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Friday, January 25, 2013

Television

Tina Fey: Sarah Palin And 'Saturday Night' Satire

Tina Fey won an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock.

January 25, 2013 Fey's impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin helped draw record audiences to Saturday Night Live in the fall of 2008. The former head writer for SNL opens up about politics, satire and her Emmy Award-winning sitcom, 30 Rock, which will have its series finale on January 31.

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On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Monkey See

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Nerd Culture And The Return Of Regrettable TV

A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

January 25, 2013 On this week's show, we borrow from a great essay about nerd culture and autism and bring back one of our favorite semi-regular segments.

Summary

ListenPlaylist

Television

Lives Of Praise, Lives In Progress On 'The Sisterhood'

The new TLC show The Sisterhood follows the lives of five preachers' wives in Atlanta.

January 25, 2013 The Sisterhood is a new reality show about the lives and struggles of five Atlanta-area preachers' wives. The show has been likened to the Real Housewives franchise and has drawn criticism for its warts-and-all portrayal of the women. But they say they felt called by God to participate.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Asia

'Friends' Will Be There For You At Beijing's Central Perk

Customers chat at a Beijing cafe modeled after the Central Perk cafe in the hit American sitcom Friends, in 2010. Nearly a decade after the series ended, the popularity of Friends continues among young Chinese, who use the show as a language-learning tool and enjoy its depiction of young Americans.

January 23, 2013 A Chinese man in Beijing has set up a cafe identical to the New York hangout on the hit TV show. For owner Du Xin, Friends is "like a religion" — and he's not the only one. He's opened a second Central Perk in Shanghai, capitalizing on the Chinese fondness for the six friends and their laid-back, freewheeling lives.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Television

Jimmy Kimmel: Making Late Night A Family Affair

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel interviews Mel Brooks on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

January 23, 2013 This month, the late-night talk-show host sets up camp in the 11:35 p.m. slot, which puts him head-to-head with Jay Leno and Kimmel's idol, David Letterman. Kimmel has put a personal mark on his show by bringing in his family to help him make it happen.

Transcript

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013

Monkey See

The Inaugural Ball: Thousands Of Dresses Searching For An Experience

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend an inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday night.

January 21, 2013 The inaugural ball is sort of a strange event — it's not really fancy, but everyone treats it like it is. People are determined to have the experience be special, even if the surroundings aren't.

Summary

The Two-Way

When It Comes To Inaugural Fashion, First Family Stays The Course

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the Senate carriage entrance for the presidential inauguration ceremonies at the U.S Capitol.

January 21, 2013 The first lady is well known for her wardrobe choices, and for the inauguration, Michelle Obama showed off her ability to make multiple style statements during a single day.

Summary

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Monkey See

Our Royalty: Bangs Aren't All Michelle Obama And Kate Middleton Have In Common

First lady Michelle Obama waves after addressing the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 4.

January 20, 2013 Michelle Obama's bangs recently caused a stir, and so did Kate Middleton's. But surprisingly enough, some of the conflicting, complex expectations of first ladies aren't all that different from those of modern royalty.

Summary

Friday, January 18, 2013

Monkey See

I've Heard That Somewhere: 'Glee' Covers 'Baby Got Back,' And It Sounds ... Familiar

The cast of Glee, which is in its fourth season on Fox.

January 18, 2013 Glee is taking a lot of heat for repurposing a cover version of "Baby Got Back" without crediting the arranger. In a social media world, it's the kind of move that has extra risks.

Summary

It's All Politics

Inauguration Mashup: The Speech In 11 Easy Steps

An 11-step guide to the perfect inauguration speech

January 18, 2013 Talk about new stuff, and gripe just a little: A handy video guide gives indispensable advice to inaugural speakers.

Summary

Monkey See

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Globes, Oscars, And Who Are You Calling A Snub?

A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

January 18, 2013 On this week's show, we touch on the Oscar nominations that were and were not, as well as the surprisingly good Globes telecast.

Summary

ListenPlaylist

Arts & Life

In A Fragmented Cultureverse, Can Pop References Still Pop?

On shows like NBC's Community, cultural references come quickly. (Pictured: Gillian Jacobs and Joel McHale.)

January 18, 2013 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.

Transcript

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Arts & Life

Khaled Hosseini's novel <em>And The Mountains Echoed </em>focuses on a family's loss, not political turmoil.

Siblings' Separation Haunts In 'Kite Runner' Author's Latest

Khaled Hosseini's novel And The Mountains Echoed focuses on a family's loss, not political turmoil.

In this third film about Jesse and Celine, they're married, and romance has changed along with them.

One Couple, Nearly 20 Years, All 'Before Midnight'

In this third film about Jesse and Celine, they're married, and romance has changed along with them.

<em>The New Yorker'</em>s George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America.

Stories Of Hope Amid America's 'Unwinding'

The New Yorker's George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America.

The show has become a social event for a large and varied crowd of folks on Twitter.

'Scandal': Preposterous, Unmissable, Important

The show has become a social event for a large and varied crowd of folks on Twitter.

Knox, who faces a potential retrial on murder charges in Italy, tells her story in a new memoir.

'Waiting To Be Heard' No More, Amanda Knox Speaks Out

Knox, who faces a potential retrial on murder charges in Italy, tells her story in a new memoir.

Sparks and feelings fly in J.J. Abrams' new <em>Star Trek</em> film, says NPR's Bob Mondello.

New 'Trek' Goes 'Into Darkness,' But Not Much Deeper

Sparks and feelings fly in J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek film, says NPR's Bob Mondello.

Prime-time television offers a lot of working women, though there are plenty of limitations.

Working Women On Television: A Mixed Bag At Best

Prime-time television offers a lot of working women, though there are plenty of limitations.

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