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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

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in a scene from The Lost City. Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

In the new film The Lost City Sandra Bullock plays a romance novelist who is kidnapped by a duplicitous billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) looking for the real-life lost treasure referenced in her writing. Her cover model (Channing Tatum) embarks on a bumbling quest through the jungle and save her.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

Listen · 15:24
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Monday

Our 2022 Oscars Recap

Will Smith tearfully accepts a best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard. Earlier in the ceremony Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images hide caption

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Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2022 Oscars Recap

The 2022 Oscars included a best picture win for CODA, plus awards for Jessica Chastain, Dune, Encanto, and Jane Campion. But the proceedings were overshadowed when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. Later in the ceremony, Smith won a best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard.

Our 2022 Oscars Recap

Listen · 19:45
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Friday

2022 Oscars Preview: Who will win and who should win
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2022 Oscars Preview: Who will win and who should win

The 2022 Oscars are finally upon us. There are always two big questions as we approach the Oscars: Who will win, and who should win. Today, we're offering up a guide to this year's nominations to try to help you win your Oscar pool and see some terrific movies at the same time.

2022 Oscars Preview: Who will win and who should win

Listen · 45:05
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Thursday

You voted — here's a ranking of the top movies ever to win an Oscar for best picture

Scene stills of Titanic, Parasite, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Godfather. CBS via Getty Images; NEON CJ Entertainment; Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS via Getty Images; NEON CJ Entertainment; Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

You voted — here's a ranking of the top movies ever to win an Oscar for best picture

Pop Culture Happy Hour listeners voted on the top movies of all time to win best picture at the Oscars.

You voted — here's a ranking of the top movies ever to win an Oscar for best picture

Listen · 40:45
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Tuesday

The best picture Oscar-winners, ranked according to listeners

We asked listeners to choose the best best picture winners of all time — and 91 of the 93 films got votes. Tim Boyle/Getty Images hide caption

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Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The best picture Oscar-winners, ranked according to listeners

In honor of this year's Oscars, we polled listeners to ask a simple question: What's the best best picture winner of all time? Today, we run through our listeners' ranking of the Top 10, and give our picks for the best winner of all time.

The best picture Oscar-winners, ranked according to listeners

Listen · 40:47
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Monday

Music News

The U.S. gets its own version of the 'Eurovision Song Contest'

NBC begins the American Song Contest with representatives from all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and five territories. Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson are the hosts for the new show.

The U.S. gets its own version of the 'Eurovision Song Contest'

Listen · 6:55
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Sunday

Friday

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on March 11

Rex Orange County's latest release, WHO CARES?, is on NPR Music's shortlist for the best albums out on March 11. Alexandra Waespi/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alexandra Waespi/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on March 11

Our shortlist for the best albums out this week includes Rex Orange County's WHO CARES?, the immediately transfixing Getaway from singer Orion Sun, the genre-hopping sounds of Jenny Hval and more.

New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on March 11

Listen · 26:18
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'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

In Pixar's Turning Red, 13-year-old Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) magically transforms into a red panda whenever she gets too excited. Pixar/Disney hide caption

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Pixar/Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

Pixar is back with another movie aiming to hit you in all the feels: Turning Red. It's about a charismatic 13-year-old girl named Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) who discovers that whenever she gets too excited about anything, she now turns into a giant red panda. Directed by Domee Shi, the film features the voice talent of Sandra Oh, as well as some fun nods to the early 2000s boy band era. The film is streaming on Disney+.

'Turning Red' paints teenage feelings in rich, vibrant colors

Listen · 26:54
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Monday

We need to talk about Kanye

Kanye West in a sequence from Netflix's documentary series jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We need to talk about Kanye

Kanye West is a successful rapper and producer who has won 22 Grammys. But West has also been a public lightning rod for his outbursts at awards shows, his outspoken support of Donald Trump, his acrimonious divorce proceedings with Kim Kardashian, and much more. Netflix recently released a documentary called jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. So it seems like a good time to assess the artist himself.

We need to talk about Kanye

Listen · 35:01
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Wednesday

2022 Oscars Guide: Original Songs

Lin-Manuel Miranda's song "Dos Oruguitas" from the Disney film Encanto is nominated for an Academy Award this year. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2022 Oscars Guide: Original Songs

This year's Academy Award nominees for original song are a mix of old and new. Songs by Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and Lin-Manuel Miranda are squaring off against tunes by boomer mainstays Van Morrison and Diane Warren. They're all emotional songs, which is no surprise, though some are more anthemic than others. But whichever original song takes home the Academy Award this year, it stands to make some kind of Oscars history — including a possible EGOT.

2022 Oscars Guide: Original Songs

Listen · 15:22
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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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