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Eric Deggans Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic.
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Eric Deggans

'Black Mirror' Is Back, Reflecting Our Technological Fears

In the new season of Black Mirror, Bryce Dallas Howard plays a young woman in a future just a little ahead of our own, where everyone uses a smartphone to rate the people they encounter. David Dettmann/Netflix hide caption

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David Dettmann/Netflix

Television

'Black Mirror' Is Back, Reflecting Our Technological Fears

The Peabody Award-winning series returns for a third season, with six new episodes picking apart our fear of — and dependence on — technology. And it's more consistently compelling than ever.

'Black Mirror' Is Back, Reflecting Our Technological Fears

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Issa Rae Turns Basic Into Revolutionary With 'Insecure'

In Insecure, Issa Rae plays a character who's just an everyday woman — not a high-powered lawyer or music executive. Anne Marie Fox/HBO hide caption

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Anne Marie Fox/HBO

Television

Issa Rae Turns Basic Into Revolutionary With 'Insecure'

Rae's new HBO show is the first premium cable scripted series created by and starring a black woman. She plays an ordinary, sometimes-awkward character, not a high-powered lawyer or music executive.

Issa Rae Turns Basic Into Revolutionary With 'Insecure'

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'SNL' Season Premiere Shows What's Right — And Wrong — With Its Political Humor

Saturday Night Live has returned for its new season. Politics took center stage in the show, which included Alec Baldwin's debut as Donald Trump.

'SNL' Season Premiere Shows What's Right — And Wrong — With Its Political Humor

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Television

Review: HBO Hopes To Fill Sunday Spotlight With 'Westworld' Series

HBO needs to find a big-ticket drama to fill out a Sunday evening time slot. They're hoping "Westworld," an elaborate sci-fi drama set in a Western-themed amusement park, will be a hit.

Review: HBO Hopes To Fill Sunday Spotlight With 'Westworld' Series

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Television

Woody Allen Presents First TV Series, 'Crisis In Six Scenes,' On Amazon

Woody Allen's first foray into television, Crisis in Six Scenes, debuts on Amazon Friday. The series is a six-part comedy set in the 1960s with a cast that includes Miley Cyrus.

Woody Allen Presents First TV Series, 'Crisis In Six Scenes,' On Amazon

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Hip-Hop And Superheroes Inspire 'Luke Cage' Showrunner Cheo Coker

Showrunner Cheo Coker on the set of Marvel's hotly anticipated new series Luke Cage. Myles Aronowitz/Netflix hide caption

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Myles Aronowitz/Netflix

Television

Hip-Hop And Superheroes Inspire 'Luke Cage' Showrunner Cheo Coker

Cheo Coker was a well-respected journalist chronicling hip-hop and pop before he moved to film and TV. His latest gig is as showrunner on Marvel's highly anticipated black superhero series, Luke Cage.

Hip-Hop And Superheroes Inspire 'Luke Cage' Showrunner Cheo Coker

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Juggernauts Repeat At 2016 Emmys, But Fresh Faces Get Their Due
Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Juggernauts Repeat At 2016 Emmys, But Fresh Faces Get Their Due

Game of Thrones, Veep and The People v. O.J. Simpson won for best drama, comedy and limited series — but some new names made splashes, too. NPR's pop culture crew live-tweeted the night's festivities.

Juggernauts Repeat At 2016 Emmys, But Fresh Faces Get Their Due

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Sports

NFL Live Streams Thursday Night Football On Twitter

The NFL's Thursday night game streamed on Twitter's platforms on a variety of devices this week. Over 800 million Twitter users worldwide had free, live access to the game.

NFL Live Streams Thursday Night Football On Twitter

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Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

George Takei predicted Star Trek would be too sophisticated to last — but he says he's happy to have been proved wrong. The Kobal Collection/Paramount Television hide caption

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The Kobal Collection/Paramount Television

Television

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

Star Trek debuted on TV in 1966, and Starship Enterprise is still seeking strange new worlds. Co-star George Takei credits creator Gene Roddenberry's inclusive vision for Trek's enduring popularity.

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

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Television

'Atlanta,' 'Queen Sugar,' Bring Modern Black Culture To TV

A new comedy by Community alum, Donald Glover, called Atlanta premieres on FX on Tuesday night. And over on Oprah's network, OWN, Queen Sugar premieres. Both shows reflect the push toward diversity in prestige cable television, with creators, stars and subject matter focused on black people.

'Atlanta,' 'Queen Sugar,' Bring Modern Black Culture To TV

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First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

Actress Constance Zimmer attends the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on on January 17, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Mike Windle/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Windle/Getty Images

Television

First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

Cuba Gooding Jr., Rami Malek and Constance Zimmer all have one thing in common: this year is the first time each has been nominated for an Emmy. Their nominations hint at deeper changes in television.

First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

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NBC Declares Rio A 'Media' Success, Though TV Ratings Were Down

NBC's Bob Costas interviews the gold-medal winning U.S. gymnastics team in Rio on Aug. 9: Madison Kocian (from left), Laurie Hernandez, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles. NBC broadcast more than 6,000 hours from the games on various platforms, but TV ratings were down from the 2012 London Games. NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images hide caption

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NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

The Torch

NBC Declares Rio A 'Media' Success, Though TV Ratings Were Down

NBC broadcast more than 6,000 hours from the Summer Olympics on various platforms and hailed it as a big triumph, even though TV ratings dropped off substantially from London in 2012.

NBC Declares Rio A 'Media' Success, Though TV Ratings Were Down

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The New Middle

Modern Television Portrays Complex View Of The Middle Class

As part of the All Things Considered series, "The New Middle," we take a look at how the middle class has been portrayed on television.

Modern Television Portrays Complex View Of The Middle Class

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