Awesome / Hairspray (2007)

• Tracy getting on the Corny Collins show against all odds. What makes it more awesome is Edna and Wilbur’s delighted reactions.
• Corny Collins openly supporting integration for his show. Even when he’s met with some opposition and Velma saying she wants him fired, he doesn’t seem afraid and is still willing to be progressive.
• Corny isn't the only pro-integration person in town. It's small, but Mr. Pinky repeatedly proves that he supports Black people as well. He has Black employees in high-level positions in his shop—to the point where they can question his policies without fear of reprisal—and, during the "You Can't Stop the Beat" finale, openly cheers (along with the rest of the staff) when it's announced that The Corny Collins Show will now be integrated. It shows that there were some white adults in Baltimore who weren't racist or even indifferent—they were actively trying to help the Black community in whatever small ways they could.
• In a deleted scene, Edna is released from police custody, but she's greatly upset when she sees Maybelle and the rest of the protesters being arrested. Rather than walk away, Edna demands that the police officer apologize and let the protesters go. His response? Cuffing her and loading her in with the protesters. Her response? Smiling at having stood up for the protesters.
• It may have been a stupid thing to do, but Tracy gets one when she hits the policeman with her sign. Tracy isn't someone you should push around.
• Amber moves on from her defeat gracefully, showing interest in one of the black dancers (the two can be seen flirting and teaching each other dance moves in the background at one point) and telling Velma "I lost, Mom! Let's just deal with it!" after Inez wins. In the theatrical version, she finally just looks at her mom and shrugs comically before joining in the dance, while in a deleted scene, she joins in after letting her mom go to jail.
• Tracy and Link's Big Damn Kiss at the end.
• Edna gets her revenge on Velma when Velma admits to Amber that she rigged the votes. Edna, Wilbur, and the cameraman Velma had abused earlier turn the camera on her, with Edna announcing that all of Baltimore just heard her confessing to cheating, leading to her getting fired. It even comes complete with a Pre Ass Kicking One Liner!
  Velma: No, you did not lose. You CANNOT have lost, because I switched the DAMN TALLIES!
  Edna: Smile, Miss Crabby—you're on Candid Camera!
  • Later, Mr. Spritzer, the head of the station, also gets a moment when he finally grows a spine and tells Velma, in no uncertain terms, that she's fired. She's pushed him around the whole movie, and now he's biting back!
• Corny Collins gets some props for being ready to swoop in and give everything Maybelle and Tracy had done the final push to get his show permanently integrated. Knowing Little Miss Inez Stubb's name and knowing the exact footnote in the rules that let her win shows he's been waiting for a moment like this.
  • Him shutting Velma down and leading Maybelle onto stage counts too.
    Velma: Corny, do something! This show is turning to gumbo!
    Corny: Not a chance, Velma. This is the future.
  • The look on Maybelle's face as Corny leads her to the stage. "This is your time," he says, and her expression says "You bet it is."
• Inez winning Miss Teenage Hairspray, despite not being a candidate.
• "Miss Baltimore Crabs" is a villainous Moment of Awesome for Velma von Tussle. Michelle Pfeiffer's incredible singing voice and acting skills combine to deliver a wonderfully wicked performance.
• Link proves himself something of a coward when he refuses to join the protest march with Tracy and Maybelle, as he fears that he'll lose his chance at stardom if some high-level producers see him supporting integration. Later, though, he makes up for it during the Miss Hairspray pageant: he notices that the producers love him and decides to bring Little Inez to the stage, giving her the chance to dance (and, as noted above, win the title). He gave up his own career boost to help Inez (although it seems to be a case of Sweet and Sour Grapes given how well the entire integration process goes).