In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, hear two dispatches from this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego. First, panelist Glen Weldon explores hard science fiction. Then, NPR Books editor Petra Mayer reports on Wonder Woman fandom in honor of her 75th birthday. (Glen Weldon's piece originally aired on Weekend All Things Considered on July 23, 2016. Petra Mayer's piece originally aired on Weekend Edition Sunday on July 24, 2016.)
Jul 25, 2016•8 min
All Things Considered Host Ari Shapiro joins the gang for a discussion of the new Ghostbusters film and the return of the television thriller Mr. Robot.
Jul 22, 2016•44 min
This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, we revisit an episode from summer 2012. Linda Holmes talked with Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon about pop culture finales — from television shows like Six Feet Under, Community, M.A.S.H., Buffy the Vampire Slayer and LOST to books like Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and comics like Calvin And Hobbes, Sandman and Y: The Last Man. Then, a look at road trips and the pop culture they use to occupy and distract and energy while in the car. All that plu...
Jul 15, 2016•44 min
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.
Jul 13, 2016•9 min
NPR Books editor Petra Mayer joins the panel to discuss The BFG specifically and Steven Spielberg movies in general. Then they move on to talk of crumpets and The Great British Baking Show.
Jul 08, 2016•48 min
Pop Culture Happy Hour's Stephen Thompson and Code Switch's Gene Demby discuss Kevin Durant's move to the Golden State Warriors: Is it good for basketball? Is this the wave of the mercenary future?
Jul 07, 2016•14 min
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. Then, the gang takes a quiz all about sequel taglines.
Jul 01, 2016•41 min
The sixth season of HBO's Game of Thrones showed a real evolution in the way the show portrays women and in the season finale, several female characters ascended to power. All Things Considered host Kelly McEvers talks to Glen Weldon and Greta Johnsen, host of the Nerdette podcast, about the show. (This segment originally aired on All Things Considered on June 27th, 2016.)
Jun 28, 2016•5 min
Weekend Edition Sunday Host Rachel Martin chats with Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, the co-creator of Lifetime's UnREAL and a former producer of The Bachelor. (A shorter version of the interview aired on Weekend Edition Sunday on June 5, 2016.)
Jun 27, 2016•13 min
Latino U.S.A's Daisy Rosario joins the panel for a discussion of Pixar's Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding Nemo. Then they chat about voice acting, from cartoons to translation to video games. Plus, What's Making Us Happy this week.
Jun 24, 2016•45 min
In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Glen Weldon talks to Adam Goldman, the star and co-creator of the web series The Outs, about what sets the comedy apart and why queer people are superheroes.
Jun 21, 2016•8 min
Code Switch's Gene Demby joins the panel for a discussion of ESPN's new documentary miniseries O.J.: Made in America. Then, we bring you a television quiz featuring Audie Cornish, recorded live at the Vulture Festival. Plus, What's Making Us Happy this week.
Jun 17, 2016•46 min
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." Linda Holmes and Glen Weldon discuss.
Jun 13, 2016•11 min
Librarian Margaret Willison joins the gang for a discussion of Popstar, the new movie from the Lonely Island comedy group. The they looka back at other films that find humor in the foibles of musicians. And, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.
Jun 10, 2016•46 min
Slate recently published The Black Film Canon, a list of 50 films by black directors curated by a panel that included Henry Louis Gates Jr., Wesley Morris, and Ava DuVernay. Slate Culture Writer Aisha Harris helped spearhead the project, so she sat down with host Linda Holmes to highlight some of the films on the list.
Jun 07, 2016•12 min
Writer Chris Klimek and NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen join Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson for a discussion of X-Men: Apocalypse. Then they discuss villains of all kinds and why their motives never seem to make sense. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
Jun 03, 2016•46 min
All Things Considered Host Audie Cornish joins the panel for a show recorded live at New York Magazine's Vulture Festival. First, the panel runs with the vulture theme and discuss pop culture artifacts they continue to pick over. Then, it's onto a discussion of the crossover of politics and pop culture. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
May 27, 2016•47 min
Weekend Edition Books Editor Barrie Hardymon joins the crew this week. They discuss George Clooney and Julia Roberts in their new movie, Money Monster, before moving on to the sparkling singers of Eurovision.
May 20, 2016•50 min
Code Switch's Gene Demby joins Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon for a discussion of the new Marvel blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. Then, Linda Holmes interviews Joe and Anthony Russo about directing Captain America and many beloved television comedies. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
May 13, 2016•46 min
NPR Books editor Petra Mayer joins the panel for a preview of Free Comic Book Day. Then, they discuss Keanu, the new action comedy from the team behind Key and Peele. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
May 06, 2016•39 min
Writer Danielle Henderson joins the gang for a discussion of the HBO comedy Silicon Valley. Then, Stephen Thompson interviews Loren Bouchard, the creator of Bob's Burgers. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
Apr 29, 2016•52 min
Linda Holmes chats with Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton, the hosts of BuzzFeed's Another Round podcast.
Apr 27, 2016•17 min
NPR Music's Kiana Fitzgerald reviews Beyonce's new album Lemonade. Fitzgerald says the story Beyonce is telling this time, that of a woman wronged, is universal, but the way she's delivered it is a crystal-clear representation of the black female experience. (The review originally aired on Morning Edition on April 25, 2016.) Live show tickets available at: vulturefestival.com
Apr 25, 2016•5 min
Pop Culture Happy Hour Producer Emeritus Mike Katzif joins the gang for a summer movie preview. They'll discuss what they most want to see. They will also predict the biggest box office hits and bombs. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
Apr 22, 2016•50 min
Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson discuss the way Prince changed music, supported other artists, defied creative constraints and challenged the notion of what it means for a pop singer to rebel.
Apr 21, 2016•12 min
Linda Holmes chat with Josh Gondelman, and stand-up comedian and writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver . His album Physical Whisper is available now.
Apr 19, 2016•12 min
All Things Considered host Audie Cornish and librarian Margaret Willison join Linda Holmes and Glen Weldon for a discussion of The Mindy Project and romantic comedies. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
Apr 15, 2016•51 min
All Things Considered host Audie Cornish chats with Ta-Nehisi Coates about writing the latest iteration of Marvel's Black Panther. Marvel's Black Panther. The first issue is out now and features illustrations by artist Brian Stelfreeze. (A shorter version of this interview aired on All Things Considered on April 6, 2016.)
Apr 13, 2016•27 min
Trey Graham returns to PCHH for a discussion of the best bad movies. Then, Glen Weldon tests the panel in a top-secret quiz. Plus, what's making us happy this week.
Apr 08, 2016•41 min
Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings, hosts of the For Colored Nerds podcast, join Linda Holmes for a chat about the Real Housewives of Potomac.
Apr 01, 2016•17 min