pop culture happy hour newsletter archive

The much-praised Hulu series PEN15 is about two middle-school girls who feel like they might never figure out how to grow into adults. Mother-Daughter Directors Nancy Meyers and Hallie Meyers-Shyer. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Petra Mayer talk about Orphan Black, and the dream sequence device. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. In fact, no one had even scored a touchdown when Maroon 5 came out to headline the halftime show. Then, revisiting the made-up holiday Appreciation Day, in honor of this show's second anniversary, and what in pop culture has the gang grown to appreciate in the last year? Pop Culture Happy Hour Wraps Up The 2018 Emmys. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Mike Katzif chat about the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman. Live show tickets available at: vulturefestival.com, Small Batch: Another Round's Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton. ), The Limitations Of An Anti-Racist Reading List. ), Summer Movie Preview and What's Making Us Happy. From classic novels to modern films, they'll talk about the unique delights of people who can't really be trusted to tell their own stories. The gang discusses Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, Phantom Thread. Then, the panel discusses the romantic musical La La Land, which stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Starring Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, Run is part romantic comedy, part thriller, and part road trip. So it's time for the annual fall TV preview. Here's what the NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour crew was paying attention to and what you should check out this weekend. As someone who watches The Bachelor, except for this season, I did not like their choice for the bachelor. Yes, it's a great, spirited takedown of all kinds of pseudoscience nonsense, but I also laughed and laughed listening to them take on Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Blinded by the Light is another film that Gurinder Chadha has made. Code Switch's Kat Chow joins the panel as they say goodbye to 2016 by revisiting their resolutions and predictions from last year and making new ones for 2017. And then The Heroic Trio, which also features Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui. In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Stephen Thompson chats with NPR's biggest Frank Sinatra fan, reporter Sonari Glinton. Acting awards went to Brad Pitt, Laura Dern, Joaquin Phoenix, and Renee Zellweger. This year's show brought lots of Taylor Swift, and Missy Elliott, not to mention Lizzo, Normani, Lil Nas X, Rosala and more. (A shorter version of this interview originally aired on All Things Considered on November 10, 2015.). They'll discuss the commercials they loved and hated, Beyonce's halftime show and the blackout. This week, we remembered Harry Belafonte, looked at Apple Music's new attempt to bring Bach the classics, and got a preview of the upcoming Zelda game. Has book criticism and criticism in general become too nice? Pop Culture Happy Hour: Literacy, 'Modern Family,' And Other Blind Spots. I think they've just made a really strong and moving series so far. (This episode originally aired on June 23, 2017. Guest: Aisha Harris, Pop Culture Happy Hour All-Books Edition: Volume 2. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon talk Downton Abbey. From football players who are a little wooden to politicians who should have stayed in their offices, they'll chat about what cameos are and how they work. The new Starz half-hour drama tells the story of two young women who learn a lot about their mother when they go home to deal with the consequences of her death. Believe it or not, it's the Metropolitan Opera's production of Rigoletto, which we recently checked out in New York. I feel like I don't do a good enough job educating myself on tenant rights and why things are the way they are. It's called Floor Is Lava, it's based on a game played by children, and let's be honest it couldn't be played by anyone else. What worked? The panel takes on the latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with help from Code Switch co-host and established Taika Waititi fan Shereen Marisol Meraji. This week, we bring you two unaired segments from our fall tour. What films were loved? The panel is on the road this week, so we are bringing you two special treats. Then they'll take a look at the briefest of acting triumphs: the cameo. The digital animation is ridiculously advanced, bringing Simba, Mufasa, Scar, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa to eerie, ultra-realistic life. We The also look at back at other films that find humor in the foibles of musicians. She recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied political science and cinema. Does the satire about race relations on an ivy league campus live up to the hype? Stephen King's novel the shining was about a haunted hotel and a boy named Danny Torrance with psychic powers. That's the beginning of a new HBO series, also called Run, that tells you what happens next. Then they'll discuss the art of the mixtape. NPR's TV critic joins the gang for a look at this year's Emmy Awards. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and music director/producer emeritus Mike Katzif are LIVE from the Bell House in Brooklyn. On this bonus episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, we bring you a conversation from our pal Sam Sanders. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. Plus, What's Making Us Happy. Stephen will soon be the father of a teenager, so they'll take a look at how teens are portrayed in popular culture. Marcus Russell Price/Netflix Most of this summer's blockbusters are already out. The games, the nerd necessities, the things that didn't even fit under the tree and, of course, the things we begged and pleaded for. We'll talk about what holds up, what looks really different, and what we miss the most. Melancholidays, Sisters and 2015 Highlights. Plus: the glorious return of a mom we all enjoy. She is sort of like someone I could see myself, like, meeting at a party not, you know, not the usual brokers I've dealt with. Guests: Weekend Edition editor Barrie Hardymon and Code Switch's Kat Chow. In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes talks with Chris Klimek about Furious 7, the latest movie in the Fast and the Furious franchise. it was sort of like the male version of Bend It Like Beckham. Guest: NPR Editor Barrie Hardymon. Then another entry in Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and Things Making Us Happy, including Judith Krantz, Kung Fu Panda 2, Clem Snide and more. Topics include Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy. The PCHH gang also takes audience questions. NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen joins the panel for a discussion of the new film Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan's World War II epic. Us is Jordan Peele's follow up to his 2017 film Get Out. We've got games of all kinds! They reunited in 2003 for Bad Boys II, and now, almost 17 years later, they're back in Bad Boys For Life. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes is joined by Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham for a discussion about the ups and downs of NBC's new musical drama Smash. Favorite examples come from 'The Simpsons,' 'Modern Family,' Johnny Cash and the comic 'Strangers in Paradise.' The shadow of a mass shooting in Orlando cast a pall over the 70th Annual Tony Awards broadcast, but host James Corden offered a spirited paean to "every Broadway would-be." In time, however, her affection for writing, popular culture, and the online universe eclipsed her legal ambitions. Toddler TV: We Recommend Kid-Friendly Shows For Desperate Parents. We're going to talk actors, directors, and much more. Batman V Superman and Pop Culture Objects. Ryan Coogler's Marvel film, set largely in the richly imagined Afro-futurist utopia of Wakanda, is by turns intimate, immediate and most importantly new. So we're here to pass on some book recommendations we hope will make your isolation feel a little less isolated. The Beatles vs. Then, they tackle the meant-to-do pile before What's Making Us Happy. I was going to talk about Bend It Like Beckham. Also, Linda concocts a quirky quiz. It's called Black Is King, it's visually grand and sumptuous, and it's got a huge cast you'll see Lupita Nyong'o, Pharrell Williams, Kelly Rowland, and many looks at Beyonc's children, her mother, and her husband Jay-Z. Plus Things Making Us Happy This Week. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt have already worked together as pals of the Avengers. You can buy tickets at: This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Audie Cornish talk about the film Whiplash, which Audie nicknamed "Dude Black Swan." All that, plus What's Making Us Happy. The series is based on a popular series of romance novels by Diana Gabaldon. Edge of Tomorrow, Noble Flops, and the Tony Awards. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Hunger Games makes its inevitable appearance with NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham go through what worked, what didn't and how it compared to the book. Couple Things: Checking In With 'Indian Matchmaking'. Then they'll talk about high school required reading lists: the books they had to read, the books they wanted to read, and what it all means as adults. All that plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. If you came of age in the 1990s, you might know Luke Perry as the rebellious teenage fantasy boyfriend Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210. hide caption. The film doubles down on character interactions both familiar and unfamiliar. Live At The Sixth & I: A Few Quizzes And A Few Questions. Then, a discussion of some regrettable television: Same Name, starring David Hasselhoff and his similarly named doppleganger. It's been forty years since the release of the classic horror film, Halloween. It's Me, Margaret. When I'm trying to watch a movie these days, my brain has to be completely shut off all the way. Guest: writer Chris Klimek. NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen joins the panel for a discussion of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I recently listened to an episode of the Hellgate podcast, and they basically interviewed a broker. All Things Considered Host Audie Cornish joins the panel for a show recorded live at New York Magazine's Vulture Festival. Parisa Taghizadeh/Focus Features He will not not do something no matter what it is. Poseurs, Plate-Spinners, And Six Bucks In Pennies (REBROADCAST), This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon tackle the issue of cultural pretenders. Guest: Hanna Rosin, Co-Host of Invisibilia. It might be the new Noah Baumbach film Marriage Story, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple we meet when they're just starting their divorce. Sunday, October 23: The Regent Theater, Los Angeles, CA. There has already been a Hulu take on the true-crime story of Candy Montgomery, who famously killed a friend of hers with an ax. 'Hamilton': Look Around, Look Around, It's On Disney+. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson are joined by NPR Code Switch team members Kat Chow and Gene Demby. version, Writers Guild of America calls for a strike, Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Folk Legend, Dies At 84, 7 bodies have been found during a search for missing Oklahoma teens, Thousands fleeing violence in Sudan are crossing the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Then, a round of 'People We're Pulling For' including Ben Falcone, Bob Odenkirk, D'Angelo and the world of self-publishing and What's Making Us Happy This Week. Plus, we take a moment to remember rock legend Tom Petty, who died Monday at the age of 66. You learn about the history of broker fees, and why they exist. Sam Sanders, Co-Host of NPR's Politics Podcast, joins the panel for a discussion of Documentary Now!, the mockumentary series from Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Seth Meyers. Gerwig also wrote the script, which makes some changes to the story and the structure of Louisa May Alcott's book. Terrific! Next, following J.K. Rowling's admittance that she wrote a book as Robert Galbraith, they talk about pseudonyms. Author, comedian, and fake internet judge John Hodgman talks about his new book Vacationland, mediating internet disputes, writing a serious book after a lot of fake facts, and lots more. Gone Girl and Things We've Learned From Pop Culture. Then, they discuss when the lines get blurred between comedy and drama. Guest: Chris Klimek. Guest: Pop Culture Happy Hour producer emeritus and Ask Me Another producer Mike Katzif. Plus Tomorrow's Rediscoveries. They discuss a glut of superhero films -- Green Lantern, Green Hornet, Thor, Captain America, X-Men -- as well as new animated movies, choice dramas and this year's slate of romantic comedies featuring Jennifer Aniston. Weekend Edition Books Editor Barrie Hardymon joins the crew this week. I could listen to like four or five seasons of "Erotic 90s" because you're now in the sweet spot of the movies that kind of were coming out when I was developing an interest in film and thinking about film. It was based around Disney's remake of The Lion King a film that included voice acting from Beyonc herself, among many others. Without spoiling the plot, they'll discuss why they love the film--and why it's beloved by critics and a box office success. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week. Writer Kiana Fitzgerald and Brittany Luse, host of Sampler and For Colored Nerds, join Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson for a chat about the Netflix series The Get Down. We Recommend: I think I recommended the If Books Could Kill podcast episode about Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus in this space a while ago, but that's not going to stop me from recommending their episode on Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Plus a new twist on the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz (including musicals! All that, plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. Nine films later, this branch of the saga concludes with Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Rachel Weisz plays the Queen's close adviser Sarah, and Emma Stone plays an ambitious servant named Abigail who has her eye on a bigger prize. As the show progresses, you have to kind of watch in order, because there's threads that move along. Pop Culture Happy Hour's Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson discuss the game: its allure and ubiquity, its backlash and glitches, and its zeitgeist-y collision of gaming, community and nostalgia. You know what? This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon talk about brick and mortar retail in the age of online consumption. 31. It's the second time they're teaming up after the huge commercial and critical success of La La Land. I think these shows are so interesting and they're so maddening because one of the things Karina Longworth is very good at she has kind of an interest in the connection between what is happening in movies and what is happening in the wider world. The family decides not to tell the grandmother that she's got only months to live a decision that Billi strongly disagrees with. Then the return of the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and What's Making Us Happy. Recent stories of sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood inspired black dresses and unexpected guests at the Golden Globes. We know you're tired. This week, we remembered Harry Belafonte, looked at Apple Music's new attempt to bring Bach the classics, and got a preview of the upcoming Zelda game.. Here's what the NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour crew was paying attention to and what you should check out this weekend. We discuss the sun-drenched Scandanavian creepiness. Coel plays Arabella, a writer whose life changes one night while she's sexually assaulted at a nightclub. And it's Criterion Collection's neonoir month. Penguin Random House Then, a look at television shows that use music exceptionally well, including Six Feet Under, Freaks and Geeks, Jimmy Fallon and more. And listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Plus, what's making us happy. In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson chat about the Super Bowl. We've just gotten done watching the 62nd Grammy Awards. If you're not yet caught up on the prospects of a WGA strike (which seem to me to be pretty significant), NPR's Mandalit del Barco has a piece that might help. Conversations about op-ed columns are often unproductive, and I was fascinated by this effort to grapple with a recent New York Times op-ed by genuinely writing the note one would write as an editor. It stars Regina King as an ex-cop in Tulsa Oklahoma who's not-so-secretly the masked vigilante Sister Night. The large cast is reunited, from sharp-tongued dowagers to scheming butlers. Then they'll discuss Lifetime's new scripted drama UnREAL, a biting look at a reality show that closely resembles The Bachelor. She's also sorting through a tumultuous marriage with her husband, a hotshot veteran diplomat (Rufus Sewell). In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson talk about the life and career of Robin Williams. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson discuss this summer's latest superhero movie The Amazing Spider-man, a reboot of the series retelling the origin of Peter Parker. Host Heidi Klum and mentor Tim Gunn have been replaced by Karlie Kloss and season 4 winner Christian Siriano. 'House of Cards' and Pop Culture Punching Bags. We Recommend: I think I recommended the If Books Could Kill podcast episode about Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus in this space a while ago, but that's not going to stop me from recommending their episode on Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson talk about Richard Linklater's "Boyhood," a film that uses music and technology to boost its presentation of time passing. They'll talk about how Lisa Kudrow's turn as Valerie Cherish isn't a depressing take on a middle-aged actress, why the show shares DNA with The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and why Paulie G is the worst villain on television. Critic Chris Klimek joins the panel for a chat about the inventive sci-fi film Arrival. The Hobbit And The Habit Of Storing Your Stuff. You learn about the history of broker fees, and why they exist. We're here to fill you in on everything you need to know about the 2018 Emmys. Most of the women whose allegations received detailed media consideration were white, and so were most of the men they accused. Copyright 2023 NPR. Bring On The Sunscreen! It's really good, and it's really different from anything else on TV right now. Judy Blume attends The 2020 MAKERS Conference on February 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Anniversaries And Kids Entertainment That Stands The Test Of Time. The lovely John Moe invited me to appear on his new podcast Sleeping With Celebrities, . This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Bob Mondello discuss the wrestling drama Foxcatcher. Show Me A Hero And Summer Stuff We Missed. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Game of Thrones won the top awards. Creator Rebecca Sugar has said that there will be more episodes, but for now, Steven Universe: The Movie has just premiered on the Cartoon Network. Roma is inspired by Alfonso Cuarn's childhood, and the movie tells the story of Cleo, a nanny and housekeeper in 1970's Mexico City. Guest: NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans. It's time again for our summer movie preview. I think I recommended the If Books Could Kill podcast episode about Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus in this space a while ago, but that's not going to stop me from recommending their episode on Rich Dad, Poor Dad. And, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week. I covered one of the subjects in which I have an unreasonable amount of expertise: the early seasons of Melrose Place. Then they'll examine the long and varied career of Tom Hanks. I strongly recommend this interview with Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper, in which, among other things, he discusses his affinity for the work of the romance writer Elle Kennedy. Pop Culture Happy Hour is in its ninth year, so Linda decided to write a quiz about the ninth seasons of television shows. And it's also just an interesting commentary on white masculinity in so many different ways. Hulu Code Switch's Gene Demby joins the panel for a discussion of the state of the sequel and why we decided not to go deep on Independence Day: Resurgence. Back in 2004, Veronica Mars was a high school student working for her private-eye father on the side. Here We Go Again. Guest: NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans. But then he returned to it. She texts back the same thing: "RUN." But never fear, we're here to help. The jokes were there, talking about the script. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Code Switch's Gene Demby talk about the new film Steve Jobs and portrayals of other real and fictional moguls. (A shorter version of this interview originally aired on All Things Considered on November 16, 2015), The Hateful Eight and the Evolving Theatrical Experience. Because wow. Nerd Culture And The Return Of Regrettable TV. Olivia Wilde Is Quizzed On Buffalo Wild Wings. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. Now we're up to Toy Story 4. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy This Week. Moving between the past and the present, the series traces the effects of trauma on a family that once chose to spend a summer living in a house that is up to no good. Guests: Culture writers Chris Klimek and Danielle Henderson. Then they'll chat about movie trailers, how they evolved, and what make's a memorable trailer. What's warm and fuzzy, emotionally manipulative, and desperate for attention almost every hour of every day? All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week. The Tony Awards paid off for The Band's Visit, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the Angels in America revival and a scrappy theater kid named Bruce Springsteen. Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Veep' Talk And Spoilery 'Cabin In The Woods' Chatter. The mega-franchise Star Trek has produced a slew of movies and ten different TV series the latest of which is a brand-new animated comedy called Star Trek: Lower Decks. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham talk about London, royalty, deep and abiding villainy from soap opera and classic film villains to Disney movies and Seinfeld and then what's making us happy. $#@*! In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson chat about the new super-mega-blockbuster dinosaur movie Jurassic World. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy. We also make our fearless pop culture predictions for the next 12 months, and see how last year's predictions panned out. They race a mechanically enhanced super soldier played by Idris Elba to recover a deadly virus before it can melt the entire population of the planet into a series of small puddles. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes kicks out the boys, and brings in NPR's Tanya Ballard Brown, Barrie Hardymon and Parul Sehgal for a special edition: It's four women talking about four Girls the new HBO series from Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow. On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon start off with another round of 'People We're Pulling For' including voice actor H. Jon Benjamin, Spider-Man, Ken Jennings, and Adrianne Palicki. We'll talk about what we want to change, how we hope to improve our lives, and what we plan to do. But we had to wait for it. Club piece on nerds and autism in pop culture. there's an HBO Max (I guess just MAX now?) They'll wrap up the best of summer entertainment and discuss what television shows and movies they're looking forward to this fall. Writer Danielle Henderson joins the gang for a discussion of the HBO comedy Silicon Valley. Jeopardy! And I really like that they're centering this woman at the center of this specific story. I watch it on the app Boomerang. The film stars Eddie Murphy, who's joined by a fantastic cast that includes Keegan-Michael Key, Tituss Burgess, Craig Robinson, Mike Epps and Wesley Snipes. Code Switch's Kat Chow and Gene Demby join the show for thoughts on the groundbreaking Cartoon Network series Steven Universe and various card and board games. This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon talk about the Oscar nominations and if there were any surprises in the list. 'Nobody's Fool': Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, And Learning To Love A Man With Abs. All that plus, What's Making Us Happy this week, including rediscovering TV drama 'Party of Five,' Acorn TV, Assassins Creed III and music in commercials. From the much-hyped 'Great Gatsby' to the much-anticipated 'Before Midnight,' they'll discuss what movies they're looking forward to in a summer season seemingly dominated by apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers. They also get into the nuts and bolts of the advice column and discuss some favorites, like 'Miss Manners' and 'Savage Love.' They'll also discuss how shows can have a second life after cancellation, through syndication, video streaming or by jumping to another network.