Mandalit del Barco http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100429&ft=1&f=2100429 As a general assignment correspondent based at NPR West, Mandalit del Barco has reported and produced radio stories and photographed everything from street gangs to immigration, Latino arts and race relations. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:02:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Mandalit del Barco http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100429&ft=1&f=2100429 Spotlighting Background Singers In 'Twenty Feet From Stardom' Filmmaker Morgan Neville's new documentary chronicles backup singers who have supported some of the biggest acts in music history, from Ike and Tina Turner to The Rolling Stones and sung some of pop music's catchiest hooks. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190450661/background-singers-hit-center-stage-in-twenty-feet-from-stardom?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190450661/background-singers-hit-center-stage-in-twenty-feet-from-stardom?ft=1&f=2100429 Filmmaker Morgan Neville's new documentary chronicles backup singers who have supported some of the biggest acts in music history, from Ike and Tina Turner to The Rolling Stones and sung some of pop music's catchiest hooks.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Jose-Luis Orozco: Capturing Kids' Attention In Two Languages For the past 42 years, the Mexican singer and author has been entertaining children with songs he sings in English and Spanish. Orozco's passion revolves around teaching children to be bilingual through music. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189254553/jose-luis-orozco-capturing-kids-attention-in-two-languages?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/07/189254553/jose-luis-orozco-capturing-kids-attention-in-two-languages?ft=1&f=2100429 For the past 42 years, the Mexican singer and author has been entertaining children with songs he sings in English and Spanish. Orozco's passion revolves around teaching children to be bilingual through music.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> The Doors' Keyboard Counterpoint Goes Silent: Remembering Ray Manzarek Raised on the South Side, Manzarek brought Chicago sound to L.A.'s beaches with the trailblazing band. He died Monday at age 74. Tue, 21 May 2013 03:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/05/21/185619707/the-doors-keyboard-counterpoint-goes-silent-remembering-ray-manzarek?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/05/21/185619707/the-doors-keyboard-counterpoint-goes-silent-remembering-ray-manzarek?ft=1&f=2100429 Raised on the South Side, Manzarek brought Chicago sound to L.A.'s beaches with the trailblazing band. He died Monday at age 74.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Nostalgia For Sale As Captain Kangaroo's Pals Are Auctioned Off A giant lot of <em>Captain Kangaroo</em> memorabilia goes on the auction block this week in Los Angeles. Among the items up for auction are several of the captain's signature jackets, Mr. Green Jeans' famous jeans and the life-sized costume worn by Dancing Bear. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184856244/nostalgia-for-sale-as-captain-kangaroos-pals-are-auctioned-off?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184856244/nostalgia-for-sale-as-captain-kangaroos-pals-are-auctioned-off?ft=1&f=2100429 A giant lot of Captain Kangaroo memorabilia goes on the auction block this week in Los Angeles. Among the items up for auction are several of the captain's signature jackets, Mr. Green Jeans' famous jeans and the life-sized costume worn by Dancing Bear.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Draco Rosa: A Pop Survivor Returns From The Brink, With Friends In the 1980s, he was Robi Rosa, the lead singer of Menudo at the boy band's peak of popularity. Rosa went on to write hits for bandmate Ricky Martin and develop a solo career. When Rosa was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, some of the biggest names in Latin music assembled to support him. Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184771486/draco-rosa-a-pop-survivor-returns-from-the-brink-with-friends?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184771486/draco-rosa-a-pop-survivor-returns-from-the-brink-with-friends?ft=1&f=2100429 In the 1980s, he was Robi Rosa, the lead singer of Menudo at the boy band's peak of popularity. Rosa went on to write hits for bandmate Ricky Martin and develop a solo career. When Rosa was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, some of the biggest names in Latin music assembled to support him.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> How Does NBC Plan To Climb Back Up Rating's Ladder? NBC was once must-see TV. Now, the network's ratings have slipped behind Spanish Language TV. What happened to this once mighty TV network? Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182800281/how-does-nbc-plan-to-climb-back-up-ratings-ladder?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182800281/how-does-nbc-plan-to-climb-back-up-ratings-ladder?ft=1&f=2100429 NBC was once must-see TV. Now, the network's ratings have slipped behind Spanish Language TV. What happened to this once mighty TV network?

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Mouseketeer Annette Funicello Dies At 70 Annette Funicello, who was part of the original cast of the 1950's Disney television program, <em>The Mickey Mouse Club</em>, died Monday. She was 70 and had had multiple sclerosis for decades. Funicello also co-starred in several Disney beach party movies in the 1960's along with Frankie Avalon. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176640353/annette-funicello-dies-at-70?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176640353/annette-funicello-dies-at-70?ft=1&f=2100429 Annette Funicello, who was part of the original cast of the 1950's Disney television program, The Mickey Mouse Club, died Monday. She was 70 and had had multiple sclerosis for decades. Funicello also co-starred in several Disney beach party movies in the 1960's along with Frankie Avalon.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A Tip Of The Mouse Ears To Annette Funicello, 1942-2013 The Mouseketeer and bikini-musicals actress became a pop star and made a generation of boomer boys swoon. Later she faced multiple sclerosis with equanimity — and raised awareness and money in the process. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/04/08/176598105/a-tip-of-the-mouse-ears-to-annette-funicello-1942-2013?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/04/08/176598105/a-tip-of-the-mouse-ears-to-annette-funicello-1942-2013?ft=1&f=2100429 The Mouseketeer and bikini-musicals actress became a pop star and made a generation of boomer boys swoon. Later she faced multiple sclerosis with equanimity — and raised awareness and money in the process.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Jimmy Fallon To Take Over For Jay Leno On NBC's 'Tonight Show' In Spring 2014 In a news release that could barely be called "news," NBC has announced that Jay Leno will be replaced by Jimmy Fallon next spring. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176166666/jimmy-fallon-to-take-over-for-jay-leno-on-nbcs-tonight-show-in-spring-2014?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176166666/jimmy-fallon-to-take-over-for-jay-leno-on-nbcs-tonight-show-in-spring-2014?ft=1&f=2100429 In a news release that could barely be called "news," NBC has announced that Jay Leno will be replaced by Jimmy Fallon next spring.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Visual-Effects Firms Having Trouble Seeing Green <em>Life of Pi</em> won four Oscars, including one for visual effects. But the company that did much of its work, Rhythm & Hues, is bankrupt and up for auction. At a time when movies are increasingly depending on computer effects, why are the economics not holding up? Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174703202/visual-effects-firms-miss-out-on-a-films-success?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174703202/visual-effects-firms-miss-out-on-a-films-success?ft=1&f=2100429 Life of Pi won four Oscars, including one for visual effects. But the company that did much of its work, Rhythm & Hues, is bankrupt and up for auction. At a time when movies are increasingly depending on computer effects, why are the economics not holding up?

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Angry Birds TV, Coming To A Mobile Screen Near You The wildly popular game has been downloaded 1.7 billion times. Now, the company that brings these birds — and the pigs they love to hate — to your phone is launching an animated series, which will be distributed via television and app. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174331663/angry-birds-tv-coming-to-a-mobile-screen-near-you?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174331663/angry-birds-tv-coming-to-a-mobile-screen-near-you?ft=1&f=2100429 The wildly popular game has been downloaded 1.7 billion times. Now, the company that brings these birds — and the pigs they love to hate — to your phone is launching an animated series, which will be distributed via television and app.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> 'Oz,' The Great And Often Imitated Disney's new fillm <em>Oz the Great and Powerful</em> aspires to be a definitive prequel to the <em>Wizard of Oz</em> film of Hollywood legend. But as NPR's Mandalit del Barco explains, L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz has been revisited too many times in global pop culture to have one specific look or feel. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/08/173735806/oz-the-great-and-often-imitated?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/08/173735806/oz-the-great-and-often-imitated?ft=1&f=2100429 Disney's new fillm Oz the Great and Powerful aspires to be a definitive prequel to the Wizard of Oz film of Hollywood legend. But as NPR's Mandalit del Barco explains, L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz has been revisited too many times in global pop culture to have one specific look or feel.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Will 'Oz The Great And Powerful' Gain Emerald Status? The newest movie version of <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, opens this weekend. <em>Oz the Great and Powerful</em> stars James Franco as the wizard. The movie goes beyond the Technicolor wonder of the famous MGM film to a full-blown 2013 treatment with 3D and surround sound. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173687585/will-oz-the-great-and-powerful-live-up-to-emerald-status?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173687585/will-oz-the-great-and-powerful-live-up-to-emerald-status?ft=1&f=2100429 The newest movie version of The Wizard of Oz, opens this weekend. Oz the Great and Powerful stars James Franco as the wizard. The movie goes beyond the Technicolor wonder of the famous MGM film to a full-blown 2013 treatment with 3D and surround sound.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Spanish-Language Network Univision Ranks 3rd In U.S. Ratings The latest TV ratings are out and CBS captured the top spot with help from its Super Bowl broadcast. Last fall, NBC was No. 1 but now it's fourth. What's surprising is that Spanish-language network Univision has surpassed NBC's ratings. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/01/173211210/spanish-language-network-univision-ranks-3rd-in-u-s-ratings?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/01/173211210/spanish-language-network-univision-ranks-3rd-in-u-s-ratings?ft=1&f=2100429 The latest TV ratings are out and CBS captured the top spot with help from its Super Bowl broadcast. Last fall, NBC was No. 1 but now it's fourth. What's surprising is that Spanish-language network Univision has surpassed NBC's ratings.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> What You Didn't See At The Academy Awards NPR's Sam Sanders and Mandalit del Barco were backstage in the press room during the Oscars. Here's a roundup of what they saw that you <em>didn't</em> see, in senior superlative form. Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/02/25/172864461/what-you-didnt-see-at-the-academy-awards?ft=1&f=2100429 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/02/25/172864461/what-you-didnt-see-at-the-academy-awards?ft=1&f=2100429 NPR's Sam Sanders and Mandalit del Barco were backstage in the press room during the Oscars. Here's a roundup of what they saw that you didn't see, in senior superlative form.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>