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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

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, listening and reading

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Eric Zachanowich/Searchlight Pictures

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, listening and reading

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: The Menu, dancer Kim Hale, "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet, Drink Masters and more.

Our 2023 Pop Culture Resolutions
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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2023 Pop Culture Resolutions

A lot of people make resolutions in January, and we are no different. Today, we put our stakes in the ground and make our 2023 pop culture resolutions. We also check in on what we resolved to do in 2022, and whether we did it perfectly, imperfectly, or perhaps not at all.

Our 2023 Pop Culture Resolutions

Listen · 25:59
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Thursday

Our 2023 Pop Culture Predictions

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2023 Pop Culture Predictions

It's that time of year again, time for hopes and fears and accountability. What's to come in the new year? We can only guess, and guess we will! Plus, we'll look back at what we thought was coming on the pop culture front in 2022 and we'll see how things turned out.

Our 2023 Pop Culture Predictions

Listen · 23:09
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Tuesday

We Spoil 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We Spoil 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'

There are many secrets at the heart of the comedy mystery Glass Onion, just as there were in its predecessor Knives Out. Who lives, who dies, whodunit, and what's the truth behind the glamorous glass onion itself? Rian Johnson's latest film to feature detective Benoit Blanc is now on Netflix, and we're ready to get into the nitty-gritty and spoil the heck out of Glass Onion.

We Spoil 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'

Listen · 20:17
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Friday

'Babylon' struggles to capture the magic of the movies

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Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Babylon' struggles to capture the magic of the movies

The new film Babylon is all about silent-era Old Hollywood, new technology, the intoxication of being famous, and whether love can really conquer all. Babylon is the latest from writer-director Damien Chazelle, the sometimes divisive creator of La La Land. Here, he doubles down on his nostalgia for cinema with Diego Calva and Margot Robbie leading this expansive production.

'Babylon' struggles to capture the magic of the movies

Listen · 25:40
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Wednesday

Tuesday

Poll Results: Listeners Pick the Best Albums of 2022
Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

Poll Results: Listeners Pick the Best Albums of 2022

Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson gather in a studio for the first time in nearly 3 years to count down NPR Music listeners' top 10 albums of 2022.

Poll Results: Listeners Pick the Best Albums of 2022

Listen · 53:03
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Monday

Hanukkah's outsized place in pop culture
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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Hanukkah's outsized place in pop culture

Right now, families across the world are celebrating Hanukkah, so we thought it would be a good time to revisit our conversation all about the Jewish holiday. In this encore episode, we get into why Hanukkah is not Jewish Christmas, and how the minor holiday has an outsized place in pop culture.

Hanukkah's outsized place in pop culture

Listen · 23:55
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Friday

'Avatar: The Way Of Water' is a feast for the senses

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Avatar: The Way Of Water' is a feast for the senses

James Cameron's science-fiction epic Avatar is the highest-grossing movie of all time. But it took 13 years to get a sequel into theaters. Avatar: The Way of Water continues Jake Sully and Neytiri's journey: complete with their children, a new Na'vi tribe and a familiar enemy to confront.

'Avatar: The Way Of Water' is a feast for the senses

Listen · 22:05
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Thursday

On 'SOS,' SZA both surprises and delivers exactly what we've been waiting for

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Daniel Sannwald/TDE/RCA Records

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

On 'SOS,' SZA both surprises and delivers exactly what we've been waiting for

It's been five years since the artist SZA released her debut album Ctrl. Her new album SOS is home to 23 tracks that seamlessly blends pop, R&B, hip-hop, and dips into rock and pop-punk along the way. It features appearances by Travis Scott, Phoebe Bridgers, Don Toliver, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.

On 'SOS,' SZA both surprises and delivers exactly what we've been waiting for

Listen · 17:59
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Wednesday

Our 12 favorite moments of 2022

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Scott Everett White/ABC

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 12 favorite moments of 2022

It's tradition here at Pop Culture Happy Hour to look back on some of our favorite things from the last 12 months of television, movies and music. Today, we're revisiting the pop culture we saw, heard and loved all year.

Our 12 favorite moments of 2022

Listen · 36:17
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Thursday

Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff live at NPR Music's 15th anniversary concert

NPR Music celebrates 15 years with Yendry, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Amber Mark, and Moonchild at 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on November 29, 2022. (Eric Lee for NPR) Eric Lee/Eric Lee for NPR hide caption

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Eric Lee/Eric Lee for NPR

NPR Music Celebrates 15 Years

Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff live at NPR Music's 15th anniversary concert

Hurray for the Riff Raff performed songs of survival, community and rediscovery from the album LIFE ON EARTH at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., as part of NPR Music's 15th anniversary celebration.

Monday