Television

Ellie Kemper, right, stars alongside Tituss Burgess in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which follows a former doomsday cult member as she adjusts to life in New York.

Arts

'Kimmy Schmidt' Finds Optimism (And Jokes) In Dark Premise

8:45pm March 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

The new Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, co-created by Tina Fey and starring Ellie Kemper, offers a harrowing twist on the "small-town woman moves to the big city" story.

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The Avery Ryan character is based on Mary Aiken (above) a real-life cyber psychologist and director of the RCSI CyberPsychology Research Centre.

Arts

Cyberpsychologist: Online, 'Every Contact Leaves A Trace'

8:25pm March 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

Mary Aiken, who examines digital fingerprints to help solve crimes, is the real-life inspiration for the lead investigator on CSI: Cyber. She says she works where "humans and technology collide."

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Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton play two estranged parents whose son is murdered during a home invasion in ABC's American Crime.

Arts

'It Is About Truths': John Ridley On His New TV Show, 'American Crime'

10:15am March 05, 2015

by NPR Staff

The drama, about the aftermath of a racially charged home invasion, challenges its many characters' viewpoints. Ridley says he wanted to explore "what happens when those truths start to fall away."

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Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) is preparing for some big changes.

Arts

'Mindy' And The Little Story That Just Might Work

7:25pm March 04, 2015

by Linda Holmes

There are certain stories that very few shows can tell without falling on their faces. The Mindy Project may be able to beat those lousy odds.

Arts

'American Crime' And 'The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Highlight The TV Revolution

2:20pm March 04, 2015

by David Bianculli

Tina Fey co-created the quirky comedy The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for Netflix; John Ridley made the emotionally raw drama American Crime for ABC. TV critic David Bianculli says they're both good.

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Arts

'The Last Man': An Odd Premise, Says Its Creator, But Oddly Relatable

3:07pm March 03, 2015

A new comedy series, The Last Man on Earth, features your average guy who becomes humanity's last hope. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Will Forte, the creator, writer and star of the show.

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Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in 1968.

Arts

Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock Taught Us Acceptance Is Highly Logical

3:20pm March 02, 2015

by Eric Deggans

The Star Trek actor died Friday in Los Angeles, and NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says Nimoy's signature role taught fans the power of accepting their differences rather than fighting them.

Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. The character's mixed Vulcan and human heritage set him apart from the rest of the Star Trek crew.

National

Mr. Spock, Mixed-Race Pioneer

2:35pm March 02, 2015

by Steve Haruch

As Mr. Spock on Star Trek, the late Leonard Nimoy embodied the conflicts faced by many biracial and other people of color. Even on the diverse crew of the Enterprise, he stood out.

While Leonard Nimoy became famous as Star Trek's Mr. Spock, he was conflicted about the role. He later came to embrace it. He's shown here with actor William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk.

Arts

He Was, And Will Always Be, Our Friend: Remembering Leonard Nimoy

10:45am March 02, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

The Star Trek actor, writer, poet and photographer has died of lung disease at 83. NPR's Neda Ulaby has a look back at the long career of the man who was (and was not) Spock.

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Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) made the acquaintance of Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) on the season finale of Downton Abbey.

Arts

'Downton' Wraps Another Season Of Marriage And (Sigh) Muuuuuurder!

8:59am March 02, 2015

by Linda Holmes

The fifth season of Downton Abbey, like all of its seasons, certainly wasn't perfect and had way too much murder. On the whole, though: pretty good.