The best of the U.S. in 2002

Los Angeles Times

Nathan Lane, left, and Matthew Broderick hit it big in "The Producers." Advertiser library photo • May 21, 2002

Movie: "Spider-Man," tormented comic-book hero scores big.

Hardcover books: Fiction: "The Summons," a John Grisham mystery; nonfiction: "Self Matters — Creating Your Life From the Inside Out," advice from "Oprah" regular Dr. Phillip C. McGraw; Christian — "The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon," post-apocalyptic visions by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins.

Plays: Broadway: "The Producers," Mel Brooks redux; regional theaters: "Proof," David Auburn's numbers game.

TV show: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," the dead speak.

Albums: Overall sales: "The Eminem Show," Eminem, rants and raves; country: "Drive," Alan Jackson, down-home truths and patriotic musings; hard rock: "Weathered," Creed, pop metal with a messianic front man; classical: "Sentimento," Andrea Bocelli, love songs.

Singles: Overall sales: "Before Your Love," Kelly Clarkson, pop bonbons; R&B: "Uh Huh," B2K, seductive harmonies; rap: "Lights Camera Action," Mr. Cheeks, sexual braggadocio with a beat.

Video game: "Grand Theft Auto 3"/"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" — Western civilization's low end.

Wheels: Passenger car: Toyota Camry, dependability for the masses; light passenger vehicle: Ford F-Series pickup, a perennial.

Art show: "Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South," Art Institute of Chicago.

Toy: LeapPad Books, interactive electronic library for tots.

Video: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Sources: Variety; Publishers Weekly; Christian Booksellers Association; Nielsen Media Research; Nielsen SoundScan; Nielsen VideoScan; Autodata Corp; League of American Theatres and Producers Inc.; Theatre Communications Group; the Art Newspaper; Money magazine; NPD Group Inc.