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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

Beyond Animal Crossing: Game Recs For The Switch

In the game Donut County, get satisfaction in throwing objects in a big hole. Annapurna Interactive hide caption

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Annapurna Interactive

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Beyond Animal Crossing: Game Recs For The Switch

We've been playing games. Stuck at home, exhausted from streaming all the good TV we can find, looking for distractions, we've all been exploring games for the Nintendo Switch. And not just Animal Crossing, either. We've been trying adventure games and puzzle games, beautiful games and silly games. And we have a few to recommend.

Beyond Animal Crossing: Game Recs For The Switch

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Tuesday

From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song

New Kids on the Block's "House Party," featuring Boyz II Men, Big Freedia, Jordin Sparks and Naughty by Nature, is just one of the coronavirus quarantine-inspired songs released over the past months. YouTube/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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YouTube/Screenshot by NPR

The Coronavirus Crisis

From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song

Many musicians canceled tours and delayed album releases due to the pandemic. But some are now using home recording setups and streaming services to write and publish songs about the coronavirus.

From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song

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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 24

Rapper Quelle Chris. His new project with producer Chris Keys, Innocent Country 2, is on our shortlist for the best albums out on April 24. Ahmed Arasah/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ahmed Arasah/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 24

The best new albums out this week include a scorcher from Lucinda Williams, a new joint from rapper Quelle Chris and Chris Keys, Sylvan Esso's first-ever live album, country singer Pam Tillis and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 24

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Toddler TV: We Recommend Kid-Friendly Shows For Desperate Parents

Shaun the Sheep can be seen in A Shaun the Sheep Story Movie: Farmageddon on Netflix. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Toddler TV: We Recommend Kid-Friendly Shows For Desperate Parents

Staying in can be hard on everybody. But it's a special kind of hard for little kids and the people who love them. So we're here to help, with some TV recommendations for those who are toddling through isolation. We've brought some ideas for things to watch that we hope will delight your littlest quarantine companions, and maybe you as well.

Toddler TV: We Recommend Kid-Friendly Shows For Desperate Parents

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Wednesday

'Run': Not So Strangers On A Train

Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson star in the HBO series, Run. Ken Woroner/HBO hide caption

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Ken Woroner/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Run': Not So Strangers On A Train

A woman sitting in her car gets a text message. It says "RUN." She texts back the same thing: "RUN." That's the beginning of a new HBO series, also called Run, that tells you what happens next. Starring Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, Run is part romantic comedy, part thriller, and part road trip.

'Run': Not So Strangers On A Train

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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On April 17

Fiona Apple. Her long-awaited — and monumental — new album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, tops our shortlist of the best releases out on April 17. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On April 17

Fiona Apple's long-awaited Fetch the Bolt Cutters leads our rundown of the best new albums out this week. Hear that, plus the latest from Shabazz Palaces, Lido Pimienta, Rina Sawayama and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On April 17

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The Regrettable Television Pop Quiz Returns!

Dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee consults with a patient on TLC's Dr. Pimple Popper. TLC hide caption

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TLC

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Regrettable Television Pop Quiz Returns!

Today, we're excited to be bringing back a classic Pop Culture Happy Hour segment — the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz. We've each brought clips of some of our favorite regrettable shows, and our fellow panelists will have to see if they can guess the source. Plus, what's making us happy this week.

The Regrettable Television Pop Quiz Returns!

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Wednesday

Idols, Islands, Snakes & Rats: 20 Years Of 'Survivor'

Survivor celebrates its 40th season by bringing back past winning contestants for Survivor: Winners At War. Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment hide caption

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Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Idols, Islands, Snakes & Rats: 20 Years Of 'Survivor'

Started out eating rats, and now they're here. Forty seasons in, Survivor is midway through a season where former winners are playing against each other. And as you'd imagine, it's a doozy. From which season is best to which winner is best to whether host Jeff Probst is a hero or a villain, we take a look at why Survivor has been a staple of TV conversation for 20 years.

Idols, Islands, Snakes & Rats: 20 Years Of 'Survivor'

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Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 10

Laura Marling. Her latest release, Song For Our Daughter, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on April 10. Justin Tyler Close/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Justin Tyler Close/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 10

Our weekly rundown of the best new albums out now includes the latest from Laura Marling, The Strokes' best new release in years, Hamilton Leithauser and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 10

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Pop Culture Solutions To Quarantine Problems

Do you miss sitting for long stretches of time where you don't think about anything? Glen Weldon suggests you start a puzzle. Markus Spiering/Getty Images/EyeEm hide caption

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Markus Spiering/Getty Images/EyeEm

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Solutions To Quarantine Problems

Let's talk about solutions. Specifically, solutions to the problems we're running into entertaining ourselves at home. There's a lot to watch and read and hear, but there's also a lot that we're missing--like live sports, concerts, and spending nights out with friends. And we've got some ideas about how to fill those voids.

Pop Culture Solutions To Quarantine Problems

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Wednesday

Hey All You Cool Cats And Kittens: Talking 'Tiger King'

Joe Exotic, in the Netflix series Tiger King. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Hey All You Cool Cats And Kittens: Talking 'Tiger King'

Almost three weeks ago, as isolation at home tightened its grip on many of us, Netflix released the documentary series Tiger King. It seemed to capture a binge-ready audience at just the right moment, and it's been burning up social media channels ever since. Tiger King tells the story of a man who calls himself Joe Exotic, who bred and exhibited big cats and other animals in a sketchy private zoo. Joe is now in prison, convicted of hiring someone to kill an activist named Carole Baskin. She tried to shut down his business and became his nemesis.

Hey All You Cool Cats And Kittens: Talking 'Tiger King'

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Monday

Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 3

Thundercat. His latest, It Is What It Is, is one of our picks for the week's best new albums. Parker Day/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Parker Day/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 3

Our picks for this week's best new albums include the latest from Thundercat, M. Ward, country singers Ashley McBryde and Sam Hunt, ambient cello tunes from Clarice Jensen and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On April 3

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