Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.
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Thunderbolts* is the latest Marvel movie and this one's a bit more fun than they've been lately. It stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and emotionally broken super-people who've done some very bad things. Will they manage to put their guilt aside and come together to form a rag-tag team of losers who somehow manage to save the day? Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR...
If you wanted to escape reality and move to a fictional TV world, where would you live? Many are dystopian hellscapes and stressful workplaces. But other TV shows are a fun hang. Today, we're talking about TV shows where we'd like to live — including Game of Thrones , Derry Girls , Parks and Recreation , and Gilligan's Island . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Weddings make great fodder for TV writers. It's wedding season, so today we're breaking down the different types of TV weddings featured on Friends, General Hospital, A Different World, Grey's Anatomy, Cheers, Schitt's Creek and more. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Étoile is the latest series from Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . It's about the wacky goings-on between two prestigious but struggling ballet companies, one in New York, and one in Paris. You'll see some of your favorite actors from the Gilmore and Maisel universes all speaking that signature rapid-fire, joke-dense patter. But can a comedy set in the rarified world of professional ballet find its audience – and be funny? Étoile is streaming on ...
There was Barbenheimer Summer, then Brat Summer, what will this year bring? Maybe it's the season of actually good superhero movies, like The Fantastic Four and Superman . We've got a guide to the movies and TV we're most excited about this summer, including M3gan 2.0 , Pixar's Elio , and Mission: Impossible . Amazon supports NPR and pays to distribute some of our content. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team discusses Conclave, a political thriller set in the Vatican, exploring themes of faith, power, and the future of the Catholic Church. The panel analyzes the performances, direction, and commentary, debating its thematic depth and entertainment value. Ultimately, they find it enjoyable and thought-provoking despite some reservations about the ending.
The lovely rom-com The Wedding Banquet has a stellar all-star cast, including Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, and Bowen Yang. It's a twisty comedy of errors where proposals, hookups, and harsh words fly. Directed by Andrew Ahn ( Fire Island ), the film offers a modern take on Ang Lee's classic queer film. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The hosts of Pop Culture Happy Hour recommend recent TV comedies, including the animated series 'Number One Happy Family USA,' the televangelist satire 'The Righteous Gemstones,' the Canadian small-town show 'North of North,' and the crime comedy 'Deli Boys.' They discuss each show's premise, humor, and unique qualities, offering listeners a range of options for lighter viewing.
The very scary movie Sinners finds Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers who open a 1930s juke joint. And opening night does not go as planned. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, ( Black Panther), the film mixes blues music with classic horror in a standoff between the brothers and their friends on the inside and the bloodthirsty – and growing – menace outside. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoice...
The hosts discuss the Apple TV+ series 'Your Friends and Neighbors,' starring Jon Hamm as a wealthy man who turns to crime. They analyze the show's premise, character development, and themes of wealth and morality, questioning whether it fully explores its potential as a dark comedy or ensemble drama. The panel also considers Hamm's performance and its impact on the show's overall dynamic.
The last season of the venerable British science fiction series Doctor Who brought a lot of change. The Doctor is now played by Ncuti Gatwa, who is Black and openly queer. And it marked the return of the showrunner who birthed the modern era of Doctor Who . The show just returned for a new season on Disney+, so today we're revisiting our conversation about the series. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The new film Warfare dispenses with a lot of things you've come to expect from Hollywood war movies. It's based on the memories of a platoon of Navy SEALS, and attempts to capture the chaos of one specific Iraq War conflict as accurately as possible. The only thing Hollywood about it is its cast of young actors, including Joseph Quinn, Will Poulter, Kit Connor and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message ...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team reviews the thriller 'Drop', discussing its premise, performances, and overall impact. They delve into the film's use of technology, meme culture, and character backstories, comparing it to similar movies and exploring its strengths and weaknesses. The conversation also covers the film's themes and its potential appeal to different audiences, before moving on to a segment of what's making each host happy that week.
At a certain point, most of us settle into a groove with our pop culture consumption. We know what we love and what we're not into. But sometimes, all it takes is one great outlier or a willingness to step outside our comfort zone to make us reconsider what we don't like. Today we're talking about our pop culture revelations, including Friday Night Lights , Train to Busan , the poetry of Mary Oliver, and Watchmen . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privac...
The premise might be a tough sell: a young woman attempts to finally own her sexuality following a terminal diagnosis. In the new show Dying For Sex, Michelle Williams stars as a cancer patient confronting the unsatisfying relationships in her life. The series is also a raunchy sex comedy that suggests it's never too late to insist on your own happiness. And it's got a stellar cast, including Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, and Sissy Spacek. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com...
Ayesha and Glenn dissect the finale of *The White Lotus* Season 3, focusing on individual storylines like Rick and Chelsea's tragic end, the Ratliffs' family dynamics, and the three gal pals' reunion. They critique the show's handling of non-white characters, the obvious plot twists, and the overall impact of wealth and privilege. The episode concludes with thoughts on Belinda's return and the chaotic finale.
Based on the best-selling game, A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa in a goofy and sprawling adventure full of blocky animals and magical macguffins. Directed by Jared Hess ( Nacho Libre , Napoleon Dynamite ), the film also features Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Coolidge. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
In Daredevil: Born Again , Charlie Cox returns as everyone's favorite blind-but-with-heightened-senses Marvel superhero. This time out, he hangs up his horns and throws himself into his career as a lawyer. At the same time, the criminal mastermind Kingpin (played by Vincent D'Onofrio) decides to go straight and run for mayor of New York City. The two men declare a truce, but will it last? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The delightful Netflix series Survival of the Thickest is about an up-and-coming stylist whose professional and personal ambitions go sideways when she finds herself newly single. With the help of her best friends, she recalibrates her life and steps outside her comfort zone to varying results. It stars the charming comedian Michelle Buteau, who also co-created the show. Survival of the Thickest just returned for a second season, so today we are revisiting our conversation about the series. Lear...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team reviews the Apple TV+ satire, "The Studio," starring Seth Rogen as a Hollywood studio head. They discuss Rogen's performance, the show's cameos, and its commentary on the entertainment industry. The panel also explores the show's balance of humor and cringe, as well as its insightful observations about power dynamics and personal fulfillment in Hollywood.
In Death of a Unicorn , Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as dad and daughter facing off against some angry-as-hell horned beasts. Like so many creature features, it poses a direct question amid all the chaos and carnage: Who's the real monster here? The film also stars Will Poulter, Richard E. Grant, and Téa Leoni. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The hosts and critic discuss Netflix's 'The Residence,' a comedic whodunit set in the White House. They praise Uzo Aduba's performance, the clever casting, and the show's embrace of the genre's traditions. The conversation explores the show's balance of humor, mystery, and its approach to politics, while touching on the strengths and minor pacing issues in the final episode.
The Apple TV+ series Dope Thief is a great high-stakes crime thriller to stream now. It stars Brian Tyree Henry as a man running a risky con: Robbing small-time drug dealers by posing as a DEA agent. His luck runs out, however, when he and his buddy-in-crime (Wagner Moura) mess with the wrong house. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.co...
The hosts and guests discuss the second season of Severance, an Apple TV+ series. They explore the plot, character development, and themes, debating whether the season lived up to its potential. Opinions range from disappointment with the show's meandering plot to praise for its satisfying finale and exploration of dual identities.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney's first fully animated feature film back in 1937. Now, it's getting a hi-tech "reimagining" complete with new songs, seven CGI-rendered dwarfs, and live-action leads. Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White, while Gal Gadot plays the Evil Queen with a magic mirror and terrible intentions. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
In the gleefully grisly action movie Novocaine , Jack Quaid plays a sweet, nerdy guy who does not experience physical pain. He falls for a woman (Amber Midthunder) who's determined to get him to leave his safe, risk-averse life behind. That happens in a big and very bloody way when she gets kidnapped by bank robbers, and he sets out to rescue her. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Follow Pop...
The hosts and guest discuss Sean Baker's film "Anora", focusing on its Cinderella-esque plot involving a sex worker and a Russian oligarch's son. They analyze the film's comedic elements, the performances of the actors, and the subversion of genre tropes, as well as its exploration of class, immigration, and the complexities of relationships. The conversation also considers the film's potential reception in the current cultural climate.
In the new movie Opus , Ayo Edebiri plays a journalist who attends a press event at the compound of a reclusive pop star (John Malkovich) who'd been in hiding for decades. And then, things get weird and questions arise. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/a...
The cool, stylish new Steven Soderbergh film Black Bag is about a group of British spies who discover there's a traitor in their midst. It stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. He's a lie detector expert; she's one of his chief suspects. The thing is: They're married. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
You should watch the surreal new movie On Becoming a Guinea Fowl . It opens with a Zambian woman finding her uncle's body on the road. His death brings the family together from near and far, but also resurfaces old wounds — wounds the elders would much rather ignore. It's a powerful story about the silence that keeps families from breaking, but only in superficial ways, and with devastating consequences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
