Pop Culture

In Insecure, Issa Rae plays a character who's just an everyday woman — not a high-powered lawyer or music executive.

Arts

Issa Rae Turns Basic Into Revolutionary With 'Insecure'

1:35pm October 07, 2016

by Eric Deggans

Rae's new HBO show is the first premium cable scripted series created by and starring a black woman. She plays an ordinary, sometimes-awkward character, not a high-powered lawyer or music executive.

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Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in La La Land, which won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Fall Movie And TV Preview

1:16pm October 07, 2016

by Linda Holmes

Bob Mondello joins us for a look at the fall films from the Toronto International Film Festival, and we jump into our annual fall television pool.

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Lorelei and Rory Gilmore get a cup of joe at Luke's Diner in a scene from the show Gilmore Girls. Luke's — and coffee — were a very big part of the show.

Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! I Finally Got To Be A Gilmore Girl At Luke's Diner

4:35pm October 06, 2016

by Tove Danovich

Like many fans across America, I queued up for hours for a pop-up replica of the show's iconic diner. We were there for free coffee, but the real draw was a taste of the Gilmore Girls way of life.

"It's a difficult subject," says Luke Cage actor Mike Colter, "but I felt like what we're doing with the show is saying there can be some heroes in hoodies."

Arts

Luke Cage, Marvel's Reluctant Hero In A Hoodie

5:43pm October 03, 2016

by NPR Staff

Luke Cage was one of the first black superheroes on comics pages. Now, he's a TV pioneer too, with Marvel's Luke Cage, which updates the blaxploitation-inspired character for modern viewers.

National

Review: HBO Hopes To Fill Sunday Spotlight With 'Westworld' Series

8:43am October 02, 2016

HBO needs to find a big-ticket drama to fill out a Sunday evening time slot. They're hoping "Westworld," an elaborate sci-fi drama set in a Western-themed amusement park, will be a hit.

Toledano on set, being made up for one of his fates.

Arts

A Photographer Gets Old — Over And Over — In 'The Many Sad Fates'

7:30pm October 01, 2016

by NPR Staff

Photographer Phillip Toledano lost both his parents, an aunt and an uncle and began to wonder — what other dark turns did life have in store? He explores the possibilities in a new short film.

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Richard Trentlage, Oscar Mayer Weiner Song Writer, Dies At 87

8:44am October 01, 2016

In 1962, Richard Trentlage recorded an advertising jingle in his living room that began "I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner..." He was no one-slogan wonder.

Fred Armisen performs as Candace and Carrie Brownstein as Toni in a Portlandia sketch about two feminist bookstore owners in Portland.

Feminist Bookstore Slams 'Portlandia' And Says Show Can No Longer Film There

4:22pm September 30, 2016

by Bill Chappell

The staff of In Other Words says the TV comedy is "diametrically opposed to our politics and the vision of society we're organizing to realize."

We asked how you deal with casual racism. You started from the top.

National

The People's Guide To Navigating Racial Awkwardness

2:30pm September 30, 2016

by Leah Donnella

What are the best strategies for responding to uncomfortable racial comments? We asked, you delivered. Here are some of our favorite ideas.

Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt in Antoine Fuqua's remake of The Magnificent Seven.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Magnificent Seven' And 'Fleabag'

11:14am September 30, 2016

by Stephen Thompson

The gang discusses a new Western remake starring Denzel Washington, as well as a beloved British TV import starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Plus, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

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