Pop Culture

On Monday's After the Final Rose special, bachelor Matt James revealed why he broke things off with Rachael Kirkconnell after photos of her at an antebellum South-themed party surfaced on social media.

Arts

The Bachelor's Cluelessness About Race Comes To A Head In Season Finale

5:48pm March 16, 2021

by Eric Deggans

Matt James — the first Black bachelor in the franchise's history — broke things off with winner Rachael Kirkconnell after photos of her at an antebellum South-themed party surfaced on social media.

Arts

The Bachelor Finale Brings To Light Systemic Issues Within The Show

4:07pm March 16, 2021

by Eric Deggans

Following the finale of The Bachelor, a look at what the season amounted to and issues that need to be addressed by the show.

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The Podcast 'Spectacle' Covers Reality TV, 1 Franchise At A Time

4:26pm March 15, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Mariah Smith about the podcast she hosts, Spectacle. Each episode focuses on one reality TV franchise.

Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies and Gary Oldman in David Fincher's Mank, which led Monday's Oscar nominations.

Arts

'Mank' Leads Oscar Nominations In A Year When It's Easy To Judge For Yourself

12:28pm March 15, 2021

by Linda Holmes

The Oscar nominations embraced David Fincher's Mank, a movie about movies, which is no surprise. But if you want to pick your own favorites, this is the year to do it.

Arts

'The Bachelor' Finale Will Air As The Franchise Faces A Racial Reckoning

7:52am March 14, 2021

by Eric Deggans

The season finale of The Bachelor is on Monday night, and it comes as the franchise faces a number of controversies over how it handles race and concludes the first season with a Black man as star.

Tayshia Adams appears at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 22, 2020. She will co-host The Bachelorette with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment announced.

Arts

'The Bachelorette' Gets New Hosts To Replace Chris Harrison After Racial Controversy

1:23pm March 13, 2021

by Catherine Whelan

Harrison will not host the upcoming season of the show following controversy over racially insensitive comments. He will be replaced by former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.

A digital collage called "Everydays — The First Five Thousand Days" by the artist Beeple sold for almost $70 million by Christie's in an online auction Thursday.

Arts

Beeple JPG File Sells For $69 Million, Setting Crypto Art Record

5:14pm March 11, 2021

by Chloee Weiner

The artwork, a digital collage called "Everydays — The First Five Thousand Days," signals a new milestone for the increasingly popular market for nonfungible tokens, or NFTs.

One of the suits of armor available in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla — if you're willing to pay real money.

Arts

Microtransactions Are Great For Game Companies, Less Fun For Players

11:02am March 11, 2021

by Keller Gordon

Microtransactions are small in-game purchases that grant you mostly cosmetic upgrades — but sometimes, they can affect game play. And some gamers say they're becoming increasingly intrusive.

Cassette tapes gave new control to music fans, allowing them to create and share their own collections of songs in a cheap and easily portable format.

Lou Ottens, Inventor Of The Cassette Tape, Has Died

4:43pm March 10, 2021

by Bill Chappell

"Next time you make that perfect playlist on Spotify or send a link to share a song, you can thank Lou Ottens," documentary filmmaker Zack Taylor told NPR.

The world of Roblox has become a popular escape during the pandemic.

Arts

Roblox Goes Public — What's Roblox? Ask Anyone With Kids.

5:49pm March 09, 2021

by Mandalit del Barco

Roblox, the online gaming platform, is going public on Wednesday. During the pandemic lockdown it's become a virtual playground, and the company has seen a surge in users, with millions now active.

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