Television

Nichelle Tramble Spellman (left) and her husband Malcolm Spellman are African American writers who are also executive producers on Confederate.

Arts

Black Producers, HBO Defend Upcoming Series 'Confederate'

4:32pm July 27, 2017

by Eric Deggans

Executive producers Nichelle Tramble Spellman and Malcolm Spellman spoke to NPR's Eric Deggans to push back against the notion the show will be "a celebration ... of slavery."

Is It Time To Sack Football As We Know It?

3:44pm July 27, 2017

A new study of 111 brains of former NFL players revealed that 110 of them had a degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Now Here's Something We Hope You'll Really Like: An appreciation of the late June Foray, voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and many others, shown here arriving at an Oscars reception in 2013.

Books
Arts

Whatever The Character, June Foray's Voice Was Warmly Familiar

1:00pm July 27, 2017

by Glen Weldon

Foray voiced a wide variety of animated characters, and she brought the same genial humor and warmth to them all — except one.

Jessica Williams plays a struggling playwright who is trying to get over an ex-boyfriend in The Incredible Jessica James.

Arts

Comic Jessica Williams On 'The Daily Show' And Learning To 'Never Be Average'

3:15pm July 25, 2017

by Terry Gross

Williams joined The Daily Show when she was 22. She says, "I was younger and I was black and I was a woman, so ... I'm like, I have something to prove." She now stars in The Incredible Jessica James.

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Books

Wesley Snipes' Debut Novel Explores Damnation And Salvation

1:21pm July 25, 2017

The acclaimed actor's new book is fantasy fiction with heavy religious themes.

"I was really hoping for more of an open-plan kitchen.": Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Yara (Gemma Whelan) and Ellaria (Indira Varma) prepare to go House hunting in "Stormborn."

Books
Arts

'Game Of Thrones' Season 7, Episode 2: 'You're A Dragon. Be A Dragon'

12:16pm July 24, 2017

by Glen Weldon

In "Stormborn," lots of long-hoarded information was finally shared, and in a massive sea battle, buckles got gruesomely swashed.

Health & Safety

The Next 'Game of Thrones' Could Be Set In Post-Apocalyptic Africa

7:57am July 23, 2017

by Mako Muzenda

HBO has optioned the novel Who Fears Death by sci-fi writer Nnedi Okorafor. And the man behind GoT — George R.R. Martin — is at the helm.

Arts

TV Networks Bring Back Game Shows 'Battle Of The Network Stars,' 'The Gong Show'

4:27pm July 21, 2017

Several game shows from the '70s and '80s have been revamped for summer TV, including Battle of the Network Stars, The Gong Show and Match Game. NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast talks about whether these shows are diversionary fluff or filling a summertime need.

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Arts

'Awkward' And 'Insecure' Get To The Root Of Writer Issa Rae's Humor

2:12pm July 21, 2017

As a self-described "awkward black girl," Rae says she often felt that she was straddling two worlds growing up. She created and stars in the HBO series Insecure. Originally broadcast Nov. 8, 2016.

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'Last Chance U': Netflix Docuseries Follows Troubled Community College Football Stars

4:56pm July 20, 2017

by Eric Deggans

Last Chance U is a docuseries on Netflix that takes viewers inside the football program at East Mississippi Community College, where troubled football stars try to work their way back to top schools.

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