The Netflix series XO, Kitty is a spinoff of the hit YA book and movie franchise, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. The show follows the messy adventures of teenage matchmaker Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart), who moves across the globe to be with her long-distance boyfriend in Korea. The show is a mash-up of genres, including rom-coms, Korean dramas, and coming-of-age tales. XO, Kitty just returned for a second season, so in this encore episode, we're revisiting our conversation about the seri...
Jan 16, 2025•16 min•Ep 2000•Transcript available on Metacast In Netflix's gritty, brutal Western series American Primeval , Betty Gilpin plays a woman determined to get herself and her son across the frontier. But along the way, they find themselves caught up in a brewing war between the federal government and a violent Mormon militia. A gruff guide (Taylor Kitsch) might be of some help, but the land is rife with violent factions with competing claims to the blood-soaked soil. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more a...
Jan 15, 2025•19 min•Ep 1999•Transcript available on Metacast Some bands are The Beatles and some singers are Beyoncé: Smash after smash, their legend grows. And some artists aren't. For any one of a bunch of reasons — commercial, artistic and mysterious — some artists have one big hit song, but they don't have others. But what makes for a great one-hit wonder? Today we're debating: what is the best one-hit wonder of all time. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jan 14, 2025•20 min•Ep 1998•Transcript available on Metacast In the new movie The Last Showgirl, a woman finds herself with few options as she approaches the end of her long career as a dancer in Las Vegas. The film marks a new chapter in the star-crossed acting career of Pamela Anderson. Directed by Gia Coppola, it tells a story about aging, parenthood, the underbelly of show business, and what happens when the world no longer buys what you're selling. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor me...
Jan 10, 2025•25 min•Ep 1997•Transcript available on Metacast In the past year, there have been a lot of movies that feature older women falling in love with much younger men. There's The Idea Of You , A Family Affair , Lonely Planet , and Babygirl , just to name a few. But why now? Today we're bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast It's Been A Minute . In this episode, host Brittany Luse sits down with New York Magazine features writer Rachel Handler to unpack what these films say about Hollywood's changing attitudes towards older women and why the ca...
Jan 09, 2025•17 min•Ep 1996•Transcript available on Metacast Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is the latest film in the beloved stop-motion animation series. This time, clueless inventor Wallace and his long-suffering pooch Gromit are dealing with Wallace's latest invention, a robotic garden gnome. But when an old enemy gets involved, they must face down an army of evil robots and expose the criminal mastermind behind it all. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.c...
Jan 08, 2025•16 min•Ep 1995•Transcript available on Metacast We covered dozens of new movies in 2024, some we loved, some we didn't, and everything in between. And there are always a few favorites that we don't get a chance to talk about. Today, we're making recommendations for great movies we missed in 2024. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jan 06, 2025•18 min•Ep 1994•Transcript available on Metacast Adapted from the Pulitzer prize-winner novel from Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys tells the story of two Black boys who form an unshakeable bond at a segregated reform school in the Jim Crow South. It's quite ambitious and unlike other prestigious book to film adaptations you've probably seen — most of it unfolds in the first-person perspective. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Pri...
Jan 03, 2025•29 min•Ep 1993•Transcript available on Metacast The Korean drama Squid Game became the most popular offering in Netflix's history by combining pitch-black satire of late-stage capitalism with bloody violence. In Season 2, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) winds up sucked back into the games, where he must fight for his life, try to destroy the system from the inside, and rally new players to his cause. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jan 01, 2025•25 min•Ep 1992•Transcript available on Metacast As a new year arrives, it's only natural to have some goals in mind: What you want to achieve, what heights you want to hit. Today, we make pop culture resolutions for 2025, and look back on last year's goals and assess our progress with brutal honesty. Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or make a gift at donate.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 31, 2024•30 min•Ep 1991•Transcript available on Metacast Nobody can predict what the future holds, but that doesn't stop us from trying. Trying, that is, to predict what will happen in the world of pop culture in 2025. We do it every year, so we'll look back on our predictions for 2024 and see how things turned out. Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or make a gift at donate.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 30, 2024•29 min•Ep 1990•Transcript available on Metacast A Complete Unknown isn't a traditional biopic. Instead of covering Bob Dylan's life story from birth to old age, it covers the period shortly after his arrival in New York City, as he first begins to fall in with the city's folk music scene. Timothée Chalamet plays Dylan — and does all his own singing. We see Dylan become a superstar, as well as his famous set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival —where he and his band plugged in for an electrified set that's often viewed as a cultural turning poin...
Dec 27, 2024•24 min•Ep 1989•Transcript available on Metacast In the new movie Babygirl , Nicole Kidman plays a high-powered CEO who has an affair her mysterious intern (Harris Dickinson). Their affair gets complicated by the many power dynamics involved — not just in the office, but also in a sexual relationship defined by dominance and submission. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or make a gift at donate.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.co...
Dec 26, 2024•21 min•Ep 1988•Transcript available on Metacast Nosferatu is a Dracula story with a twist. It stars Lily Rose-Depp as a new bride stalked by an evil bloodsucking creature of the night who brings death and terror in its wake. A handful of stalwart men – including her husband, played by Nicholas Hoult – attempt to defend Rose-Depp's virtue and defeat the undead scourge. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 25, 2024•21 min•Ep 1987•Transcript available on Metacast Some people hate jury duty, but in Clint Eastwood's new film Juror #2 , one guy's experience is worse than most. Nicholas Hoult plays a man assigned to serve on a jury who gradually realizes that the defendant might not be guilty. And he might just know who is. The film also stars Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, and Kiefer Sutherland. It's streaming now on Max. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/...
Dec 24, 2024•16 min•Ep 1986•Transcript available on Metacast The new Peacock series Laid is a very dark rom-com. Stephanie Hsu plays a young woman who discovers that all of her exes have started to die under mysterious, sometimes freakish, circumstances. This causes her to conduct a kind of sexual audit of her life, and she sets out to warn everyone she's ever slept with that they are about to die. It's funnier than it sounds, and makes for a good holiday hangover binge. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Po...
Dec 23, 2024•16 min•Ep 1985•Transcript available on Metacast It's been five years since Disney remade its animated classic The Lion King as a photorealistic blockbuster. This leads us to Mufasa: The Lion King, a new prequel telling the story of Mufasa's rise — as well as the origins of his rivalry with Scar. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins ( Moonligh t, If Beale Street Could Talk ) and features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or ma...
Dec 20, 2024•30 min•Ep 1984•Transcript available on Metacast Watching a movie on a plane can be a great way to pass the time if you're traveling for the holidays – particularly if you're going a long way. But picking the right movie can be very tricky. Today, we're debating the best movies to watch on an airplane, and making recommendations, including Moana, Jackie Brown, The Holdovers , and The Lion in Winter . Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoi...
Dec 19, 2024•21 min•Ep 1983•Transcript available on Metacast We first met the Garvey sisters two years ago when the Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters made its debut. The show follows four sisters in Ireland who are hell bent on murdering the husband of the fifth sister. Now, the series is in its second season, with more banter, wickedness and secrets. Today we're bringing you an episode of the NPR's podcast Consider This, where host Mary Louise Kelly caught up with creator and star Sharon Horgan to talk all about the new season. Learn more about sponsor messag...
Dec 18, 2024•10 min•Ep 1982•Transcript available on Metacast Nobody ever said the housing market was easy. In the new Netflix ensemble dark comedy No Good Deed , a couple played by Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, along with several other couples and families, get tangled up in the sale of a home that holds a secret. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Dec 16, 2024•19 min•Ep 1981•Transcript available on Metacast The movie Queer stars Daniel Craig as you've never seen him: as a junkie prowling the streets, hooking up, shooting up and guzzling tequila. He meets a handsome young man (Drew Starkey) he longs to connect with, and they embark on a quest into the jungle in search of a drug that will unite them on a deep, spiritual level. Directed by Luca Guadagnino ( Challengers, Call Me By Your Name ), the film is based on a short novel by William S. Burroughs. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at le...
Dec 13, 2024•28 min•Ep 1980•Transcript available on Metacast For a lot of people, It's A Wonderful Life is the Christmas movie. George Bailey's story of learning how much you really matter to the world has family, community, an angel, a mean rich guy, and a little kid playing carols on the piano. It has become a staple of holiday viewing, so we thought it was a perfect time to revisit our discussion about the movie. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/ad...
Dec 12, 2024•21 min•Ep 1979•Transcript available on Metacast We check out a lot of things in a given year: Lots of movies, TV shows, and music. Today, we are highlighting some of the best pop culture moments we enjoyed the most in 2024. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or make a gift at donate.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 11, 2024•40 min•Ep 1978•Transcript available on Metacast The new Netflix series Black Doves is a pulpy and stylish British spy show starring Keira Knightly and Ben Whishaw. Knightly plays a politician's wife who's been secretly funnelling information to a mysterious spy network for years, and Whishaw plays her old partner who's been out of the game. But when Knightly's character gets targeted, Whishaw's returns to protect her. It's all set in London at Christmastime, so if you like your holiday cheer spiced with British wit and gunplay, Black Doves ma...
Dec 09, 2024•17 min•Ep 1977•Transcript available on Metacast The new movie Nightbitch stars Amy Adams as an exhausted stay-at-home mom to a toddler. Missing her career and frustrated by her inattentive husband (Scoot McNairy), her woes begin to manifest in a bizarre way: She transforms into a dog at night. She enjoys tapping into her animal instincts. But eventually, she's forced to confront her resentments toward motherhood and the lack of support from her husband. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Subscribe to...
Dec 06, 2024•26 min•Ep 1976•Transcript available on Metacast It's holiday movie season, and there are so many new movies to choose from. So where do you start? We've got you covered. This year we've got the return of Lindsay Lohan, a shirtless Chad Michael Murray, and a cameo from Travis Kelce's mom. We discuss: Our Little Secret , Meet Me Next Christmas , Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story , and The Merry Gentleman. Check out Linda's full holiday movie guide here. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn mor...
Dec 05, 2024•22 min•Ep 1975•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when you need a good movie, but you don't have much time? The answer is that you find a short one. In this encore episode, we recommend three films that deliver a lot of punch without taking up your whole day. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 03, 2024•11 min•Ep 1974•Transcript available on Metacast In the Netflix series The Madness , Colman Domingo plays a CNN pundit who witnesses a brutal murder, and then finds himself on the run as he's framed for the crime. What follows is a paranoid thriller full of sinister forces, evil billionaires, underground militias, devious assassins, and lots of red herrings. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 02, 2024•15 min•Ep 1973•Transcript available on Metacast The super-meta Hulu series Interior Chinatown mashes up a whole bunch of genres — including kung fu movies and police procedurals — to explore Asian-American identity in interesting ways. Jimmy O. Yang plays a waiter who dreams of a more exciting life outside his close-knit community. After witnessing a crime, he has a chance to help investigators solve the case — and he soon realizes he's more deeply connected to the mystery than he initially thought. The show was created by Charles Yu, who bas...
Nov 29, 2024•21 min•Ep 1972•Transcript available on Metacast In the hit Disney film Moana , a girl (Auli'i Cravalho) finally gets her chance to see more of the world. And with a whole new batch of songs, in Moana 2 , she's older and has a new purpose. With the help of her chicken, her pig, and her demigod pal Maui (Dwayne Johnson), Moana wants to reunite her island with people from across the ocean. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org or make a gift at donate.npr.org . Learn m...
Nov 27, 2024•24 min•Ep 1971•Transcript available on Metacast 
