Pop Culture

Lewis MacDougall as Connor in A Monster Calls.

Arts

TIFF Diary, Day 2: 'Nocturnal Animals,' 'Arrival,' 'A Monster Calls' And More

11:59am September 10, 2016

by Linda Holmes

In Linda Holmes' second dispatch from the Toronto International Film Festival, she covers movies that range from alien encounters and tree-shaped monsters to riffs on Shakespeare.

Hosts Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott of HGTV's Property Brothers speak onstage during CMA Festival on June 10, 2016.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: HGTV And Cooking Shows

7:00am September 09, 2016

by Glen Weldon

This week, the discussion takes a decidedly domestic turn as Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Kat Chow and Barrie Hardymon talk real estate shows, home renovation shows, and cooking shows.

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Vested Interests: Gemma (America Ferrera) and Jonah (Ben Feldman) in the NBC sitcom, Superstore.

Arts

Comedy Is Old And New Again: 'Superstore' And 'You're The Worst'

2:12pm September 08, 2016

by Linda Holmes

Today, a TV show's style doesn't tell you as much as it used to. A traditional network workplace sitcom slyly breaks with tradition, and an edgy cable sitcom hides a beating human heart.

George Takei predicted Star Trek would be too sophisticated to last — but he says he's happy to have been proved wrong.

Arts

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

9:23am September 08, 2016

by Eric Deggans

Star Trek debuted on TV in 1966, and Starship Enterprise is still seeking strange new worlds. Co-star George Takei credits creator Gene Roddenberry's inclusive vision for Trek's enduring popularity.

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Pamela Adlon plays a single mother to three girls in the series Better Things, which premieres Sept. 8th on FX.

Arts

Actress Pamela Adlon Says 'Better Things' Is Dedicated To Her Daughters

2:27pm September 06, 2016

Adlon's new FX series is based on her own experience raising three girls as a single mom. Her daughters are "very much a part" of the show, she says.

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Donald Glover plays Earnest Marks in Atlanta.

Arts

Singular Points Of View: 'Atlanta,' 'One Mississippi' And 'Fleabag'

10:22am September 06, 2016

by Linda Holmes

We look at three fall shows that step away from generic, broad-appeal TV concepts and come straight from the specific sensibilities of their creators.

Ava Duvernay And 'Queen Sugar': Celebrating Diversity, Inclusivity In TV

6:55pm September 04, 2016

by NPR Staff

Ava Duvernay, director of the acclaimed film Selma, brings her talents to TV in Queen Sugar, an original drama series for Oprah's OWN network premiering Sept. 6.

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It's 'Bey Day': Beyoncé Turns 35

9:00am September 04, 2016

Today is the Queen's birthday — Queen B, that is. Beyonce's birthday has become a moment of celebration for people across the country, and last night, many people danced the night away.

Podcast Extra: Juan Gabriel And The Tricky Conversation About Sexual Identity

11:29pm September 03, 2016

by Adrian Florido

Many remembrances of Mexican vocalist Juan Gabriel suggested that he overcame homophobia in Mexico to achieve super-stardom. The reality is a bit more complicated.

Do you have some free time this Labor Day weekend? Spend it reading about a fascinating frame-up — or pondering the long hours we work. Here, travelers wait for trains at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Friday, the start of the holiday weekend.

#NPRreads: A Distraction For Labor Day Weekend, And Thoughts About Work

11:23am September 03, 2016

A fascinating true-crime case and the shame of being well-rested: two of the stories recommended by NPR staff, using the #NPRreads hashtag.