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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

Thursday

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston play Cinderella and her fairy godmother in Disney's beloved production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Courtesy of Walt Disney/Storyline/Citadel/Kobal/Shutterstock hide caption

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Courtesy of Walt Disney/Storyline/Citadel/Kobal/Shutterstock

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

There are many versions of Cinderella, but few are as beloved as Disney's production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, starring Brandy as the titular character and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother.

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

Listen · 17:27
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Friday

'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

Frances McDormand stars as Fern in Nomadland. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

The new film Nomadland is about a woman named Fern who's lost her husband, her home and her entire community: a company town that collapsed when the company did. She's played by Frances McDormand, and in Chloé Zhao's film, she falls into a new community of people who live on the road, out of vans and RVs.

'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

Listen · 22:48
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Wednesday

Diving Into 'Shark Tank'

Mark Cuban fields pitches from aspiring entrepreneurs on an episode of ABC's Shark Tank. ABC hide caption

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ABC

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Diving Into 'Shark Tank'

On Shark Tank, a group of wealthy investors like Mark Cuban and "Queen of QVC" Lori Greiner listen to pitches from people who have invented something. Might be an app, might be a toy, might be a belt that can hold a beer can. Then the investors decide whether to invest in the business, and they negotiate with the entrepreneur — sometimes competing with each other to get the deal. In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about the hit ABC show.

Diving Into 'Shark Tank'

Listen · 22:52
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Friday

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Melds The Personal And Political

Daniel Kaluuya portrays Fred Hampton in new film Judas And The Black Messiah. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Inc. hide caption

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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Inc.

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Melds The Personal And Political

Fred Hampton, the charismatic chairman of the Black Panther Party's Illinois chapter, was just 21 years old when he was killed during a police raid in 1969. In Judas And The Black Messiah, he's given the cinematic treatment via a stirring performance by Daniel Kaluuya. The new film directed by Shaka King focuses on Hampton's activism and how it made him the target of the federal government. The Judas in this story is the FBI informant who played a crucial role in Hampton's death: William O'Neal, portrayed deftly by LaKeith Stanfield.

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Melds The Personal And Political

Listen · 27:01
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Thursday

Taylor Swift Announces Remake Of 'Fearless,' Due In April

Taylor Swift has kept busy during quarantine with two new albums under her belt; today, the artist announces a return to her beginnings, with a new remake of her album Fearless. Beth Garrabrant/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Beth Garrabrant/Courtesy of the artist

Music News

Taylor Swift Announces Remake Of 'Fearless,' Due In April

The pop star's struggle to regain control of her master recordings has been long fought and documented. Swift continues with an announcement of the first rerecorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version).

Book Concierge: Music Book Recommendations
Becky Harlan/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Book Concierge: Music Book Recommendations

Every year, NPR brings together some of the best books in a searchable, explorable guide called the Book Concierge. It can help you find exactly the read you're looking for. Today we're talking about some of the best books for music lovers that show up in this year's guide.

Book Concierge: Music Book Recommendations

Listen · 12:32
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Wednesday

'Superstore' Is A Big Box Of Joy, Laughter And Inevitable Romance

Mark McKinney as Glenn, Lauren Ash as Dina, and America Ferrera as Amy in the sixth season of Superstore. Greg Gayne/NBC hide caption

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Greg Gayne/NBC

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Superstore' Is A Big Box Of Joy, Laughter And Inevitable Romance

For six seasons, the NBC comedy Superstore has told the story of a fictional big-box store in St. Louis. Until the last handful of episodes, the show starred America Ferrera, and found humor in serious topics like income inequality, health insurance, unionization, and corporate greed. Its final season is airing now, with storylines about COVID-19 and racial justice. Superstore is also a big, broad, goodhearted workplace comedy in the spirit of The Office, full of wacky oddballs and slow-burning romantic intrigue.

'Superstore' Is A Big Box Of Joy, Laughter And Inevitable Romance

Listen · 17:08
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Monday

2021 Super Bowl: The Game, The Halftime Show, And The Commercials

The Weeknd performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2021 Super Bowl: The Game, The Halftime Show, And The Commercials

It has been a truly bizarre NFL season, as the pandemic threatened players' health and compelled teams to play in empty or near-empty stadiums all season long. But it all ended in familiar fashion: with Tom Brady winning a Super Bowl championship, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. We couldn't have a Super Bowl party this year, but we did gather around our TVs to watch the game, the halftime show with The Weeknd, and lots of commercials. Plus, we take a moment to remember actor Christopher Plummer.

2021 Super Bowl: The Game, The Halftime Show, And The Commercials

Listen · 17:52
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Sunday

Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 10 Albums Out On Feb. 5

Hayley Williams. Her surprise new solo album, Flowers for Vases – descanos, is on our list of the best new albums out on Feb. 5. Lindsey Byrnes/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Lindsey Byrnes/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 10 Albums Out On Feb. 5

NPR Music's roundup of the week's best new albums includes a surprise solo release from Paramore's Hayley Williams, the 20th anniversary edition of J Dilla's Welcome 2 Detroit, Foo Fighters and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 10 Albums Out On Feb. 5

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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 29

Celeste. Her new album, Not Your Muse, is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Jan. 29. Elizabeth Porodina/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Elizabeth Porodina/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 29

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week include a Madlib-Four Tet collaboration, stunning debuts from Celeste and Arlo Parks, the Malian artist Nahawa Doumbia and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 29

Listen · 35:47
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Wednesday

20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson in Cameron Crowe's 2000 film Almost Famous. Neal Preston/Dreamworks Llc/Kobal/Shutterstock hide caption

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Neal Preston/Dreamworks Llc/Kobal/Shutterstock

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

The film Almost Famous recently turned 20. Writer and director Cameron Crowe looks at the ecosystem surrounding a rising rock band in the early '70s. Starring Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, and so many more, it's a coming-of-age story that touches on journalism, sex, rock and roll, parenthood, and the perils of trying to be cool.

20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

Listen · 21:10
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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 22

Willie Jones. His latest full-length, Right Now, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on Jan. 22. Gordon Clark/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Gordon Clark/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 22

NPR Music's shortlist of the best albums out on Jan. 22 includes the country hip-hop of Willie Jones, electronic artist Yu Su, Atlanta rapper BRS Kash, Rhye and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Jan. 22

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'WandaVision' Traps Its Stars In An Ever-Changing Sitcom

Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany star as Wanda Maximoff and Vision in WandaVision. Courtesy of Marvel Studios hide caption

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Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'WandaVision' Traps Its Stars In An Ever-Changing Sitcom

Disney Plus has big plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the first show to arrive from its slate of Phase Four projects is WandaVision. Wanda's got magic powers, Vision's a synthetic android and together, they're trapped in a series of simulations of comedies from decades past. However, slowly but surely, the superhero world you know and love begins to creep back in.

'WandaVision' Traps Its Stars In An Ever-Changing Sitcom

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Wednesday

'Cobra Kai' Is Eighties Nostalgia Done Right

William Zabka and Ralph Macchio star as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai's second season. Guy D'Alema/Netflix hide caption

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Guy D'Alema/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Cobra Kai' Is Eighties Nostalgia Done Right

When The Karate Kid ended with a crane kick in 1984, it seemed like it was all over. But then came sequels. Then came a remake. And now we have Cobra Kai, a surprisingly good series that catches up with the film's hero Daniel and villain Johnny many years later. In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about Cobra Kai from back in 2018 when it premiered on YouTube Red. The show just dropped its third season earlier this month Netflix.

'Cobra Kai' Is Eighties Nostalgia Done Right

Listen · 17:28
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