The early 2000s were truly one of the most iconic and wild ages in pop culture history. After all, the early 2000s gave rise to the dawn of reality TV. It was then when we first started Keeping Up With The Kardashians, voting for our faves on American Idol, and watching Survivor. The iPod and eventually the iPhone hit stores. The original DM slide was asking for an AIM screen name. (The early 2000s also were all about low-rise jeans but we can just forget those. They can just stay in the early 2000s where they belong. Please. Not all of us are Zendaya.)
Anyway, here are 17 of 2000s pop culture’s most defining moments that still live in my head rent-free.
1. Literally Everything King Kurtis Said On Wife Swap
In case you forgot (I didn’t), there was a show called Wife Swap during the early 2000s that is exactly what it sounds like: wives from different families would switch lives with one another.
There is one episode in particular that has some of the most iconic quotes of all time, and that is the episode with the one and only King Kurtis. See for yourself:
2. William Hung’s Audition On American Idol
I want nothing but good things for William Hung. I hope he’s well.
3. Britney Spears Carrying That Big-Ass Snake Performing “I’m A Slave 4 U”
Iconic.
4. The Time Ashlee Simpson Got Caught Lip-Syncing On Saturday Night Live
Ashlee Simpson was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live to promote her impeccable, masterpiece of an album Autobiography when she was caught lip-syncing. Ashlee then did what looked like an Irish jig off the stage in embarrassment. Honestly? I would have done the same. No notes.
5. Those Fun iPod Commercials With The Dancing Silhouettes
6. Jennifer Lopez’s Green Dress At The 2000 Grammys
After Jennifer Lopez donned that truly iconic, green and blue palm leaf Versace dress with the dangerously low neckline to the 2000 Grammys, it became the most searched query on Google at that time. However, Google in 2000 was a very different search engine, only providing text and links. But because of the user demand to see Lopez in that gown, Google took note and created Google Image Search as a result. Thanks, J. Lo!
7. “Brangelina”
While filming Mr. And Mrs. Smith, the movie’s lead actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (both married to other people at the time), had one of the most shocking affairs that the tabloids could not get enough. Their infidelity led to their respective divorces, Pitt from Jennifer Aniston and Jolie from Billy Bob Thornton.
8. The Dawn Of Vampire Mania
The 2000s were the the dawn (get it) of a slew of vampire shows, books, and other forms of media, thanks to the hit YA series Twilight written by author Stephanie Meyers. Soon, new shows such as True Blood and The Vampire Diaires became fan faves. Oh, and Fifty Shades Of Gray was fan fiction inspired by Twilight so…I guess there’s that.
9. Jessica Simpson Getting Tuna And Chicken Confused
Easy mistake to make!
10. Kanye West Interrupting Taylor Swift At The MTV Video Music Awards
The year is 2009. The day? September 13th. The fateful moment in question? The beginning of Taylor Swift and Kanye West’s over a decade-long feud.
Basically, Taylor Swift won the Video Music Award (VMA) for Best Female Video for her hit single “You Belong With Me.” While accepting the moon man, Kanye West interrupted her speech saying, “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” (This was the year Beyoncé’s incredible “Single Ladies” music video came out.)
Anyway, the rest is, as they say, history:
11. Halle Berry’s History-Making Oscar Win For Best Actress
In 2002, Halle Berry won the best actress Oscar for her performance in the film Monster’s Ball, making history as the first African American to win in that category. Her reaction and acceptance speech was incredibly touching. I still remember almost crying watching it as a little kid.
12. The “Lady Marmalade” music video
Need I say more?
13. Tom Cruise Jumping On A Couch
Yeah. Idk. Still v weird. Must be the Scientology:
14. John Ritter Passing Away While Starring In The Hit Sitcom 8 Simple Rules
In 2002, the breakout sitcom 8 Simple Rules starring John Ritter, Kaley Cuoco, and Katy Segal experienced a huge loss when Ritter passed away suddenly during the show’s filming. After a brief hiatus, 8 Simple Rules returned for a second season and decided to have John’s character Paul pass away in the show. The rest of the show detailed each of Paul’s children and his wife’s journey through grief and coming together as a family in the wake of personal tragedy.
15. Beyoncé Going Solo
After the massive success of her R&B trio Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé parted ways from the group in 2005 to pursue her solo career, starting with her smash hit “Crazy In Love” with her Jay-Z, whom she would later marry.
16. Jersey Shore
In 2009, the world was introduced to the lifestyle of GTL (Gym, Tan, Laundry), as made famous by the truly unhinged and perfect cast of Jersey Shore. A reality show that takes place in, you guessed it, New Jersey, the shenanigans were endless. The hangovers were guaranteed. And arrests were imminent. Premiering on Thursday nights on MTV, the show quickly became a hit, with many people hosting viewing parties for each week’s new episode.
17. The Premiere Of Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Keeping Up With The Kardashians premiered in October of 2007 on E! and the world as we know it hasn’t been the same since. The show truly gave rise to America’s obsession with reality TV, running for 20 seasons, finally ending in March 2021. The Kardashians gave us endless drama and iconic lines like, “Don’t be fucking rude!”
Whether you love them, hate them, or are utterly indifferent, The Kardashians are truly a cultural phenomenon and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. As the saying goes, “The Devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder.”
