Television

Music & Culture

At 84, Award-Winning Actress Rita Moreno Tries New Projects

9:05am October 12, 2015

by Felix Contreras

Rita Moreno will receive the Kennedy Center Honor next month for her career in show business. With a new gig as a voice in an animated TV series and a new album, there's no way she's done performing.

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Matt Damon as Astronaut Mark Watney in The Martian.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Martian' And How-To Stories

10:28am October 09, 2015

by Linda Holmes

On this week's show, we chat about The Martian, consider other stories that enlighten us about the work people do, and — as always — offer up what's making us happy this week.

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Lorne Michaels backstage at the SNL 40th Anniversary Special at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, NY on February 15, 2015.

Arts

'If They Have It, It's Undeniable': Lorne Michaels On Casting 'SNL'

7:57am October 09, 2015

by NPR Staff

The Saturday Night Live executive producer says criticism of the show's perceived lack of diversity frustrated him, but that the perception needed to be addressed.

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Arts

Live From New York, It's Lorne Michaels

6:38am October 09, 2015

by NPR Staff

There are few shows in comedy with the influence of Saturday Night Live, and few producers with the influence of SNL creator Lorne Michaels. The latest season premieres this weekend.

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Arts

Correction: Product Integration And Televison Advertising

6:43pm October 08, 2015

In an interview with New Yorker writer Emily Nussbaum Wednesday, NPR mistakenly characterized a segment on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as paid product placement. Both Taco Bell and Ben & Jerry's say they had nothing to do with the segment.

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Arts

I Saw The Seinfeld

10:42am October 08, 2015

In this game we put our VIPs, The Milk Carton Kids, on the same team. Kenneth describes famous Seinfeld catchphrases to Joey, who must guess the line.

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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.