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. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:49:00 -0400 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 Breakin' The Rules: 20 General Principles Suspended In 'Fast And Furious 6' There are many principles of day-to-day life that don't make their way into the Fast, Furious universe. Thu, 23 May 2013 13:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186288845/breakin-the-rules-20-general-principles-suspended-in-fast-and-furious-6?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186288845/breakin-the-rules-20-general-principles-suspended-in-fast-and-furious-6?ft=1&f=1048 There are many principles of day-to-day life that don't make their way into the Fast, Furious universe.

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]]> Really Most Sincerely Bad: Fox's Nasty 'Does Someone Have To Go?' A distasteful new show forces employees to turn on each other in a phony display of power. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186270135/really-most-sincerely-bad-foxs-nasty-does-someone-have-to-go?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186270135/really-most-sincerely-bad-foxs-nasty-does-someone-have-to-go?ft=1&f=1048 A distasteful new show forces employees to turn on each other in a phony display of power.

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]]> HBCU President Asks Dr. Dre, Why Not Us? Hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine recently donated $70 million to the University of Southern California. Many people are applauding their generosity, but some aren't so happy. Host Michel Martin speaks with Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, about why he thinks an HBCU should have gotten the money. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186262929/hbcu-president-asks-dr-dre-why-not-us?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186262929/hbcu-president-asks-dr-dre-why-not-us?ft=1&f=1048 Hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine recently donated $70 million to the University of Southern California. Many people are applauding their generosity, but some aren't so happy. Host Michel Martin speaks with Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, about why he thinks an HBCU should have gotten the money.

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]]> Pitbull Gets 'Epic': 'You Constantly Have To Defend Your Success' Armando Christian Perez — better known as Pitbull or Mr. Worldwide — has sold five million albums and had No. 1 hits in more than 15 countries. He tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and playing a well-dressed toad in the animated film <em> Epic</em>. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186262931/epic-movie-role-for-music-superstar-pitbull?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186262931/epic-movie-role-for-music-superstar-pitbull?ft=1&f=1048 Armando Christian Perez — better known as Pitbull or Mr. Worldwide — has sold five million albums and had No. 1 hits in more than 15 countries. He tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and playing a well-dressed toad in the animated film Epic.

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]]> Douglas, Damon Illuminate HBO's 'Candelabra' Steven Soderbergh's latest film is a showbiz story about Vegas icon Liberace and his secret lover — played, respectively, by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, both terrific in their roles. It premieres Sunday on HBO. Thu, 23 May 2013 13:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186090986/douglas-damon-illuminate-hbos-candelabra?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186090986/douglas-damon-illuminate-hbos-candelabra?ft=1&f=1048 Steven Soderbergh's latest film is a showbiz story about Vegas icon Liberace and his secret lover — played, respectively, by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, both terrific in their roles. It premieres Sunday on HBO.

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]]> 'Before Midnight': Jesse And Celine Are Older Now, And So Are We It took Jesse and Celine 18 years to find themselves back where they started in the lovely third installment of the series that began with 1995's <em>Before Sunrise</em>. Thu, 23 May 2013 08:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186226960/before-midnight-jesse-and-celine-are-older-now-and-so-are-we?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/23/186226960/before-midnight-jesse-and-celine-are-older-now-and-so-are-we?ft=1&f=1048 It took Jesse and Celine 18 years to find themselves back where they started in the lovely third installment of the series that began with 1995's Before Sunrise.

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]]> China's Artist Provocateur Explores New Medium: Heavy Metal In 2011, police detained Ai Weiwei for 81 days. Now, he's released a song that's turned the experience into a heavy metal protest song, along with a dystopian nightmare video. The lyrics are explicit and angry. Ai says his music is for the many political prisoners who remain jailed. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/22/186008930/chinas-artist-provocateur-explores-new-medium-heavy-metal?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/22/186008930/chinas-artist-provocateur-explores-new-medium-heavy-metal?ft=1&f=1048 In 2011, police detained Ai Weiwei for 81 days. Now, he's released a song that's turned the experience into a heavy metal protest song, along with a dystopian nightmare video. The lyrics are explicit and angry. Ai says his music is for the many political prisoners who remain jailed.

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]]> 'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1048 Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

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]]> The Starfleet Divide: The 'Star Trek' Universe Revisits One Of Its Great Debates J.J. Abrams isn't the first guy to bait <em>Star Trek</em> fans by messing with the brand. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185774613/the-starfleet-divide-the-star-trek-universe-revisits-one-of-its-great-debates?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185774613/the-starfleet-divide-the-star-trek-universe-revisits-one-of-its-great-debates?ft=1&f=1048 J.J. Abrams isn't the first guy to bait Star Trek fans by messing with the brand.

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]]> At L.A.'s UnCabaret, 25 Years Of Letting It All Hang Out Launched as an alternative to the stale stylings of the '80s stand-up circuit, Beth Lapides' event bills itself as a venue for "idiosyncratic, conversational comedy." It's helped establish careers for performers from Kathy Griffin to Randy and Jason Sklar. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185533378/at-l-a-s-uncabaret-25-years-of-letting-it-all-hang-out?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185533378/at-l-a-s-uncabaret-25-years-of-letting-it-all-hang-out?ft=1&f=1048 Launched as an alternative to the stale stylings of the '80s stand-up circuit, Beth Lapides' event bills itself as a venue for "idiosyncratic, conversational comedy." It's helped establish careers for performers from Kathy Griffin to Randy and Jason Sklar.

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]]> Christine Ha: From MasterChef To Home Kitchen When Christine Ha won <em>MasterChef</em> in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook <em>Recipes from my Home Kitchen</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534668&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534668&ft=1&f=1048 When Christine Ha won MasterChef in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook Recipes from my Home Kitchen.

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]]> 'Scandal' Creates Twitter Frenzy Social media was ablaze during the season finale of ABC's hit political thriller <em>Scandal</em>. Host Michel Martin asks Gene Demby, blogger for NPR's Code Switch team, what it is about the show that makes it ripe for Twitter chatter — especially among African Americans. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534670&ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534670&ft=1&f=1048 Social media was ablaze during the season finale of ABC's hit political thriller Scandal. Host Michel Martin asks Gene Demby, blogger for NPR's Code Switch team, what it is about the show that makes it ripe for Twitter chatter — especially among African Americans.

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]]> Mel Brooks: 'I'm An EGOT; I Don't Need Any More' The screenwriter, producer, director and actor, whose name has become synonymous with American comedy, talks about his penchant for spoofs and his decades-long friendship with Carl Reiner. Brooks, who is among a handful of people who've won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, is the subject of a new documentary on PBS. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/182609040/mel-brooks-i-m-an-egot-so-i-don-t-need-any-more?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/182609040/mel-brooks-i-m-an-egot-so-i-don-t-need-any-more?ft=1&f=1048 The screenwriter, producer, director and actor, whose name has become synonymous with American comedy, talks about his penchant for spoofs and his decades-long friendship with Carl Reiner. Brooks, who is among a handful of people who've won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, is the subject of a new documentary on PBS.

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]]> Reaction Saturation And Sunday Night Television On Sundays, it can seem like we're a nation of critics. But we're not. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/20/185498148/reaction-saturation-and-sunday-night-television?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/20/185498148/reaction-saturation-and-sunday-night-television?ft=1&f=1048 On Sundays, it can seem like we're a nation of critics. But we're not.

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]]> Show Abandonment: When Viewers Drop Popular TV Programs What happens when fans stop talking about a show that used to be their favorite? Take <em>American Idol</em>, for example. Last week's finale was way down from last year's finale. It was the first time a finale did not reach the 20-million mark. Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185458149/show-abandonment-when-once-popular-shows-nose-dive-in-the-ratings?ft=1&f=1048 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185458149/show-abandonment-when-once-popular-shows-nose-dive-in-the-ratings?ft=1&f=1048 What happens when fans stop talking about a show that used to be their favorite? Take American Idol, for example. Last week's finale was way down from last year's finale. It was the first time a finale did not reach the 20-million mark.

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