Pop Culture

Arts

Bob Odenkirk Brings Some Laughs To 'Breaking Bad'

1:43pm February 06, 2015

Lawyer Saul Goodman knows how to bend the law, or break it, depending on his clients' needs. Odenkirk talks about playing the comedic character, and the origins of Saul's comb-over.

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A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Empire' And The Importance Of Different Voices

9:56am February 06, 2015

by Linda Holmes

This week, our friends Tanya Ballard Brown and Gene Demby join us to talk about Fox's hit show Empire and to follow up on a recent public discussion of the need for diverse radio voices.

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Arts

The American Origins Of The Not-So-Traditional Celtic Knot Tattoo

1:18am February 05, 2015

by Ari Shapiro

The Celtic knot — a pattern of interlocking lines — is centuries old, carved into ancient stones all over Ireland. But that tattoo on your biceps? Like the fortune cookie, American born and bred.

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Arts

ABC Tones Down Author's 'Fresh Off The Boat' For Sitcom Audience

3:01pm February 04, 2015

by Eric Deggans

ABC will break an important boundary in television Wednesday night with the debut of Fresh Off the Boat. It's the first network sitcom in two decades to star an Asian-American family.

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Hudson Yang and Randall Park play Eddie Huang and his dad, Louis, in Fresh Off The Boat.

Arts

A Skilled Cast Perks Up The Sweet And Funny 'Fresh Off The Boat'

1:58pm February 04, 2015

by Linda Holmes

It's true that Fresh Off The Boat is the rare story about an Asian-American family. But it's equally important to note that it's a funny and warm comedy with a lot of promise.

Arts

'Fresh Off The Boat' Repackages The Asian-American Story For TV

10:15am February 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

The TV show, based on Eddie Huang's memoir, retains some of the book's raw sensibility, but as he tells it, it's been a fight to keep his life's story from becoming a "cornstarch sitcom."

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Katy Perry dances with a couple of sharks during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Sports
Arts

The Super Bowl, Shark Attacks And Monday Morning Quarterbacks

3:37pm February 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson of Pop Culture Happy Hour sit down for a chat about the game, the halftime show and the adorable, adorable puppy.

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Oprah Winfrey and director Ava DuVernay, seen here in November of last year, are collaborating on a new drama series for Winfrey's network, OWN.

Arts

Oprah Winfrey And 'Selma' Director Ava DuVernay Team Up For A Series

2:39pm February 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

One of the most powerful people in television is teaming up with a top-notch film (and TV) director to create a new series based on the novel Queen Sugar.

Arts

Fast-Sprouting Acorn Challenges PBS' British TV Dominance

1:16pm February 02, 2015

by David Folkenflik

The niche digital portal Acorn holds rights to some of the best-known British TV shows. David Folkenflik reports it's now streaming some of those shows on its own, in competition with PBS and the BBC.

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Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shakes hands with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Patriots Beat Seahawks 28-24 In Super Bowl XLIX

12:46pm February 02, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Defending champs Seattle were edged out by the East Coast rivals. The two closely matched teams were tied at halftime, but New England pulled ahead late in the fourth quarter.