NPR Topics: Pop Culture http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1048&ft=1&f=1048 News and commentary on popular culture trends. Download the Pop Culture podcast. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Pop Culture http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1048&ft=1&f=1048 James Franco Checks In To 'General Hospital' The star of <em>Milk</em> and <em>Pineapple Express</em> &mdash; and a little movie franchise called <em>Spider-Man</em> &mdash; will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1048 The star of Milk and Pineapple Express — and a little movie franchise called Spider-Man — will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer.

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]]> Real-Life Physics Problems Star On TV The stars of <em>The Big Bang Theory</em> are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613274&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613274&ft=1&f=1048 The stars of The Big Bang Theory are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles.

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]]> Palin Does Oprah, Oprah Calls It Quits ... For Now Freelance journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette and NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin give their take on the latest headlines. This week, the guys discuss former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's return to the national stage, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try 9/11 co-conspirators in civilian court and Oprah's big announcement that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will end In 2011. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608140&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608140&ft=1&f=1048 Freelance journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette and NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin give their take on the latest headlines. This week, the guys discuss former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's return to the national stage, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try 9/11 co-conspirators in civilian court and Oprah's big announcement that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will end In 2011.

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]]> Without Further Ado, Sarah Palin Returns Cultural and political phenomenon Sarah Palin returned to the national spotlight this week to promote her memoir "Going Rogue" and fielded questions about a possible run for the White House in 2012. Host Michel Martin talks with Mary Kate Cary, a columnist with U.S. News and World Report, and Matt Continetti, author of "The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star" about what might be next for the former Alaska governor. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:11:01 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609997&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609997&ft=1&f=1048 Cultural and political phenomenon Sarah Palin returned to the national spotlight this week to promote her memoir "Going Rogue" and fielded questions about a possible run for the White House in 2012. Host Michel Martin talks with Mary Kate Cary, a columnist with U.S. News and World Report, and Matt Continetti, author of "The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star" about what might be next for the former Alaska governor.

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]]> 'The Onion': Mocking All Who Deserve It Since 1988 America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). <em>Onion</em> editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun <em>The Onion</em> has had at NPR's expense. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114206357&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114206357&ft=1&f=1048 America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). Onion editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun The Onion has had at NPR's expense.

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]]> Oprah To End Talk Show After 25th Season Oprah Winfrey's production company says she plans to end her talk show in 2011, after 25 seasons on the air. Winfrey plans to announce the final date for her show during a live broadcast Friday. Matt Belloni, an editor at the <em>Hollywood Reporter,</em> talks with Renee Montagne about Oprah's decision. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602692&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602692&ft=1&f=1048 Oprah Winfrey's production company says she plans to end her talk show in 2011, after 25 seasons on the air. Winfrey plans to announce the final date for her show during a live broadcast Friday. Matt Belloni, an editor at the Hollywood Reporter, talks with Renee Montagne about Oprah's decision.

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]]> Under A 'New Moon,' A Surprising Lack Of Passion If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that <em>New Moon,</em> the second part of <em>The Twilight Saga</em>, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1048 If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that New Moon, the second part of The Twilight Saga, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment.

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]]> 'Oprah Winfrey Show' To Go Off The Air In 2011 The talk-show icon will call it a wrap after 25 seasons, her production company said. A formal announcement is expected on Friday's edition of <em>The Oprah Winfrey Show</em>. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:41:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120593494&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120593494&ft=1&f=1048 The talk-show icon will call it a wrap after 25 seasons, her production company said. A formal announcement is expected on Friday's edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

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]]> Oprah To End Show In 2011 Oprah Winfrey is expected to announce Friday that her talk show will end in 2011. Winfrey's production company, Harpo Productions Inc., said she would provide more details on Friday's <em>Oprah Winfrey Show</em>. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120595141&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120595141&ft=1&f=1048 Oprah Winfrey is expected to announce Friday that her talk show will end in 2011. Winfrey's production company, Harpo Productions Inc., said she would provide more details on Friday's Oprah Winfrey Show.

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]]> Marketers Sink Teeth Into 'New Moon' <em>New Moon</em>, the latest movie in Stephenie Meyer's <em>Twilight</em> vampire saga, is sucking in marketers, who are using the franchise's characters to sell everything from bottled water to late-model luxury cars. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120501924&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120501924&ft=1&f=1048 New Moon, the latest movie in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight vampire saga, is sucking in marketers, who are using the franchise's characters to sell everything from bottled water to late-model luxury cars.

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]]> Comedian George Carlin's 'Last Words' Before his death in June 2008, comedian George Carlin spent 10 years working on a memoir, <em>Last Words,</em> with his longtime friend Tony Hendra. Hendra, a writer and comedian, talks with Rebecca Roberts about Carlin's life and legacy. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120502583&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120502583&ft=1&f=1048 Before his death in June 2008, comedian George Carlin spent 10 years working on a memoir, Last Words, with his longtime friend Tony Hendra. Hendra, a writer and comedian, talks with Rebecca Roberts about Carlin's life and legacy.

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]]> Sacha Baron Cohen And Larry Charles Talk 'Bruno' When Sacha Baron Cohen grants an interview, it's usually in character &mdash; as Borat, the clueless faux-Kazakh journalist; or as Bruno, the outrageously shallow, ostentatiously gay Austrian fashionista at the center of Cohen's most recent film. Today, though, Cohen joins <em>Fresh Air</em> as himself, for a conversation with Terry Gross and <em>Bruno</em> director Larry Charles. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464037&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464037&ft=1&f=1048 When Sacha Baron Cohen grants an interview, it's usually in character — as Borat, the clueless faux-Kazakh journalist; or as Bruno, the outrageously shallow, ostentatiously gay Austrian fashionista at the center of Cohen's most recent film. Today, though, Cohen joins Fresh Air as himself, for a conversation with Terry Gross and Bruno director Larry Charles.

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]]> The Ten Most Annoying Things About Being A Vampire's Girlfriend It probably isn't that much fun to date a vampire, even if the <em>Twilight</em> series wants you to think it is. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114402782&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114402782&ft=1&f=1048 It probably isn't that much fun to date a vampire, even if the Twilight series wants you to think it is.

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]]> 'The Blind Side': When A True Story Is Hard To Tell <em>The Blind Side</em> may be based on a true story, but that doesn't mean the trailer doesn't touch a lot of uncomfortable buttons about Hollywood storytelling. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114401192&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114401192&ft=1&f=1048 The Blind Side may be based on a true story, but that doesn't mean the trailer doesn't touch a lot of uncomfortable buttons about Hollywood storytelling.

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]]> Scared Of Planet Nibiru? NASA Would Like To Help According to numerous sources on the Internet, three years from now a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This and other apocalyptic myths have NASA stepping up to soothe our fears. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:40:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120436493&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120436493&ft=1&f=1048 According to numerous sources on the Internet, three years from now a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This and other apocalyptic myths have NASA stepping up to soothe our fears.

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