Pop Culture

Brad Simon (Adam Demos) and Billie Connelly (Sarah Shahi) in Sex/Life on Netflix.

Books
Arts

What's Making Us Happy: A Guide For Your Weekend Watching, Listening And Reading

12:02pm July 02, 2021

In our weekly roundup of shows, movies, books and music that brought us joy, Pop Culture Happy Hour recommends: Sex/Life, the Jean Smart renaissance and Arooj Aftab's album Vulture Prince.

Ruby and Sapphire get married on Steven Universe.

Arts

After Decades In The Background, Queer Characters Step To The Front In Kids' Media

5:40pm June 30, 2021

by Victoria Whitley-Berry

For decades, children's cartoons have had queer-coded characters in the margins. Now, a new database shows that more animators are pushing for nuanced and overtly queer stories.

The new movie Zola is based on a viral Twitter thread. Taylour Paige (right) stars as Zola, and Riley Keough (left) plays Stefani, the exotic dancer who invites her on an ill-fated road trip to Florida.

Arts

How Hollywood Translated The Epic Poetry Of The Viral 'Zola' Thread

3:11pm June 30, 2021

by Mallory Yu

Director Janicza Bravo and co-writer Jeremy O. Harris talk to NPR's Mallory Yu about respecting the storytelling prowess of A'Ziah King while adapting her viral Twitter thread into a feature film.

Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) returns for a second season on July 23 on Apple TV .

What To Watch In July: 'Ted Lasso,' 'Black Widow,' Olympics And A Whole Lot More

8:04am June 30, 2021

by Linda Holmes

Summer television and summer movies are colliding on screens this summer, and it can be hard to navigate it all. But not to worry: We've got the highlights you won't want to miss this month.

Taylour Paige stars as the on-screen incarnation of Zola.

Arts

'Zola' Takes A Twitter Thread And Turns It Into A Fever Dream On Film

5:00am June 29, 2021

by Aisha Harris

What began as an explosive social media thread about two women's Florida road trip gone wrong, becomes a provocative and stylish comedy of errors on-screen.

National

Cops, Kinksters, Corporations: Sam Sanders And Roxane Gay Discuss Who Pride Is For

8:21pm June 28, 2021

by Sam Sanders

When Pride month comes, there's always a debate about who belongs. NPR's Sam Sanders talks with writer and commentator Roxane Gay about the arguments over who pride is for.

This is one of the participants on the coming Netflix series Sexy Beasts. We're as confused as you are.

Arts

'Sexy Beasts' Is Coming To Netflix, And We Have ... Questions

6:13pm June 27, 2021

by Linda Holmes

After the success of Love Is Blind, Netflix has found another way to hide conventionally attractive people from each other. We'd explain it if we could.

Britney Spears' Forced Contraception Revelation Sheds Light On Reproductive Justice In The U.S.

8:00am June 27, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with author and medical ethicist Harriet A. Washington about Britney Spears' recent statement on her reproductive rights and the history of contraceptive control.

Arts

Tired Of Not Getting Credit For New Trends, Black TikTok Creators Go On Strike

8:00am June 27, 2021

Some black creators on TikTok are on strike. Entertainment Reporter Jewel Wicker has been following the story.

How The Fan-Led 'Free Britney' Campaign Figures Into The Star's Legal Battles

9:24am June 26, 2021

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Bianca Betancourt of Harper's Bazaar about Britney Spears and the legal fight over her conservatorship.