on a Boston-set dystopia, as the video game-inspired series brought the zombie-fighting action to the Hub. Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, the series earned acclaim from fans and critics alike, including Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert, who praised stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey for their roles as Joel and Elle, calling the duo’s relationship the “real heart of the show.” Meanwhile, local viewers enjoyed themselves griping on social about the series’ loose interpretation of the region’s geography.
6. Reneé Rapp’s ‘I Hate Boston’ sign ruffles feathers in the North End
Singer and “Mean Girls” star Reneé Rapp channeled a bit of Regina George while ruffling feathers with a pointed billboard message posted in Boston’s North End over the summer. The words “I Hate Boston” appeared on a sign as part of a promotional campaign for Rapp’s album “Snow Angel,” which includes a track called “I Hate Boston.” “No, I don’t actually hate Boston,” Rapp told the Globe in October, explaining how she chose Boston instead of the city of her ex who inspired the song. “It’s about a different city. I’m not going to use a city that my ex lives in and give him any kind of clout or recognition. So, I just used Boston.”
5. Massachusetts-set ‘The Holdovers’ serves up a heartwarming, holiday tale
Set and filmed around Massachusetts, director Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” is already winning over critics this awards season. The film stars Paul Giamatti as a boarding school teacher who gets stuck taking care of students who have nowhere to go over the holidays. “The Holdovers” earned three Golden Globe nods, including a nomination for best picture, musical or comedy.
4. Chris Evans ties the knot in star-studded affair on Cape Cod
“Captain America” star Chris Evans made headlines this year for tying the knot with actress Alba Baptista. The Sudbury native married Baptista in a star-studded ceremony on Cape Cod, which included appearances by his “Avengers” pals Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Jeremy Renner. Fellow Massachusetts native John Krasinski and his wife, Emily Blunt, were also reportedly in attendance.
3. Taylor Swift mania takes over Gillette Stadium (twice)
No star had a bigger 2023 than Taylor Swift. The singer’s “Eras Tour” concerts at Gillette Stadium in May (top right) was just the beginning for local Swifties, who also flocked to theaters to see the film version in October. As if shaking it off in Foxborough in May wasn’t enough, Swift returned to the home of the Pats in December, this time to support her boyfriend and Chiefs star Travis Kelce. The singer will also be the focus of a course coming to Harvard next year.
2. Boston’s ‘Cop Slide’ goes viral, gets shoutout from John Oliver
A video of a Boston police officer getting launched from a slide at City Hall Plaza spread all over social media this year, becoming so popular in the real world that officials had to barricade it at night. The clip drew a ton of attention to the structure, inspiring other adults to test their luck on the slide, posting their own memes and clips. The slide even earned a shoutout on John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” with the comedian calling the viral clip “the single best movie of the summer.”
1. Ben Affleck stars in Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial
One of the biggest pop culture moments of the year for the Boston area had to be Ben Affleck teaming up with Dunkin’ for a Super Bowl commercial. The actor was spotted in Medford filming the spot prior to its release during the big game, with Affleck posing as a Dunkin’ worker (top left) and surprising customers at the drive-through. Affleck’s wife, Jennifer Lopez, also appeared in the commercial, asking her husband, “This is what you do when you say you’re going to work all day?”