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Kat Chow at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., July 25, 2018. (photo by Allison Shelley) (Square)
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Wednesday

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star in the Netflix series Beef. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

In the great new Netflix series Beef, two people have a lot of beef with each other. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as characters whose worlds collide when they engage in a manic road rage war. Neither can help trying to one up the other in a long-running, increasingly mortifying tit-for-tat that reveals past traumas and existential dread.

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

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Thursday

We pack our knives and go deep on 'Top Chef'

Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and Gail Simmons in a season 20 episode of Top Chef. David Moir/Bravo hide caption

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David Moir/Bravo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We pack our knives and go deep on 'Top Chef'

Even after 20 seasons, we still get a thrill every time we hear "hands up utensils down" on Top Chef. Controversial winners, heartbreaking losses, food that looks good enough to eat, and the foolishness of even attempting risotto — they've all been backbones of the Top Chef franchise over its many, many years. So we thought now would be the perfect time to revisit our conversation about the Bravo series.

We pack our knives and go deep on 'Top Chef'

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Wednesday

'Fleishman Is In Trouble' as his marriage uncouples

Jesse Eisenberg stars as Toby in Fleishman Is In Trouble. Linda Kallerus/FX hide caption

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Linda Kallerus/FX

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Fleishman Is In Trouble' as his marriage uncouples

The smartly written Hulu series Fleishman Is In Trouble stars Jesse Eisenberg as an Upper East Side doctor who finds himself divorced at 41. When his ex-wife, played by Claire Danes, leaves him with their two kids and disappears, he loses control of the new life he's made for himself. The show is based on the best-selling novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who adapted the series herself.

'Fleishman Is In Trouble' as his marriage uncouples

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Tuesday

On Lohan! On Ferrell! On Food Network hosts! It's Christmas movie time

Lindsay Lohan and Chord Overstreet star in Netflix's Falling for Christmas. Scott Everett White/Netflix hide caption

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Scott Everett White/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

On Lohan! On Ferrell! On Food Network hosts! It's Christmas movie time

It's that time of year again, when many cable outlets and streaming services put on their holiday best. That's right, it's holiday movie season, and we're diving in. From the splashy musical Spirited featuring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds to a big comeback for Lindsay Lohan, we're dipping a toe in some of the highest-profile movies of this season.

On Lohan! On Ferrell! On Food Network hosts! It's Christmas movie time

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Tuesday

'The Bear' has got the beef (and the heart)

Jeremy Allen White plays Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto in The Bear. FX hide caption

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FX

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Bear' has got the beef (and the heart)

If you've ever worked in a restaurant, you likely understand how intense it can be — it's fast-paced and you're constantly in close proximity with your colleagues. The excellent new FX on Hulu series The Bear understands this environment well. The dramedy stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, a fine dining chef who takes over his family's beloved, but troubled Italian beef sandwich shop following the death of his brother.

'The Bear' has got the beef (and the heart)

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Wednesday

Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn play Frances and Nick in Conversations with Friends. Enda Bowe/Hulu hide caption

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Enda Bowe/Hulu

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

Irish writer Sally Rooney's book Normal People was adapted into a Hulu series in 2020. Now, her first novel Conversations with Friends gets its own Hulu adaptation. It tells the story of two college friends and exes (Alison Oliver and Sasha Lane) who meet a married couple (Joe Alwyn and Jemima Kirke) and get very deeply entangled with them, which makes everything very complicated.

Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

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Friday

'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

In Pixar's Turning Red, 13-year-old Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) magically transforms into a red panda whenever she gets too excited. Pixar/Disney hide caption

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Pixar/Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

Pixar is back with another movie aiming to hit you in all the feels: Turning Red. It's about a charismatic 13-year-old girl named Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) who discovers that whenever she gets too excited about anything, she now turns into a giant red panda. Directed by Domee Shi, the film features the voice talent of Sandra Oh, as well as some fun nods to the early 2000s boy band era. The film is streaming on Disney+.

'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

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Tuesday

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller in Somebody Somewhere. HBO hide caption

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HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

The funny, tender-hearted HBO series Somebody Somewhere is a semi-autobiographical story starring comedian and cabaret performer Bridget Everett. She plays a woman who long ago gave up on her dream of being a singer and moved back to her hometown in Kansas to care for her beloved sister. After her sister dies, she reconnects with a high school classmate (Jeff Hiller) who urges her to sing again. (Vote for the BEST best picture Oscar winners at npr.org/bestpicture)

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

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Monday

'Drive My Car' is more than worth the travel time

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Toko Miura star in Drive My Car. Janus Films hide caption

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Janus Films

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Drive My Car' is more than worth the travel time

The moody, introspective film Drive My Car is one of the best-reviewed films of the last year. It's about a widowed theater director who grows closer to the young woman hired to drive him to and from rehearsals. Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film has already racked up a number of critics awards, and it's Japan's entry for this year's best international feature Oscar.

'Drive My Car' is more than worth the travel time

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Thursday

The ins and out of Peloton culture

Peloton is a fitness and media company that makes stationary bikes, treadmills and workout videos. Peloton hide caption

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Peloton

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The ins and out of Peloton culture

What do Dancing With The Stars, the Sex and the City spinoff, and one of the most viral ads of 2019 have in common? They represent some of the many pop culture touchpoints of the ubiquitous fitness brand Peloton. We talk about the Peloton universe, including it's star-making stable of instructors complicated relationship with the wellness industry.

The ins and out of Peloton culture

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Wednesday

Three Great Nonfiction Audiobooks
Angela Hsieh/NPR

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three Great Nonfiction Audiobooks

Sometimes you want someone to tell you a story. Sometimes, you want it to be a true story. Today, we're bringing you three nonfiction audiobook recommendations, from memoirs to deep histories of special places.

Three Great Nonfiction Audiobooks

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Wednesday

We Pack Our Knives And Go Deep On 'Top Chef'

Judges Melissa King, Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons in Season 18 of Top Chef. David Moir/Bravo hide caption

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David Moir/Bravo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We Pack Our Knives And Go Deep On 'Top Chef'

Eighteen seasons of Top Chef, and we still get a thrill every time we hear "hands up, utensils down." The show has traveled to classic food cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, but this season, Top Chef filmed within a COVID-19 bubble in Portland, Oregon. Controversial winners, heartbreaking losses, food that looks good enough to eat and the foolishness of even attempting risotto — they've all been backbones of the Top Chef franchise over its many, many years.

We Pack Our Knives And Go Deep On 'Top Chef'

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Tuesday

How Poet Maggie Smith 'Tried On' Hope To Keep Moving Forward
Marley Allen-Ash for NPR

Life Kit

How Poet Maggie Smith 'Tried On' Hope To Keep Moving Forward

In her most recent book, poet Maggie Smith compiled notes to self, and says that writing them was her way of 'trying on' hope.

How Poet Maggie Smith 'Tried On' Hope To Keep Moving Forward

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Tuesday

How to process grief during the holidays, according to poet Tracy K. Smith
Hokyoung Kim for NPR

Life Kit

How to process grief during the holidays, according to poet Tracy K. Smith

As we inch toward the holidays, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith shares how she's processing grief, a subject at the center of much of her work.

How to process grief during the holidays, according to poet Tracy K. Smith

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Wednesday

Checking In With HGTV And Home Makeover Shows

Drew and Jonathan Scott are the hosts The Property Brothers and a number of spinoffs, including Brother vs. Brother. Paul Ladd/Discovery/AP hide caption

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Paul Ladd/Discovery/AP

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Checking In With HGTV And Home Makeover Shows

Whether you live in a big house or a tiny apartment, on a beach or in a bustling city, television is full of opportunities for you to ruminate on your living space. And nowhere is that impulse more prevalent than on HGTV. One of basic cable's most basic networks, HGTV has been handing out advice and house-envy for a long time. We're revisiting our discussion of HGTV and home makeover shows.

Checking In With HGTV And Home Makeover Shows

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Tuesday

2020 Election Day Distractions

Ellen Pompeo, as Meredith Grey, in a season 16 episode of Grey's Anatomy. Kelsey McNeal/ABC hide caption

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Kelsey McNeal/ABC

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2020 Election Day Distractions

Election Day is stressful. It's full of news that might or might not mean anything. The stakes are high, and the consequences are serious. And whatever you do from that point forward, first, you have to get through today. So we want to offer you some ideas for things you can use purely to manage Election Day itself. To stay away from the incremental updates and the high anxiety until you actually know what's happened. Which might take a while.

2020 Election Day Distractions

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Friday

'Taste The Nation': Padma Lakshmi Explores The American Palate

In the Hulu series, Taste the Nation, Padma Lakshmi showcases the different immigrant and indigenous communities that contributed to American cuisine. Dominic Valente/Hulu hide caption

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Dominic Valente/Hulu

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Taste The Nation': Padma Lakshmi Explores The American Palate

Food media has become one of the many arenas in which debates about inclusivity and justice have taken center stage in recent months. And now, into this troubled world comes Taste The Nation. Hosted by Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi, the marvelous Hulu series visits immigrant and indigenous communities around the United States to explore food. Taste The Nation puts everything from chop suey to pad Thai in cultural, political and culinary contexts, with Lakshmi as your hungry, curious guide.

'Taste The Nation': Padma Lakshmi Explores The American Palate

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Wednesday

'The King Of Staten Island': Outer Borough, Inner Mess

Marisa Tomei and Pete Davidson star in the latest Judd Apatow film, The King of Staten Island. Mary Cybulski/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Mary Cybulski/Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The King Of Staten Island': Outer Borough, Inner Mess

In The King Of Staten Island, comedian Pete Davidson plays a wayward stoner whose life isn't going anywhere. He still lives with his mom, he doesn't have a job, and his plans for his life involve a vague — and foolish — plan to open "a tattoo restaurant." The film is directed by Judd Apatow, who also made Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Trainwreck. Apatow's movies often involve a protagonist who faces some sort of need to grow up, and The King Of Staten Island may feature the biggest reclamation project yet: Davidson's character barely functions as an adult, and through much of the film, we see a manchild with a lot of growing up to do.

'The King Of Staten Island': Outer Borough, Inner Mess

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Wednesday

Seamless, Or Only Sew-Sew?: Checking In With 'Project Runway'

Project Runway mentor Christian Siriano addresses the contestants in the workroom. Barbara Nitke/Bravo hide caption

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Barbara Nitke/Bravo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Seamless, Or Only Sew-Sew?: Checking In With 'Project Runway'

When Project Runway launched in 2004, competitive reality shows were in their infancy. Now, they're in their mature pantsuit years, but the series, now in its 18th season, rolls on. The show moved from Bravo to Lifetime, and last season it returned to Bravo with a new cast. Host Heidi Klum and mentor Tim Gunn have been replaced by Karlie Kloss and season 4 winner Christian Siriano. But the sewing machines continue to buzz, and it's still hard to make a dress in a day.

Seamless, Or Only Sew-Sew?: Checking In With 'Project Runway'

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Wednesday

Revisiting 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor star in the Netflix adaptation of the young adult novel To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Revisiting 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'

In 2018, Netflix had a big hit with its adaptation of Jenny Han's YA novel To All The Boys I've Loved Before, a high-school rom-com with a big heart. Stars Lana Condor and Noah Centineo are now back in the sequel To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Before you check that one out, we wanted to revisit our conversation about the first film. (This episode originally aired on September 5, 2018.)

Revisiting 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'

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Wednesday

'Unbelievable' Is A Searing Drama About Violence And Justice

Merritt Wever and Toni Collette play two detectives investigating a series of sexual assaults. Beth Dubber/Netflix hide caption

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Beth Dubber/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Unbelievable' Is A Searing Drama About Violence And Justice

The Netflix series Unbelievable brings together a group of actresses including Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Dale Dickey and Danielle MacDonald. It's based on a true story about a young woman named Marie who was sexually assaulted and pressured by the police into recanting her story. Based on reporting from ProPublica and the Marshall Project, the series follows Marie, but also the two detectives who, much later, gave her case a chance to be solved.

'Unbelievable' Is A Searing Drama About Violence And Justice

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Friday

In 'The Farewell', Awkwafina Grapples With A Family Secret

In The Farewell, Billi (Awkwafina) and her father Haiyan (Tzi Ma) return to China to visit Billi's sick grandmother. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'The Farewell', Awkwafina Grapples With A Family Secret

In The Farewell, Akwafina plays Billi, a young woman whose beloved grandmother back in China is diagnosed with lung cancer. The family decides not to tell the grandmother that she's got only months to live — a decision that Billi strongly disagrees with. The Farewell was written and directed by Lulu Wang based on a piece she did on This American Life.

In 'The Farewell', Awkwafina Grapples With A Family Secret

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Wednesday

'Tidying Up With Marie Kondo' Is A Spark Of Joy

Netflix's Tidying Up With Marie Kondo is a different kind of cleaning show — one that prioritizes self-care. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Tidying Up With Marie Kondo' Is A Spark Of Joy

If you've noticed your friends have been a little more "tidy" than usual, or your thrift store a bit better stocked, it might be because of Netflix. The streaming series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo has spurred an organizational renaissance. Or at least a conversation about one.

'Tidying Up With Marie Kondo' Is A Spark Of Joy

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