2020 Predictions, graded

Back in January, I made a series of predictions* about what 2020 would have in store. Now that the year is over, it’s time to review how I did so that I can improve for next year (or gloat about what I got right and ignore what I got wrong).

1. Prediction: Tenet will have the biggest domestic box office opening weekend, making over $180 million.
   Result: I had assumed that with no Avengers movies to compete with, an action-oriented film from Christopher Nolan would be the big winner. Unfortunately, I was wrong on both parts of this prediction. Verdict: Wrong
2. Prediction: Netflix will stream a live event.
   Result: I’ve been making this prediction for several years, starting in 2016. It seems like a natural expansion opportunity for the entertainment giant. And while some shows (like Tiger King and Queen’s Gambit) were popular enough to seem like everyone was watching a simultaneous broadcast, this didn’t happen. Verdict: Wrong
3. Prediction: The Green Bay Packers will win the Super Bowl.
   Result: I was right to hope, since my team made it to the NFC championship. Unfortunately, they didn’t quite make it far enough. Verdict: Wrong
4. Prediction: The United States will get the most medals at the Summer Olympics.
   Result: I thought that this was a gimme, since the US usually wins the most gold medals. Verdict: Wrong
5. Prediction: The NCAA Men’s Basketball champion will be a 5th seed or lower.
   Result: Who doesn’t love a Cinderella story? Unfortunately, the tournament was cancelled. Verdict: Wrong
6. Prediction: Donald Trump will be impeached by the House, but acquitted by the Senate. He will still run for re-election and get nominated.
   Result: I can’t be too proud of this one; it was the most obvious outcome. Any other prediction would have been insane. Verdict: Right
7. Prediction: Elizabeth Warren will become the Democratic nominee and will go on to win the Presidency.
   Result: While I was right that a Democrat would beat Donald Trump, I got the nominee wrong. In my defense, no one knew how the primary would go. Verdict: Wrong
8. Prediction: The Democrats will maintain their majority in the House of Representatives and will win a majority in the Senate as well.
   Result: I was right about the House, but control of the Senate won’t be determined until early January. Verdict: Wrong
9. Prediction: The Roaring 20’s will be a popular theme in pop culture, and at least a third of all the parties I’m invited to will be 1920's-themed.
   Result: While I did attend one 1920’s-themed event, I was invited to several non-1920’s parties. Who would have thought that 1918 would be the more relevant comparison? Verdict: Wrong
10. Prediction: I will host my own Passover Seder with at least 10 guests.
    Result: This was more of a personal goal that got mixed into the list. I was actively planning this until the pandemic made this a bad idea. On the other hand, I did build my own sukkah for Sukkot. Verdict: Wrong

*Please don’t ask to see where I made these predictions. But I assure you, the list exists somewhere. I definitely did not invent them just now for a lame joke.