Neda Ulaby http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3850482&ft=1&f=3850482 Neda Ulaby reports on arts, entertainment, and cultural trends for NPR's Arts Desk. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Neda Ulaby http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3850482&ft=1&f=3850482 '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=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=3850482 Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

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

]]> 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=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185458149/show-abandonment-when-once-popular-shows-nose-dive-in-the-ratings?ft=1&f=3850482 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.

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

]]> Working Women On Television: A Mixed Bag At Best Research shows that prime-time television isn't a bad place to find portrayals of working women. Working moms and working women over 40 are another story. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/18/184832930/working-women-on-television-a-mixed-bag-at-best?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/18/184832930/working-women-on-television-a-mixed-bag-at-best?ft=1&f=3850482 Research shows that prime-time television isn't a bad place to find portrayals of working women. Working moms and working women over 40 are another story.

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

]]> Ray Harryhausen Was Pioneer Of Stop Motion Animation Raymond Frederick Harryhausen created one of the earliest successful forms of stop motion animation. He and pioneer Willis O'Brien won an Oscar for their work on the film <em>Mighty Joe Young</em>. Harryhausen also created one of the most famous screen swordfights ever between Jason and a group of skeletons in <em>Jason and the Argonauts</em>. Harryhausen died Tuesday at the age of 92. Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000632/ray-harryhausen-was-pioneer-of-stop-motion-animation?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000632/ray-harryhausen-was-pioneer-of-stop-motion-animation?ft=1&f=3850482 Raymond Frederick Harryhausen created one of the earliest successful forms of stop motion animation. He and pioneer Willis O'Brien won an Oscar for their work on the film Mighty Joe Young. Harryhausen also created one of the most famous screen swordfights ever between Jason and a group of skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts. Harryhausen died Tuesday at the age of 92.

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

]]> Video-Streaming Firms Attract Customers With Exclusive Shows Subscription services — like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus — attract customers with two kinds of programming. They all have a lot of movies and TV shows, but they have a few things that you can't see anywhere else. For example, the fight among video- streaming services for <em>Downton Abbey</em> has been intense. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178349867/video-streaming-firms-attract-customers-with-exclusive-shows?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178349867/video-streaming-firms-attract-customers-with-exclusive-shows?ft=1&f=3850482 Subscription services — like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus — attract customers with two kinds of programming. They all have a lot of movies and TV shows, but they have a few things that you can't see anywhere else. For example, the fight among video- streaming services for Downton Abbey has been intense.

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

]]> In A Fragmented Cultureverse, Can Pop References Still Pop? In film and TV, pop culture references are meant to give a knowing nod to those in the audience who understand the joke. But in an increasingly segmented and diverse country, those jokes may be pulling in fewer laughs. This story originally aired on <em>Morning Edition</em> on Jan. 18, 2013. Sun, 14 Apr 2013 07:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/177204413/in-a-fragmented-cultureverse-can-pop-references-still-pop?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/177204413/in-a-fragmented-cultureverse-can-pop-references-still-pop?ft=1&f=3850482 In film and TV, pop culture references are meant to give a knowing nod to those in the audience who understand the joke. But in an increasingly segmented and diverse country, those jokes may be pulling in fewer laughs. This story originally aired on Morning Edition on Jan. 18, 2013.

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

]]> As Audiences Shift To Cable, TV Programming Changes, Too Broadcast TV used to have bigger stars, bigger audiences and bigger budgets. Cable shows were edgier, with more sex and violence than the broadcasters dared show. In the last few seasons, though, cable ratings have improved and broadcast shows have taken more risks. What's going on on TV? Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176257095/as-audiences-shift-to-cable-tv-programming-changes-too?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176257095/as-audiences-shift-to-cable-tv-programming-changes-too?ft=1&f=3850482 Broadcast TV used to have bigger stars, bigger audiences and bigger budgets. Cable shows were edgier, with more sex and violence than the broadcasters dared show. In the last few seasons, though, cable ratings have improved and broadcast shows have taken more risks. What's going on on TV?

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

]]> Why Are TV Remotes So Terrible? While the quality of TVs and technology seems to be at an all-time high, the devices we use to access the living room screen are as confusing as ever. But tablets and apps offer hope of simplifying the process of finding shows to watch — and even interacting with other viewers. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/03/26/175262114/why-are-tv-remotes-so-terrible?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/03/26/175262114/why-are-tv-remotes-so-terrible?ft=1&f=3850482 While the quality of TVs and technology seems to be at an all-time high, the devices we use to access the living room screen are as confusing as ever. But tablets and apps offer hope of simplifying the process of finding shows to watch — and even interacting with other viewers.

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

]]> FCC Chairman Had Trouble Pleasing Interest Groups, Industry Julius Genachowski announced on Friday that he will step down as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He began his tenure with an ambitious National Broadband Plan and made broadband access for all Americans his most frequent talking point. But many say his actual accomplishments fall short of his stated goals. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175072442/fcc-chairman-had-trouble-pleasing-interest-groups-industry?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175072442/fcc-chairman-had-trouble-pleasing-interest-groups-industry?ft=1&f=3850482 Julius Genachowski announced on Friday that he will step down as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He began his tenure with an ambitious National Broadband Plan and made broadband access for all Americans his most frequent talking point. But many say his actual accomplishments fall short of his stated goals.

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

]]> 2013 Pritzker Winner Toyo Ito Finds Inspiration In Air, Wind And Water "People who live in cities have become more isolated than ever," says the 71-year-old architect based in Tokyo. "I would like to use architecture to create bonds between people." Ito has designed stadiums, libraries, parks, theaters, homes and more in his four-decade career. Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/17/174128806/2013-pritzker-winner-toyo-ito-finds-inspiration-in-air-wind-and-water?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/17/174128806/2013-pritzker-winner-toyo-ito-finds-inspiration-in-air-wind-and-water?ft=1&f=3850482 "People who live in cities have become more isolated than ever," says the 71-year-old architect based in Tokyo. "I would like to use architecture to create bonds between people." Ito has designed stadiums, libraries, parks, theaters, homes and more in his four-decade career.

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

]]> From Louisiana To Versailles, Funding 'Vital Stories, Artfully Told' With its mission to tell stories from underrepresented perspectives, Cinereach has supported more than 100 movies, including <em>Beasts of the Southern Wild</em> and <em>The Queen of Versailles</em>. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/02/20/172410171/from-louisiana-to-versailles-funding-vital-stories-artfully-told?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/02/20/172410171/from-louisiana-to-versailles-funding-vital-stories-artfully-told?ft=1&f=3850482 With its mission to tell stories from underrepresented perspectives, Cinereach has supported more than 100 movies, including Beasts of the Southern Wild and The Queen of Versailles.

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

]]> Toy Fair: Markers That Don't Blot Walls, Sand Without The Mess NPR's Neda Ulaby takes a stroll through Toy Fair, an industry event where adults get to preview acres of new toys. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:53:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/11/171716675/toy-fair-markers-that-dont-blot-walls-sand-without-the-mess?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/11/171716675/toy-fair-markers-that-dont-blot-walls-sand-without-the-mess?ft=1&f=3850482 NPR's Neda Ulaby takes a stroll through Toy Fair, an industry event where adults get to preview acres of new toys.

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

]]> Reg Presley, The Voice Of 'Wild Thing,' Dies The lead singer of The Troggs, who had a string of hits in the 1960s, was 71. Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:38:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/02/05/171170287/reg-presley-the-voice-of-wild-thing-dies?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/02/05/171170287/reg-presley-the-voice-of-wild-thing-dies?ft=1&f=3850482 The lead singer of The Troggs, who had a string of hits in the 1960s, was 71.

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

]]> Competition, High Bills Hurt Cable Companies It's called cord-cutting when people give up their cable TV subscriptions because they feel they get enough to watch over the air and the Internet. Cord-cutting is a big fear for cable TV companies. But there's something new for them to worry about: Young people who never get cable subscriptions in the first place. Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/30/170630094/competition-high-bills-hurt-cable-companies?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/30/170630094/competition-high-bills-hurt-cable-companies?ft=1&f=3850482 It's called cord-cutting when people give up their cable TV subscriptions because they feel they get enough to watch over the air and the Internet. Cord-cutting is a big fear for cable TV companies. But there's something new for them to worry about: Young people who never get cable subscriptions in the first place.

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

]]> Leroy 'Sugarfoot' Bonner, Frontman Of The Ohio Players, Dies The Ohio Players had seven top forty hits in the 1970s and helped to define a funk movement that included Parliament Funkadelic and Kool & the Gang. Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/01/28/170488331/leroy-sugarfoot-bonner-frontman-of-the-ohio-players-dies?ft=1&f=3850482 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/01/28/170488331/leroy-sugarfoot-bonner-frontman-of-the-ohio-players-dies?ft=1&f=3850482 The Ohio Players had seven top forty hits in the 1970s and helped to define a funk movement that included Parliament Funkadelic and Kool & the Gang.

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

]]>