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Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.
Washington, DC - May 03, 2016: Stephen Thompson CREDIT: Matt Roth
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Stephen Thompson

Wednesday

A Couple Fights Fire With Fire In 'Wildlife'

Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) and Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) battle against the demands of 1960's domestic society in Wildlife. Scott Garfield/IFC Films hide caption

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Scott Garfield/IFC Films

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A Couple Fights Fire With Fire In 'Wildlife'

Wildlife, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, tells the story of a marriage in crisis in 1960's Montana. Based on a novel by Richard Ford and directed by actor Paul Dano, it's told from the point of view of a young teenager watching his family fall to pieces.

A Couple Fights Fire With Fire In 'Wildlife'

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Friday

New Music Friday For Oct. 26: The 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

Nao's sophomore full-length Saturn is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Oct. 26. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday For Oct. 26: The 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

This week's batch of essential new albums includes Robyn's melancholy return to the dance floor, rock-and-roll madness from Ty Segall, the otherworldly voice of R&B singer NAO and more.

New Music Friday For Oct. 26: The 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

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Carell And Chalamet Shine In 'Beautiful Boy'

Two of the most talented actors around — Timothée Chalemet and Steve Carell — lend Beautiful Boy its emotional backbone. Francois Duhamel/Amazon Studios hide caption

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Francois Duhamel/Amazon Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Carell And Chalamet Shine In 'Beautiful Boy'

Beautiful Boy is a story of addiction starring two Oscar-nominated actors. Timothée Chalamet plays Nic Sheff, who's addicted to crystal meth. Steve Carell plays David Sheff, his journalist father who's struggling to help him get well.

Carell And Chalamet Shine In 'Beautiful Boy'

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Thursday

Hear Chris Cornell's Wrenching Cover Of 'Nothing Compares 2 U'

Chris Cornell's cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U," recorded live at SiriusXM in 2015, appears on an upcoming, career-spanning compilation of the late singer's work. Jason Merritt/TERM/Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Merritt/TERM/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

Hear Chris Cornell's Wrenching Cover Of 'Nothing Compares 2 U'

Cornell's performance of Prince's classic ballad, recorded live at SiriusXM in 2015, appears on an upcoming, career-spanning compilation of the late singer's work.

Wednesday

Does The New 'Halloween' Impale In Comparison?

Nick Castle returns to play the role of Michael Myers in the latest Halloween reboot. Ryan Green/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Ryan Green/Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Does The New 'Halloween' Impale In Comparison?

It's been forty years since the release of the classic horror film, Halloween. Since then, the franchise has wandered through its own house of horrors in the form of sequels and reboots. The newest Halloween throws all of those additions out, and assumes that only the 1978 original ever happened.

Does The New 'Halloween' Impale In Comparison?

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Monday

20 Years Of Cher's 'Believe' And Its Auto-Tune Legacy

Cher's dance anthem "Believe" was released 20 years ago this month. Rick Stewart/Getty hide caption

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Rick Stewart/Getty

Music Features

20 Years Of Cher's 'Believe' And Its Auto-Tune Legacy

Cher's 1998 hit "Believe" turns 20 this year. There's a long history of artists using vocal modifications, but this song brings the Auto-Tune front and center.

20 Years Of Cher's 'Believe' And Its Auto-Tune Legacy

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Friday

We Go To First Base With 'Big Mouth'

Netflix's animated series Big Mouth returns for a second season. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We Go To First Base With 'Big Mouth'

If you've been longing for a cartoon that covers the really important questions — like how to manage lust, and how to avoid your embarrassing parents — you are in luck. Big Mouth, Netflix's animated comedy series about the horrors of puberty, is back for a second season.

We Go To First Base With 'Big Mouth'

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Thursday

Wednesday

Venom: Oh It's Gooey, But Is It Good?

Tom Hardy stars in Venom, one of the weirder and more unruly superhero movies in recent memory. Sony hide caption

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Sony

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Venom: Oh It's Gooey, But Is It Good?

In Venom, Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist who's trying to rebound from a major setback in his career. But Eddie's plans are halted when he's overtaken by a violent — and gooey — alien symbiote.

Venom: Oh It's Gooey, But Is It Good?

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Friday

To The Moon and Back With Ryan Gosling In 'First Man'

Ryan Gosling is Neil Armstrong in Damien Chazelle's First Man. Daniel McFadden/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Daniel McFadden/Universal Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

To The Moon and Back With Ryan Gosling In 'First Man'

First Man tells the story of Neil Armstrong's life in the decade leading up to his walk on the moon. Ryan Gosling stars as Armstrong, and it's directed by Damien Chazelle. It's the second time they're teaming up after the huge commercial and critical success of La La Land.

To The Moon and Back With Ryan Gosling In 'First Man'

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Wednesday

Activism And Identity Meet In 'The Hate U Give'

Amandla Stenberg steals the show as Starr Carter in the The Hate U Give. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Activism And Identity Meet In 'The Hate U Give'

The Hate U Give finds teenager Starr Carter caught between two worlds — her mostly black neighborhood and a white prep school. When her friend Khalil is killed by a police officer, she's forced to reconcile these two very different parts of her identity. We're joined by Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings, hosts of The Nod podcast.

Activism And Identity Meet In 'The Hate U Give'

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Friday

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

Cat Power's Wanderer is on our shortlist of essential releases for Oct. 5. Julien Bourgeois hide caption

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Julien Bourgeois

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

Explore the versatile country of Eric Church, the spiky pop-rock of Swearin', the rugged metal of High on Fire and other albums due out this week.

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

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We're Off The Deep End And Into 'A Star Is Born'

In the latest retelling of the Hollywood classic, Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) and Ally (Lady Gaga) are the stars to be born. Warner Bros. hide caption

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Warner Bros.

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We're Off The Deep End And Into 'A Star Is Born'

Lady Gaga stars opposite Bradley Cooper in the latest retelling of A Star Is Born. It's also Cooper's directing debut, with a cast that includes Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, and Dave Chappelle. We're joined by Ari Shapiro to break down the singing, the glamour, the tears, and the wonder of Sam Elliott's voice.

We're Off The Deep End And Into 'A Star Is Born'

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Thursday