Pop Culture

"We have to live with the monsters we create," Justine Triet told NPR's Scott Simon, when he asked whether characters linger with her after a film. "I've been living with these people for three years, and I think I'll probably live with them for at least another year."

Arts

If you love courtroom dramas, this Oscar-nominated film is not to be missed

12:01pm February 22, 2024

by Linda Holmes

The courtroom drama is a beloved and established film genre. Anatomy of a Fall is a Best Picture nominee that feels familiar at first but immerses audiences in a different kind of legal thriller.

An Apple TV+ animated special shows how Franklin, the first Black Peanuts character, meets Charlie Brown and friends in Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin.

Arts

The first Black 'Peanuts' character finally gets his origin story in animated special

6:00pm February 19, 2024

by Barry Gordemer

The origin story of the first Black Peanuts character is streaming on Apple TV+.

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Jennifer Lopez performs during the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2020.

J.Lo can't stop telling us about herself. Why can't I stop watching?

7:00am February 18, 2024

by Brittany Luse

Jennifer Lopez's latest film is a direct-to-streaming musical extravaganza called This Is Me...Now. It's a self-financed love story inspired by her own that is at once camp, and classically J.Lo.

My first thought after watching two episodes of Couple to Throuple was: "This seems like a relationship structure perfect for people who like to attend a lot of meetings." Above, Denyse, left, Wilder, and Corey in the "Communication" episode.

Arts

Two's company, three's allowed in the dating show 'Couple to Throuple'

7:00am February 17, 2024

by Linda Holmes

All dating shows have varying amounts of sex and mess and Couple to Throuple has plenty of both. There is nothing inherently salacious about polyamory, but this show leans into being joyfully trashy.

Scotty Lyon (Sienna King), left, and Dorothy "Dot" Lyon (Juno Temple) in Season 5 of Fargo.

Arts

What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing

5:00pm February 16, 2024

Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: Fargo Season 5, the shows Only Connect and Siren: Survive the Island, and Muppet Show's "Chicken Western."

Toby Keith performs during a 2014 "Salute to the Troops" concert in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Toby Keith's 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue' lives on in MAGA country

11:27am February 16, 2024

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Keith's death shined a new spotlight on his music, particularly political anthem "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," best known for its lyric: "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way."

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Jerrod Carmichael and Emma Stone in Poor Things.

Arts

Oscars, take note: 'Poor Things' built its weird, unforgettable world from scratch

5:02pm February 15, 2024

by Glen Weldon

Oddsmakers say Barbie will win this year's Oscar for production design. Our critic makes the case for Poor Things, which methodically builds a unique world for its main character to thrive within.

Naomi Campbell debuts fashion line featuring clothing with an antibacterial finish

6:07am February 15, 2024

The supermodel is known for her dedication to hygiene especially while traveling. Her preflight wipe-down rituals created viral moments. The new line is a nod to Campbell's acknowledged germaphobia.

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Grover, pictured on "Sesame Street" in 2011, announced on Monday that one of his many jobs is in journalism. The social media response underscored the precarious state of the industry.

Arts

Grover the Muppet says he's a reporter. Not for long, joke his beleaguered peers

5:32pm February 13, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

"As a news reporter ... I am confident to report that you are so special and amazing," Grover tweeted. Some responded with jokes about him getting laid off, a common occurrence in today's media world.

Kansas City Chiefs fans gather for a Super Bowl watch party in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday. Viewership data show that 200 million people saw at least some part of the game.

Yes, a lot of people watched the Super Bowl, but the monoculture is still a myth

1:51pm February 13, 2024

by Linda Holmes

Super Bowl viewership isn't faltering in the same way broadcast, cable and awards shows are. But do we really need mass consumption of the same cultural work? Or just smart and connected consumption?