Analysis

Patricia Arquette (clockwise from left), Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Amy Adams, Felicity Jones, Julianne Moore and Hilary Swank on the Nov. 28 cover of The Hollywood Reporter.

Sony Hack Reveals Hollywood's Acceptance Of White Privilege

1:00am December 27, 2014

by Eric Deggans

While some leaked Sony emails seemed racist, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says they hint at a wider issue: an acceptance of practices, habits and perceptions that limit diversity in Hollywood.

James Franco (left) and Seth Rogen, stars of The Interview, arrive for the film's Los Angeles premiere on Dec. 11. The comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was pulled from theaters after a cyberattack on Sony Pictures, th

The 5 Business Stories That Made 2014 A Memorable Year

3:26pm December 23, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

From hack attacks to the bottom falling out of oil, 2014 has been a year of big swings at the top and stagnation at the bottom.

Protesters in Boston during a December demonstration against the deaths of two unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers in New York City and Ferguson, Mo.

Videos Of Ray Rice, Eric Garner Among Biggest Media Moments Of 2014

1:08pm December 23, 2014

by Eric Deggans

Some of the most interesting things on TV in 2014 weren't actually made for TV. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans lists the moments in television, viral video and social media that changed us all this year.

"Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" first aired in 1978 and won an Emmy Award for outstanding children's program the following year.

National

A Very Code Switch Christmas TV Special

5:21pm December 22, 2014

by Charles Pulliam-Moore

It's that time around Christmas, when all we can see are a handful of stories on our TV screens. Frosty, and Charlie, and Ralphie, and Kevin, but there's not too much brown in this mostly white canon.

Obama Faces Tough Road With GOP-Controlled Congress

7:37am December 22, 2014

by Cokie Roberts

Before heading to Hawaii for vacation with the first family, President Obama held a news conference on Friday. There were wide-ranging questions, and the president only called on female journalists.

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Serial producers Sarah Koenig (left) and Dana Chivvis in the recording studio.

A Prediction For How Serial Is Going To End

5:06pm December 18, 2014

by Matt Thompson

In part one of a roundtable on the Podcast Everyone's Talking About, Code Switch editor Matt Thompson makes the brave and foolhardy decision to predict the conclusion.

Sarah Koenig and producer Dana Chivvis in the studio.

The Many Rabbit Holes (Or Should We Say Labyrinths) Of Serial

5:01pm December 18, 2014

by Kat Chow

No matter how you view the podcast, there's an endless supply of avenues you can explore and different conversations you can have.

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson star in HBO's True Detective.

Arts

Deggans: 'Fargo,' 'True Detective,' 'Transparent' Top Best TV Of 2014

11:44am December 17, 2014

by Eric Deggans

At a time when there is so much good TV around, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says, any Top 10 list says as much about the critic as about the shows he is picking.

Charlie Hunnam co-stars with Katey Sagal (center) and Drea De Matteo on FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy.

Arts

'Sons Of Anarchy' Ends As A Macho Soap Opera Often Anchored By Women

9:29pm December 09, 2014

by Eric Deggans

FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy airs its final episode tonight, capping a seven-season run. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says cable's most macho series succeeded by finding strong roles for women.

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Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appeared on the Fox Business Network earlier this year. He has been a frequent cable news commentator about the Eric Garner and Michael Brown cases.

Four Lessons From The Media's Conflicted Coverage of Race

1:52pm December 06, 2014

by Eric Deggans

After grand jury decisions not to indict police officers in the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, NPR TV critic Eric Deggans notes media missteps in discussing race.