Pop Culture

A look at the excellence celebrated in tonight's airing of Kennedy Center Honors

6:11pm December 27, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

The Kennedy Center Honors will broadcast on CBS Wednesday evening. This year's Honorees are Dionne Warwick, Billy Crystal, Renee Fleming, Barry Gibb and Queen Latifah.

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National

Remembering the elder of the Smothers Brothers, Tom, who has died at 86

5:50pm December 27, 2023

by Neda Ulaby

Comedian and folksinger Tom Smothers has died at the age of 86. He was the elder half of the Smothers Brothers. The duo was hugely popular in the late 1960s and known for subversive political humor.

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Clockwise from left: Cocaine Bear, Luke Macfarlane in Platonic, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies, the cover of the book Starter Villain, Jessica Williams in Shrinking.

Books
Arts

The year in review: 50 wonderful things from 2023

2:21pm December 27, 2023

by Linda Holmes

Pop culture critic Linda Holmes has been making this annual list since 2010. Big, small, inspirational, silly — what these items have in common is that they are all wonderful and brought her joy.

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Beyoncé accepts the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album award for "Renaissance" onstage during the 65th Grammy Awards on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles.

Music & Culture

Beyoncé's childhood home goes up in flames in a Christmas morning fire

5:14pm December 25, 2023

by D. Parvaz

Queen Bey lived in the brick house in Houston until the age of 5. The family who lives there now managed to get out of the house unharmed.

The 'Morning Edition' holiday tradition: David Sedaris as Crumpet the Elf

5:00am December 25, 2023

It's become a Christmas classic on NPR — writer and humorist David Sedaris reads from his hilarious holiday essay "Santaland Diaries."

Mexican singer Peso Pluma performs in concert at the Foro Sol in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Peso Pluma bests Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny for most streamed YouTube artist of 2023

3:12pm December 23, 2023

by Chloe Veltman

The Mexican singer-songwriter racked up more than 8.5 billion views globally on the platform this year.

Visit a Palm Springs resort with Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg for a charming offbeat romcom.

Arts

If the weather outside is frightful, here's what to watch to warm yourself up

7:00am December 23, 2023

by Linda Holmes

Sure, some people like to lean into wintry movies at Christmas time, but maybe you've had enough "let it snow" and are looking for something a little ... schvitzy-er? We have some suggestions for you.

Elizabeth Debicki and John David Washington star in director Christopher Nolan's time-warping film, Tenet.

Arts

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing

5:01pm December 22, 2023

Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: The movie Tenet, ventriloquist Megan Piphus, Season 3 of Virtual Big Brother, and Christmas decorations.

Coraline (Erika Alexander) and Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) in American Fiction.

Arts

Every era has its own 'American Fiction,' but is there anything new to say?

12:50pm December 22, 2023

by Aisha Harris

In Cord Jefferson's directorial debut, Jeffrey Wright plays a frustrated author who echoes earlier Black protagonists in movies like Hollywood Shuffle and Bamboozled.

Vinyl Records are seen for sale at the Sound Garden record shop in Fells Point, Baltimore.

What is a song that gives you nostalgia?

4:02pm December 21, 2023

There are some songs that give you a sweeping feeling of nostalgia every time you hear them.