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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

Monday

'Belfast' views The Troubles through a child's eyes

Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in a scene from Kenneth Branagh's Belfast. Rob Youngson/Focus Features hide caption

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Rob Youngson/Focus Features

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Belfast' views The Troubles through a child's eyes

Belfast is nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture and best director for Kenneth Branagh. The film is loosely based on Branagh's own childhood as he came of age during The Troubles in 1969 and 1970. Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds are up for best supporting actress and best supporting actor, respectively, and it's also nominated for best sound and best original song for Van Morrison's "Down To Joy".

'Belfast' views The Troubles through a child's eyes

Listen · 16:26
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Friday

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on Feb. 25

Robert Glasper's Black Radio III top's our shortlist for the best new albums out this week. Mancy Gant/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mancy Gant/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on Feb. 25

Robert Glasper returns this week with Black Radio III, the latest in his ongoing fusion of jazz, rap, hip-hop and R&B. Other notable albums this week include new ones from SASMI, EARTHGANG and more.

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on Feb. 25

Listen · 29:41
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Wednesday

Unlocking the sensory overload of 'Euphoria'

Zendaya and Hunter Schafer star as Rue and Jules in HBO's Euphoria. Eddy Chen/HBO hide caption

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Eddy Chen/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Unlocking the sensory overload of 'Euphoria'

The HBO drama Euphoria depicts a world in which modern teenagers navigate a minefield of traumas. We see heavy drug use, illicit sex, destructive technology, damaged parents, physical violence, and so much more. The series stars Zendaya as Rue, whose drug addiction threatens both her life and the stability of those around her.

Unlocking the sensory overload of 'Euphoria'

Listen · 19:52
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Monday

'Love Is Blind' remains a mind-blowing experiment

Pods are all the rage in Netflix's dating show Love Is Blind, which returns for a second season. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Love Is Blind' remains a mind-blowing experiment

In Netflix's dating show Love Is Blind, couples sit in separate cells that they call pods, where they can hear each other but not see each other. And once they've had a conversation or two, if they're getting along, they get engaged. And only then do they meet. The second season is now airing on Netflix and in this encore episode, we're revisiting our baffling fascination with the dating show.

'Love Is Blind' remains a mind-blowing experiment

Listen · 16:25
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Friday

We chop it up about 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

Leatherface returns in Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Yana Blajeva/Legendary/Netflix hide caption

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Yana Blajeva/Legendary/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We chop it up about 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

In Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, online influencers descend on the mostly abandoned town of Harlow, Texas, only to be slaughtered by the man known as Leatherface. Directed by David Blue Garcia, the film is the ninth installment in the long-running horror franchise that started in 1974. The movie stars Sarah Yarkin and Elsie Fisher, and it also brings back the character of Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré) the lone survivor of Leatherface's first rampage.

We chop it up about 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

Listen · 22:59
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Tuesday

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller in Somebody Somewhere. HBO hide caption

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HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

The funny, tender-hearted HBO series Somebody Somewhere is a semi-autobiographical story starring comedian and cabaret performer Bridget Everett. She plays a woman who long ago gave up on her dream of being a singer and moved back to her hometown in Kansas to care for her beloved sister. After her sister dies, she reconnects with a high school classmate (Jeff Hiller) who urges her to sing again. (Vote for the BEST best picture Oscar winners at npr.org/bestpicture)

'Somebody Somewhere' is low-key, and low-key wonderful

Listen · 15:10
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Monday

We recap the 2022 Super Bowl

Snoop Dogg was one of the performers featured at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We recap the 2022 Super Bowl

The 2022 Super Bowl resulted in Los Angeles Rams coming from behind to win over the Cincinnati Bengals. There was also the halftime show, which showcased some of the biggest stars in the history of hip-hop and R&B: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. And, of course, there were nostalgia-packed commercials for cars and crypto. (Vote for the BEST best picture Oscar winners at npr.org/bestpicture)

We recap the 2022 Super Bowl

Listen · 15:05
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Friday

What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend watching and listening

Cassandra Ciangherotti, Bernardo Velasco, Julio Torres, and Ana Fabrega star in the HBO series Los Espookys. Jennifer Clasen/HBO hide caption

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Jennifer Clasen/HBO

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

What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend watching and listening

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Jackass Forever, StraightioLab podcast, and True Blood.

In 'Marry Me,' Jennifer Lopez feeds you a slice of Valentine's Day comfort food

Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in Marry Me. Barry Wetcher/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Barry Wetcher/Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Marry Me,' Jennifer Lopez feeds you a slice of Valentine's Day comfort food

In the romantic comedy Marry Me, Jennifer Lopez plays as a pop star who is set to marry a singer played Maluma. The wedding is supposed to take place on stage as part of an elaborate publicity stunt, but she learns her fiancé has been cheating on her. Devastated, she decides to marry a man in the crowd, who is played by Owen Wilson. You can find it in theaters or streaming on Peacock. Vote for the BEST best picture Oscar winners at npr.org/bestpicture

In 'Marry Me,' Jennifer Lopez feeds you a slice of Valentine's Day comfort food

Listen · 18:59
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Tuesday

We break down the 2022 Oscar Nominations

The Power of the Dog director Jane Campion and actor Benedict Cumberbatch are both nominated for Academy Awards this year. Kirsty Griffin/Netflix hide caption

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Kirsty Griffin/Netflix

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We break down the 2022 Oscar Nominations

This year's Oscar nominations were announced today, and it's a big year for The Power of the Dog, Dune, West Side Story, Drive My Car, and more. We've got an overview of the nominees in the major categories, plus some surprises and snubs. Vote for the BEST best picture Oscar winners at npr.org/bestpicture

We break down the 2022 Oscar Nominations

Listen · 11:31
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Monday

Friday

Our first pop culture crushes

Kel Mitchell of Nickelodeon's Kenan & Kel, pictured in 2019, remains one of our first pop culture crushes. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon hide caption

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Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our first pop culture crushes

If you've ever posted a celebrity's picture inside a locker, used a photo of them as your lock screen, or followed every moment of someone's career, you know all about pop culture crushes. There are the ones you're proud of, the ones you're less proud of, and the ones that never quite go away. Today, we're sharing some of our earliest crushes and how they informed our later adorations along the way.

Our first pop culture crushes

Listen · 24:34
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Thursday

The 'Janet Jackson' doc leaves us with more questions than answers

Janet Jackson in the new documentary from Lifetime and A&E. A&E/Lifetime hide caption

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A&E/Lifetime

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The 'Janet Jackson' doc leaves us with more questions than answers

Janet Jackson. is a four-part TV documentary from Lifetime and A&E that shows how the pop star became one of the biggest and most influential artists of the last four decades. With new interviews and never-before-seen footage, the series also documents many of her personal struggles and controversies, including the infamous wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl.

The 'Janet Jackson' doc leaves us with more questions than answers

Listen · 18:32
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Wednesday

Jennifer Lopez still shines in 'Hustlers'

Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez star in the film Hustlers. STX films hide caption

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STX films

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Jennifer Lopez still shines in 'Hustlers'

One of our favorite movies of the last few years is now streaming on Hulu. Hustlers is based on the true story of a group of women who danced at a strip club together and later drugged and scammed some of their wealthy Wall Street customers. Directed by Lorene Scafaria, the film stars Jennifer Lopez as their ringleader Ramona, Constance Wu as her protégé Destiny — and also features Cardi B and Lizzo. In this encore episode, we're revisiting our conversation about Hustlers.

Jennifer Lopez still shines in 'Hustlers'

Listen · 17:33
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