Pop Culture

The video for Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's newly released song starts by re-creating the conditions of his captivity during the 81 days he was held in police detention in 2011, and later dissolves into a dystopian nightmare.

China's Artist Provocateur Explores New Medium: Heavy Metal

8:18pm May 22, 2013

by Louisa Lim

In 2011, police detained Ai Weiwei for 81 days. Now, he's released a song that's turned the experience into a heavy metal protest song, along with a dystopian nightmare video. The lyrics are explicit and angry. Ai says his music is for the many political prisoners who remain jailed.

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Once vehemently opposed to the idea of being the subject of a documentary, Brooks had a change of heart. The result is a new American Masters episode, Mel Brooks: Make a Noise.

Arts

Mel Brooks: 'I'm An EGOT; I Don't Need Any More'

11:54am May 22, 2013

The screenwriter, producer, director and actor, whose name has become synonymous with American comedy, talks about his penchant for spoofs and his decades-long friendship with Carl Reiner. Brooks, who is among a handful of people who've won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, is the subject of a new documentary on PBS.

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David Cross and Portia de Rossi in a scene from Arrested Development, which returns on Netflix on May 26.

Arts

'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media

5:43pm May 21, 2013

by Neda Ulaby

Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

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Beth Lapides (with music director-producer Mitch Kaplan) is the founder and ringmaster at UnCabaret, a Los Angeles comedy institution that's marking its 25th anniversary this year.

Arts

At L.A.'s UnCabaret, 25 Years Of Letting It All Hang Out

9:07pm May 20, 2013

by Art Silverman

Launched as an alternative to the stale stylings of the '80s stand-up circuit, Beth Lapides' event bills itself as a venue for "idiosyncratic, conversational comedy." It's helped establish careers for performers from Kathy Griffin to Randy and Jason Sklar.

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More than 500 items from the Captain Kangaroo show — including Dancing Bear's life-sized costume.

Arts

Nostalgia For Sale As Captain Kangaroo's Pals Are Auctioned Off

10:38am May 20, 2013

by Mandalit del Barco

A giant lot of Captain Kangaroo memorabilia goes on the auction block this week in Los Angeles. Among the items up for auction are several of the captain's signature jackets, Mr. Green Jeans' famous jeans and the life-sized costume worn by Dancing Bear.

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National

Why We Can't Look Away From True-Life Courtroom Dramas

2:25pm May 13, 2013

The trial of Jodi Arias, convicted of murdering her boyfriend, has become a national media sensation. Former Law and Order producer Robert Nathan and authors Laura Lippman and Walter Mosley explore why Americans are so drawn to real-life courtroom dramas.

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Robert Ripley traveled the world collecting souvenirs like this Balinese lion mask.

Books
Arts

The 'Curious' Story Of Robert 'Believe It Or Not!' Ripley

6:26pm May 11, 2013

by NPR Staff

Neal Thompson's new biography traces the life of the newspaper cartoonist who became an international celebrity and media superstar. Ripley's pioneering mix of the strange, the shocking and the barely believable shaped the way Americans saw the world.

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Some of the cast members of the reality show Duck Dynasty find themselves handcuffed to one another.

Arts

On 'Hicksploitation' And Other White Stereotypes Seen On TV

8:10am May 10, 2013

by Eric Deggans

Writer Eric Deggans argues that it's just as easy to stereotype white, working-class people as folks of color. He's wondering: Why haven't we seen stronger protests of shows that stereotype whites?

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National

What We Can Learn From The Viral Spotlight On Charles Ramsey

2:40pm May 09, 2013

A compelling television interview with Charles Ramsey, who helped save three women held in captivity in Cleveland, quickly became an online meme in the vein of Antoine Dodson and Sweet Brown. Slate's Aisha Harris and Jonathan Capehart of The Washington Post discuss what Harris has called the viral trend of the "hilarious black neighbor."

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In the new HBO series Family Tree, Chris O'Dowd (above left, with the series' writer-director-producer Christopher Guest) stars as a guy who has just lost his job and girlfriend and fills the void by looking into his family genealogy.

Arts

In A Cluster Of New Sitcoms, 'Family Tree' Stands Tall

2:29pm May 09, 2013

by David Bianculli

Christopher Guest's new HBO comedy series follows a down-on-his-luck guy looking into his family genealogy. Guest, who pioneered the mockumentary style in cult classics like This Is Spinal Tap, co-created the show with Jim Piddock and star Chris O'Dowd.

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