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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

Friday

We debate the best fictional bands

Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid, and Rachael Leigh Cook in Josie and the Pussycats. Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We debate the best fictional bands

Sometimes, our favorite musical artists are too good to be true because they're sprung from the imaginations of Hollywood screenwriters. But what makes a fake band great? Today, we are debating the best fictional bands in TV and film — including from Mamma Mia!, Josie and the Pussycats, It's Your Move, and Miami Connection.

We debate the best fictional bands

Listen · 27:13
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Tuesday

Terrible but bingeable TV shows

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Terrible but bingeable TV shows

What is it about a show that turns you into a bitter-ender, that keeps you dutifully watching every last episode, long after the train has jumped the tracks? Even when you know it's not good, but, for you anyway, it's just good enough to muddle through, all the way to the finale? Today, we're talking about terrible but bingeable TV shows.

Terrible but bingeable TV shows

Listen · 23:08
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Friday

ATEEZ performs at the Sahara Tent during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., in April.

ATEEZ performs at the Sahara Tent during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., in April.
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

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

What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend reading and listening

Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: The K-pop band ATEEZ, Billie Eilish's new album, the Valley Heat podcast and novels by Megan Abbott.

'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' goes full throttle

Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros. Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' goes full throttle

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is packed with bone-crunching practical stunts and lots of gnarly, diesel-powered chase scenes. It also shows a commitment to worldbuilding that grapples with themes of feminism, environmentalism, and humanity. Directed by George Miller, the prequel film tells the story of a Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), who was taken from her home as a girl, raised to be a warrior in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and now seeks revenge on an evil warlord (Chris Hemsworth).

'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' goes full throttle

Listen · 25:42
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Wednesday

Does 'IF' capture the magic of its Pixar inspiration?

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Jonny Cournoyer/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Does 'IF' capture the magic of its Pixar inspiration?

In the new movie IF, a 12-year-old girl (Cailey Fleming) discovers she can see other people's imaginary friends. It stars Ryan Reynolds, and directed by John Krasinski. It mixes the real world and animation, but does it capture the heart of the Pixar movies that inspired it?

Does 'IF' capture the magic of its Pixar inspiration?

Listen · 14:39
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Monday

Sunday

Music

Rock icon or a victim of exploitation? Examining Amy Winehouse's legacy

A just-released, fictionalized film looks at the life of British singer Amy Winehouse. The music and career of the real Amy Winehouse still fascinate.

Rock icon or a victim of exploitation? Examining Amy Winehouse's legacy

Listen · 6:38
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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out May 17

Rapsody (left) and Erykah Badu Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out May 17

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Hazel Cills discuss new releases by Billie Eilish, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and Rapsody.

New Music Friday: The best albums out May 17

Listen · 37:02
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'Back to Black' misses Amy Winehouse's point of view

Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in Back to Black. Olli Upton/Focus Features hide caption

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Olli Upton/Focus Features

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Back to Black' misses Amy Winehouse's point of view

The new music biopic Back to Black chronicles the life of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The film stars Marisa Abela, and follows Winehouse as she records her breakthrough album, gets married, and struggles with addiction. But does the movie do justice to the singer and her music?

'Back to Black' misses Amy Winehouse's point of view

Listen · 24:04
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Friday

Review

Pop Culture

What 'Pop Culture Happy Hour' thinks of Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tart movie 'Unfrosted'

The Netflix movie Unfrosted tells a made-up version of Pop-Tarts' origin story. It hasn't been received favorably, including by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts.

What 'Pop Culture Happy Hour' thinks of Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tart movie 'Unfrosted'

Listen · 8:02
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Wednesday

Dua Lipa's 'Radical Optimism' is loaded with hyper-catchy bangers

Radical Optimism is the latest album from Dua Lipa. Tyrone Lebon/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Tyrone Lebon/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Dua Lipa's 'Radical Optimism' is loaded with hyper-catchy bangers

The British singer Dua Lipa has become one of the world's biggest pop stars. Now, she's back with Radical Optimism, a sort of concept record about moving through life with a more mature and constructive attitude. But it's also a pretty straightforward collection of grievance-free, hyper-catchy bangers.

Dua Lipa's 'Radical Optimism' is loaded with hyper-catchy bangers

Listen · 21:31
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Tuesday

Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

Melissa McCarthy, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jim Gaffigan in Unfrosted. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

The new Netflix film Unfrosted tells a fanciful invented version of the Pop-Tart's origin. The film was directed and co-written by Jerry Seinfeld, who also stars as a Kellogg's executive who's in a race to release a new breakfast idea before their rival beats them to it. Seinfeld is joined by a big cast of funny people including Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, and Hugh Grant. But is the movie as satisfying as the Pop-Tart itself?

Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

Listen · 16:56
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