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March 1, 2013 If we didn't have a pope and we didn't have a Super Bowl, we might never use these fancy numbers at all. Then again, maybe we would.

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March 1, 2013 This week, we briefly wrap up the Oscars before moving to an epic earworm war based around commercial jingles. And as always, we close with what's making us happy this week.

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ListenPlaylist

February 28, 2013 After journalists on the Oscars red carpet struggled to pronounce the name of 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, Twitter users shared their stories about the funny, annoying butcherings of their own "unconventional" and "ethnic" names. One example: "Jambalayaiah" for Jamelyahweh.

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February 26, 2013 We're living in an age obsessed with authenticity, says linguist Geoff Nunberg, but we often choose to nitpick the wrong details. Whether it's Downton Abbey, Mad Men, Lincoln or Argo, Nunberg argues, a historical novel or screenplay should give us a translation, not a transcription.

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On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

February 25, 2013 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.

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February 25, 2013 Seth MacFarlane hosted the 85th Academy Awards which Monkey See's Linda Holmes says was one of the worst hosting performances in Oscar history. Jokes about women just kept coming. His sexist jokes were in poor taste, sure, but if they'd been funny, nobody would have cared.

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February 24, 2013 Laugh, cry, be upset and outraged over this year's Academy Award winners and losers, as we live blog the results.

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February 23, 2013 At this Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, Entertainment Weekly's Anthony Breznican will be watching from an enviable location: behind the scenes with the stars. He joins NPR's Jacki Lyden to share his winner predictions and favorite backstage moments.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

February 23, 2013 As the Directors and Producers Guild Awards go, so does the Academy. At least most of the time.

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February 22, 2013 The PCHH team takes on all nine Best Picture nominees in a wide-ranging discussion about Steven Spielberg, story structure, the presence and absence of music, and a VIP (Very Important Pigeon).

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ListenPlaylist

February 22, 2013 Nick Andersen says that the Academy Awards would be a lot more interesting with a few tweaks to one of the categories best suited, but least used, for showmanship.

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