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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

Wednesday

'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Is A Flawed Monster Movie Mashup

Godzilla Vs. Kong puts two franchise stars in epic battles on land and sea. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Is A Flawed Monster Movie Mashup

Godzilla Vs. Kong is a collision of two classic film franchises. As the sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island and 2019's Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, the film's excessive plot largely serves as window dressing for a heightened epic battle. However, its action-packed story also neglects to properly acknowledge the complicated layers of these two cinematic monsters.

'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Is A Flawed Monster Movie Mashup

Listen · 15:25
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Monday

'Die Hard': Welcome to the podcast, Pal

Bruce Willis in the 1988 film Die Hard. 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images hide caption

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20th Century-Fox/Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Die Hard': Welcome to the podcast, Pal

There's no wrong time to talk about an influential Hollywood classic. So that's why we are talking about Die Hard. We will never get tired of Hans Gruber versus John McClane — Alan Rickman versus Bruce Willis — the real clash of the titans. So that's why we are bringing you this encore episode.

'Die Hard': Welcome to the podcast, Pal

Listen · 21:13
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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

Singer and rapper Noga Erez. Her new album, KIDS, is one of our top picks for the best albums out on Mar. 26. Dudi Hasson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dudi Hasson/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Mar. 26 include the relentlessly infectious songs of AJR, Israeli rapper and singer Noga Erez, Tune-Yards, jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

Listen · 34:17
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In 'Sound Of Metal,' Riz Ahmed Rages Against Silence

Ruben, played by Riz Ahmed, learns how to sign his name in Sound Of Metal. Courtesy of Amazon Studios hide caption

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Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Sound Of Metal,' Riz Ahmed Rages Against Silence

Sound Of Metal tells the story of a heavy-metal drummer, played by Riz Ahmed, who experiences sudden hearing loss that changes every facet of his life. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards - including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.

In 'Sound Of Metal,' Riz Ahmed Rages Against Silence

Listen · 27:05
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Thursday

'King Of The Hill' Endures, I Tell You Whut

King Of The Hill focuses on the Hill family - Luanne, Peggy, Bobby, and Hank - living life in the fictional suburb of Arlen, Texas. Fox Network/Kobal/Shutterstock hide caption

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Fox Network/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'King Of The Hill' Endures, I Tell You Whut

If you're looking for the next show to binge, we've got a great suggestion for you. The animated sitcom King Of The Hill ran on FOX from 1997 to 2010, and all 13 seasons are now streaming on Hulu. The show, created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels pokes gentle fun at its characters without mocking them.

'King Of The Hill' Endures, I Tell You Whut

Listen · 17:08
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Monday

Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé captures the artist's process of putting on headlining appearances at the 2018 Coachella Music Festival. Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment hide caption

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Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

It's been more than a year since live concerts were a safe way to experience music. We miss the roar of a blissed-out crowd and experiencing art at the moment of its creation. Therefore, it feels like a good time to talk about some of our favorite concert films from Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, and Aretha Franklin.

Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

Listen · 21:27
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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 9 Albums Out On March 19

Jon Batiste. His monumental new album, We Are, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on March 19. Louis Browne/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Louis Browne/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 9 Albums Out On March 19

Hear monumental new music from Jon Batiste, country legend Loretta Lynn, the rapper Benny the Butcher and more on NPR Music's list of the best new albums out this week.

New Music Friday: The Top 9 Albums Out On March 19

Listen · 36:20
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Thursday

'Raya And The Last Dragon' Is A Swashbuckling Disney Epic

Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, seeks the help of the legendary dragon, Sisu, voiced by Awkwafina in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Raya And The Last Dragon' Is A Swashbuckling Disney Epic

Raya And The Last Dragon is an animated Disney movie without musical numbers, without romantic intrigue and with a largely Asian cast. It's about the pursuit of peace, the need for trust and a young warrior who assembles a ragtag team of misfit heroes to save the world.

'Raya And The Last Dragon' Is A Swashbuckling Disney Epic

Listen · 12:30
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Wednesday

Monday

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion accept the best rap performance award for "Savage" during Sunday's Grammy Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

After a six week delay due to COVID-19, we did finally have a Grammys ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, with loads of socially distanced performances and big wins for Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, and Billie Eilish.

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

Listen · 19:54
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Thursday

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

Leigh Keno (right) appraises two chairs with a guest on Antiques Roadshow. Jeff Dunn/WGBH/PBS hide caption

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Jeff Dunn/WGBH/PBS

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

For over twenty years, PBS has ensured that one of the hottest places in American television is your attic. And if you want to know what all that old stuff is worth, you can take yourself right to the people at Antiques Roadshow. Sometimes, you'll find that you're sitting on buried treasure--and sometimes, you won't. In this encore episode, we revisit our discussion of Antiques Roadshow.

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

Listen · 20:03
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Wednesday

SXSW 2021 Preview

Top row, left to right: Matilda Mann, Shannen James, SXSW logo; Bottom row, left to right: Bongeziwe Mabandla, Kapil Seshasayee, Sophie Hutchings. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

SXSW 2021 Preview

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson listened to the nearly 300 artists performing at this year's online edition of SXSW and share their most exciting discoveries.

SXSW 2021 Preview

Listen · 59:59
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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 5

Elizabeth Ziman of Elizabeth and the Catapult. The band's latest full-length, Sincerely, e is one of our picks for the best new albums out on March 5. Seth Caplan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Seth Caplan/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 5

Our picks for the best new albums out on March 5 include an ambitious remix from Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, the surreal hip-hop of Genesis Owusu, flickering dance pop from Jane Weaver and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 5

Listen · 30:26
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Wednesday

Three Great Documentaries Streaming Right Now

HBO's McMillions is a six-part series about an ex-cop who stole millions of dollars from the McDonald's Monopoly game. HBO hide caption

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HBO

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three Great Documentaries Streaming Right Now

If you dig into the archives of any streaming service, you're gonna find loads of documentaries — tales of true crime, plucky dreamers, obsessive eccentrics, or just about any other subject you could name. We figured this would be a good time to recommend a few of our favorites from the last few years that we think you'll love.

Three Great Documentaries Streaming Right Now

Listen · 11:10
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