Listing the Ins and Outs

One will be in, one will be out

Apps are last year; naps are now. Out with the drama, in with Obama. Say bye to singer Adele; say hi to bluesman Gary Clark Jr.

At least that is the forecast from the annual The List published by The Washington Post which details who and what will fade and surge in 2012.

And today Post reporters and List designers Monica Hesse and Dan Zak appeared on Inside Edition at the Newseum to explain the process they use to put together the paper's talk generating compilation of hot-not items for 2011 and 2012.

Both reporters readily admit that their list is quite arbitary. "We're not doing rocket science here," Hesse said. "It's strange in that while we are incredibly serious about what we do,  we know it's kind of a joke, too."

The List has been a Post staple since 1978 and Hesse and Zak have been responsible for the last 3 editions.  Zak says study of all the lists does have historical merit. "It's an amazing way to look at culture over a period of time," he said, noting that the list is far more specific today, substantiating the contention that with the 24/7 news cycle and the internet explosion "culture changes so quickly now."

While Hesse and Zak consider the list year-round, the actual work begins right after Thanksgiving when the duo heads to a local Barnes and Noble for a reading marathon of all the magazines on the shelves, paging through issue after issue for list ideas. They then spend the next month narrowing the list down to 80 or so items for publication.

While the 2 reporters seek consensus, some of the items are more personal. For example, Hesse, who describes herself as "a huge nerd ," said the item Winterfell (an imaginary land in HBO's Games of Thrones) out, District 12 (an imaginary land in this year's movie The Hunger Games) in was her choice. "Dan could care less. But he trusts my judgement," Hesse said.

Some of the items have a historical basis. In 2011, the 150th anniversary of the start of The Civil War, prompted a resurgence in Civil War reenactors. In 2012, Titanic revivalists are expected to rule as the world celebrates the 100th commemoration of that ship's sinking. Other items are grounded in more recent news. For example, the list calls for stewardess nostalgia to be replaced by postman nostalgia. Still other items have a generational basis - Ovaltine (a 1950s product) is expected to be replaced by a Tang (the 1960s powdered orange drink designed for astronauts) renaissance.

Producing the list also allows the reporters to poke fun at people who worry about in-out designations.  For example, over-hyped hamburgers will make way for over-hyped meatballs in 2012. What does that mean? "Stop standing in line for food your Dad used to make you when your Mom was out of town," Hesse said.

Asked to pick a favorite item, Zak said his choice was Tebowing making way for hunting for the God particle. Hesse mentioned searching for new dinosaurs replacing searching for new planets.

But, of all the items on the list which one do the reporters think will be the most controversial. Both agree - replacing heartthrob Ryan Gosling with Michael Fassbender.

"We'll get Twitter feedback," Zak said. "Things like - Gosling will never be out. He is my everything."

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips

For those of you who are more into trying to figure out what has happened rather than predict what is yet to come, the same Post edition that included The List also featured humorist Dave Barry's look back at the weird, wild, wacky year known as 2011 as only the former columnist, who has been called America's funniest man, could write it. You can check out Barry's piece by clicking here.