archive

Monday, February 04, 2013

The Salt

Sandwich Monday: Grilled Cheese With Mac N' Cheese

The Mac.

February 4, 2013 For this week's Sandwich Monday, we test if two great tastes really do taste great together: we try The Mac, from Cheesie's in Chicago. It's a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, topped with Macaroni and Cheese.

Summary

The Two-Way

'Meaningful' Ads Stood Out As Super Bowl Favorites

Budweiser's Super Bowl spot won top favorite among many.

February 4, 2013 Most Super Bowl advertisers tried to crack up the TV audience with over-the-top antics, as is to be expected in the highly viewed event. But some of this year's best ads, as judged by experts and viewers, took a more somber tone.

Summary

The Salt

'God Made A Farmer' And The Super Bowl Made Him A Star

A still from the Super Bowl ad, "God Made a Farmer"

February 4, 2013 One of the standout ads in Super Bowl XLVII featured a nostalgic vision of American farmers, voiced by the legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey. Was this Dodge Ram ad a brilliant paean to farm life, or a distorted view of modern agriculture? Share your thoughts.

Summary

Monkey See

That Was A Great Blackout Last Night

Kicker David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers waits during a power outage that occurred in the third quarter that caused a 34-minute delay during Super Bowl XLVII.

February 4, 2013 The blackout during the third quarter of last night's Super Bowl was the one spontaneous event of the whole evening, and the one thing that brought out the best in social media.

Summary

Friday, February 01, 2013

Media

For Super Bowl Ads, More Social-Media Savvy

Jimmy Cliff in a Volkswagen "Get Happy" commercial.

February 1, 2013 For years, Super Bowl ads have gone viral after they've aired. But these days brands like Doritos and Volkswagen are turning to social media to crowdsource ad creation — and to boost the buzz long before the big Sunday kickoff.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Monkey See

They Call Me ... Bruce? When Characters Outlive Their Names

Bruce Wayne is only one of the many characters whose name makes him seem perhaps a little older than he is.

February 1, 2013 Bruce. Clark. Lois. Dick. What happens when fictional characters hang around long after their given name falls out of common use? Statistics provide a nerdy clue.

Summary

Monkey See

Pop Culture Happy Hour: '30 Rock,' Getting Meta, And The PCHH FAQ

A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

February 1, 2013 On this week's show, 30 Rock and the world of meta humor, a few answers to frequently and occasionally asked questions about the show, and what's making us happy this week.

Summary

ListenPlaylist

Monkey See

Kid President Coaches Up the Entire Internet

Screenshot from the "Kid President" YouTube video.

February 1, 2013 If you've been online in the last week, you've probably already gotten a pep talk from the Kid President.

Summary

The Two-Way

Wacky Super Bowl Ads Are Already Getting Serious Play

The Volkswagen Super Bowl 2013 commercial is among the ads that already surfaced on social media. Some critics say its racial tone is demeaning.

February 1, 2013 Spoiler alert: A few Super Bowl commercials have launched on social media well before Sunday's big game. Ad industry watchers say the multi-million-dollar spots are meant to be entertaining, but a few of the ads are already controversial.

Summary

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Monkey See

Doing The Work: What '30 Rock' Meant For Women On Television

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon.

January 31, 2013 30 Rock has a tricky set of gender politics, but it turned out to be a profoundly feminist show, not because of what it said, but because of whose voice was speaking.

Summary

Television

Spacey And Fincher Make A 'House Of Cards'

Kevin Spacey is the star and a producer of the new Netflix series House of Cards, on which David Fincher is a co-producer.

January 31, 2013 Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Oscar-winning director David Fincher team up for a new Netflix original series that premieres Friday. House of Cards follows a Machiavellian politician as he schemes to take down the president of the United States.

Transcript

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Television

'House Of Cards' Is Built To Last

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright star in the new Netflix original series House of Cards, which premieres Feb. 1.

January 30, 2013 Two new dramas fueled by intrigue premiere this week: The Americans on FX and House of Cards on Netflix. While The Americans has its moments, House of Cards is the show that's going to make television history.

Transcript

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Television

William H. Macy Is 'Shameless' On Showtime

In Shameless, William H. Macy is the dysfunctional father of six.

January 30, 2013 As the alcoholic paterfamilias Frank Gallagher on the Showtime series Shameless, the actor enjoys portraying a man with a dark side. But he says it's Frank's better qualities that make him sustainable as a character.

Transcript

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor

Podcast + RSS Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • NPR: Culturetopia
     
  • Arts & Life
     
  • Pop Culture
     
 

Arts & Life

Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke have never been more persuasive — nor has the <em>Before</em> series. <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em>

More Time Together, Though 'Midnight' Looms

Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke have never been more persuasive — nor has the Before series. (Recommended)

The <em>Paris Review</em> founder was a man devoted to illuminating how talent and creativity work.

'Plimpton!': A Fond Look At A Man Of Letters

The Paris Review founder was a man devoted to illuminating how talent and creativity work.

Alex Gibney tells the story of Julian Assange's "intelligence agency of the people." <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em>

'We Steal Secrets': A Sidelong Look At WikiLeaks

Alex Gibney tells the story of Julian Assange's "intelligence agency of the people." (Recommended)

Jarrett Krosoczka sat down with a classroom of kids to talk about real and imaginary superheroes.

'Lunch Lady' Author Helps Students Draw Their Own Heroes

Jarrett Krosoczka sat down with a classroom of kids to talk about real and imaginary superheroes.

Rama Burshtein's intimate drama is a low-stakes story with high-drama punch.<strong><em> (Recommended)</em></strong>

To 'Fill The Void,' A Choice With A Personal Cost

Rama Burshtein's intimate drama is a low-stakes story with high-drama punch. (Recommended)

<em>Fast 6</em> pits Dominic's crew against a wily terrorist in a high-tech battle royale. (It's very silly.)

'Fast 6': Silly, Speedy, And Certain To Cash In

Fast 6 pits Dominic's crew against a wily terrorist in a high-tech battle royale. (It's very silly.)

Pitbull tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and acting in the upcoming <em>Epic</em>.

Pitbull Gets 'Epic': 'You Constantly Have To Defend Your Success'

Pitbull tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and acting in the upcoming Epic.

more