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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

Friday

'Ralph Breaks the Internet': Real Great Or Clickbait?

Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (voiced by Sarah Silverman) take their friendship to the great expanse of the internet in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Ralph Breaks the Internet': Real Great Or Clickbait?

Wreck It Ralph was a hit when it came out in 2012. Ralph Breaks the Internet picks up where that film left off, and is even more ambitious than its predecessor. This time, Ralph travels to the Internet — which gives the movie a lot of material to work with.

'Ralph Breaks the Internet': Real Great Or Clickbait?

Listen · 25:14
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Monday

Friday

'Widows' Is Not Your Everyday Heist Flick

Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo star in Widows, Steve McQueen's surprising new genre film. Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox hide caption

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Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Widows' Is Not Your Everyday Heist Flick

Widows is not your average heist movie — director Steve McQueen and co-screenwriter Gillian Fylnn have created something far more interesting. The film also has a star-studded cast that includes Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya, Michelle Rodriguez, Brian Tyree Henry, and Liam Neeson.

'Widows' Is Not Your Everyday Heist Flick

Listen · 25:27
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Wednesday

Die Hard: Welcome To The Podcast, Pal

We will never get tired of Bruce Willis' performance as John McClaine in Die Hard. Getty hide caption

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Getty

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Die Hard: Welcome To The Podcast, Pal

Die Hard turned 30 this year. So as the season of Season's Greetings approaches, it's time for the Pop Culture Happy Hour conversation we've always been dying to have.

Die Hard: Welcome To The Podcast, Pal

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Friday

We Talk About Julia Roberts in 'Homecoming'

Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, directs every episode of the new Amazon thriller Homecoming. Amazon hide caption

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Amazon

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We Talk About Julia Roberts in 'Homecoming'

In the Amazon thriller Homecoming, Julia Roberts plays a caseworker at a facility that helps soldiers re-adjust to civilian life. Or at least that's what she thinks it does. But calls from a mysterious boss and sessions with a young soldier make her question everything.

We Talk About Julia Roberts in 'Homecoming'

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Wednesday

Monday

Remembering Stan Lee

Pop Culture Happy Hour remembers writer and comic book icon Stan Lee. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for IMDB hide caption

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Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for IMDB

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Remembering Stan Lee

Stan Lee helped create some of the most indelible comic book characters in American popular culture, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and Black Panther. He died Monday. He was 95.

Remembering Stan Lee

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Friday

Tyler, The Creator And Sufjan Stevens Record New Holiday Songs — Just Not Together

Left to right: The Grinch, Sufjan Stevens. Illumination Pictures (The Grinch); Denny Renshaw (Sufjan Stevens) hide caption

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Illumination Pictures (The Grinch); Denny Renshaw (Sufjan Stevens)

All Songs Considered

Tyler, The Creator And Sufjan Stevens Record New Holiday Songs — Just Not Together

Sufjan Stevens has dropped the wistful "Lonely Man of Winter." Tyler, The Creator just released "I Am the Grinch." You probably shouldn't listen to them simultaneously.

Late Night Beyond the Jimmys: 'Patriot Act' and 'Busy Tonight'

Hasan Minhaj brings the energy from his stand-up shows to the new Netflix series Patriot Act. Cara Howe/Netflix hide caption

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Cara Howe/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Late Night Beyond the Jimmys: 'Patriot Act' and 'Busy Tonight'

There are a bunch of new shows to pay attention to this season, and today we're talking about two of our favorite talk entries — Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj and Busy Tonight.

Late Night Beyond the Jimmys: 'Patriot Act' and 'Busy Tonight'

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Wednesday

'Nobody's Fool': Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, And Learning To Love A Man With Abs

Tiffany Haddish is the standout of Tyler Perry's Nobody's Fool. Chip Bergmann/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Chip Bergmann/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Nobody's Fool': Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, And Learning To Love A Man With Abs

Nobody's Fool is a Tyler Perry movie, but maybe more important at the moment, it's a Tiffany Haddish movie. Haddish plays Tanya, who fears her sister is being catfished in an online relationship.

'Nobody's Fool': Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, And Learning To Love A Man With Abs

Listen · 17:16
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Monday

Thursday

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'

Listen · 15:30
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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

Listen · 24:55
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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'

Listen · 24:48
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