Television

In The 'Golden Age Of Television,' Advertising Intersects With Programming

4:36pm October 07, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with New Yorker television critic Emily Nussbaum about her essay on the new model of advertising in the so-called "golden age of television."

Michaela Watkins plays Valerie in Hulu's <em>Casual</em>.

Arts

'Casual' Takes A Hard Look At A Busted Family

1:49pm October 07, 2015

by Linda Holmes

The new Hulu comedy-drama gets much of its power from veteran actress Michaela Watkins' smart performance as a newly separated woman who moves in with her emotionally underdeveloped brother.

Isaac Caldiero raises his arms in victory, after completing the 75-foot rope climb to become the first competitor to win American Ninja Warrior.

Sports

When The Impossible Is No Obstacle: A Triumph Fit For A 'Ninja'

1:38pm October 07, 2015

by NPR Staff

Thousands have tried to complete a rigorous obstacle course on American Ninja Warrior. All failed until last week. Busboy Isaac Caldiero describes how it feels to win the warrior title.

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Books

Culture Talks To Culture In 'Slaughterhouse 90210'

11:39am October 07, 2015

by Linda Holmes

Maris Kreizman's clever, slyly provocative book suggests that what we think of as art and what we think of as entertainment have much to say to each other.

Lady Gaga plays a mysterious character called the Countess on the new season of FX's American Horror Story, which begins on Wed.

Arts

'American Horror Story' Returns, With Twists, Thrills And A Chilling Lady Gaga

2:19pm October 06, 2015

by David Bianculli

FX's American Horror Story returns for season five this week. TV critic David Bianculli says this season, which is set in a lavish old hotel, is "the most visually arresting and twisted one yet."

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Ruben Blades as Daniel Salazar and Patricia Reyes Spíndola as Griselda Salazar in Fear the Walking Dead.

Arts

How A Show About Zombies Looks At Legacies Of Real Violence

1:19pm October 05, 2015

by Jasmine Garsd

Fear the Walking Dead is telling a story not often explored on prime-time television: generational rifts over the violence that immigrant parents have experienced.

Diversity Is Slow To Arrive In Late Night Comedy

7:16pm October 03, 2015

Late night comedy has been dominated by white men, but is that changing? NPR's Michel Martin asks with Yael Kohen, author of We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy, and NPR TV critic Eric Deggans.

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Books
Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Ms. Marvel' And Regrettable Television

2:20pm October 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

This week's show has Ms. Marvel, terrible television, live show news, and a lot of laughing, not to mention what's making us happy this week.

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Catherine Coulson, The Quirky 'Log Lady' Of 'Twin Peaks,' Dies At 71

10:47am September 30, 2015

by Elizabeth Blair

Catherine Coulson, who played the "log lady" in the TV series Twin Peaks, died on Monday at 71. With her odd attachment to a piece of ponderosa pine, she was something of a pop culture hero.

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Arts

How A Pair Of Pretty Boys Got Their Groove Back

7:09pm September 29, 2015

by Eric Deggans

Two new comedies debut on Fox on Tuesday night: Grandfathered and The Grinder, both of which feature TV pretty boys Jon Stamos and Rob Lowe amping up their images. NPR's TV critic, Eric Deggans, offers a review.

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