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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

'Top Gun: Maverick' puts Tom Cruise back in the cockpit

Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Top Gun: Maverick' puts Tom Cruise back in the cockpit

Top Gun: Maverick has earned six Oscar nominations, including best picture, adapted screenplay, and original song. The movie stars Tom Cruise, and you can catch up with it on Paramount+. We really like Top Gun: Maverick, so we thought this would be the perfect moment to revisit our conversation about the movie.

'Top Gun: Maverick' puts Tom Cruise back in the cockpit

Listen · 20:03
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Monday

We recap the 2023 Super Bowl

Rihanna performs onstage during Super Bowl LVII. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images hide caption

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We recap the 2023 Super Bowl

We recap this year's Super Bowl, including Rihanna's halftime show, the Kansas City Chiefs' win against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the most memorable commercials.

We recap the 2023 Super Bowl

Listen · 21:17
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Friday

'Magic Mike's Last Dance': I see London, I see pants

Salma Hayek Pinault and Channing Tatum star in Magic Mike's Last Dance. Warner Bros. hide caption

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Warner Bros.

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Magic Mike's Last Dance': I see London, I see pants

In the new movie Magic Mike's Last Dance, Channing Tatum returns as a dancer and male entertainer from Tampa. This time, he must put on a show bankrolled by a wealthy socialite played by Salma Hayek Pinault. The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh and is in theaters now.

'Magic Mike's Last Dance': I see London, I see pants

Listen · 27:17
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Thursday

'80 for Brady' assembles screen legends to celebrate [checks notes] Tom Brady

Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Lily Tomlin star in 80 for Brady. Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Scott Garfield/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'80 for Brady' assembles screen legends to celebrate [checks notes] Tom Brady

In the movie 80 for Brady, four best friends (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field) take a road trip to the 2017 Super Bowl so they can see their favorite quarterback Tom Brady play in person. The film stars four legends of stage and screen, one superstar quarterback and a boatload of cameos.

'80 for Brady' assembles screen legends to celebrate [checks notes] Tom Brady

Listen · 15:21
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Tuesday

Monday

Our 2023 Grammys recap

Beyoncé accepts the award for best dance/electronic music album during the Grammys. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2023 Grammys recap

Beyoncé broke a major record at this year's Grammys and has now won more awards than any other artist. But she was shut out of the major categories and lost to Harry Styles, Lizzo and Bonnie Raitt. We break down the awards and telecast, including our favorite performances.

Our 2023 Grammys recap

Listen · 24:17
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Friday

Wednesday

Movies

Has the screenlife format of the new thriller 'Missing' gone stale by now?

The new movie Missing is the latest iteration of a format called "screenlife," in which the plot develops solely through devices and screens.

Has the screenlife format of the new thriller 'Missing' gone stale by now?

Listen · 7:45
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For the Beatles-obsessed, here are 3 never-before-seen photos from 1964

"The crowds chasing us in A Hard Day's Night were based on moments like this," McCartney writes. "Taken out of the back of our car on West Fifty-Eighth, crossing the Avenue of the Americas." Paul McCartney/1964: Eyes of the Storm hide caption

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Paul McCartney/1964: Eyes of the Storm

Music News

For the Beatles-obsessed, here are 3 never-before-seen photos from 1964

When the Beatles embarked on the tour that helped launch the British Invasion in 1964, Paul McCartney had a 35mm camera on hand to help document the history-making mayhem.

Tuesday

We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

Michelle Yeoh received a best actress Oscar nomination for Everything Everywhere All At Once. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

Nominations for this year's Oscars dropped today, and it's a big year for Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Banshees Of Inisherin, and All Quiet On The Western Front. We run down the nominees in the major categories, plus talk about some surprises and snubs.

We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

Listen · 14:09
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Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

Shelley Long and Ted Danson in Cheers. Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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Alamy Stock Photo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

Cheers is one of the most celebrated TV sitcoms of all time. Set in a Boston bar, the show won major awards and turned stars like Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Rhea Perlman into household names. Cheers ended its run 30 years ago this spring, so we thought this would be a good time to revisit the series and answer your questions.

Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

Listen · 25:59
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Friday