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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

Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

If you like to fall asleep to a soundtrack, we have three great recommendations to help you doze away. Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Angela Hsieh/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

There are songs you want to groove to, and songs you want to pump up to. But sometimes, you just want something for the come down at the end of a long day. If you're having trouble sleeping in silence, or are just looking for some new songs to throw into your bedtime rotation, we've got you covered.

Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

Listen · 9:27
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Monday

We recap the 2022 BET Awards

Jack Harlow and Brandy perform onstage during the 2022 BET Awards. Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET hide caption

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Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We recap the 2022 BET Awards

Sunday's BET Awards were a four-hour celebration of Black culture, with a heavy emphasis on music. The night was packed with live performances from Latto and Jack Harlow, and surprise guests Mariah Carey and Brandy, and featured a lavish tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Sean "Diddy" Combs.

We recap the 2022 BET Awards

Listen · 21:02
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Let's get small with 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On'

Jenny Slate voices Marcel in the new film Marcel The Shell With Shoes On. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Let's get small with 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On'

The new film Marcel The Shell With Shoes On tells the story of a tiny shell who searches for his long-lost family. He's voiced by Jenny Slate and rendered using stop-motion animation. Based on a series of viral YouTube shorts, the feature-length movie is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, who also appears on-screen as a filmmaker who discovers and interviews Marcel while living in an Airbnb.

Let's get small with 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On'

Listen · 13:36
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Sunday

Saturday

Friday

New Music Friday: The best releases out June 24

MUNA self-titled album tops this week's shortlist of the best albums out on June 24. Isaac Schneider/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Isaac Schneider/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out June 24

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from the electro-pop band MUNA, R&B singer GIVĒON, country star Jimmie Allen, Soccer Mommy and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out June 24

Listen · 27:36
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'Elvis' is a hunk-a hunk-a burnin' excess

Austin Butler stars as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Elvis' is a hunk-a hunk-a burnin' excess

The legacy of Elvis Presley is often reduced to gaudy iconography and tales of excess: the white jumpsuit, Las Vegas, drugs. So what happens when director Baz Luhrmann takes on the man, the myth, the legend? You get the dizzying biopic Elvis. Austin Butler stars as "the King of Rock and Roll," and Tom Hanks plays Elvis' shady longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker.

'Elvis' is a hunk-a hunk-a burnin' excess

Listen · 25:53
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Wednesday

In 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' coming of age takes a little while

Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson star in Cha Cha Real Smooth. Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' coming of age takes a little while

In Cha Cha Real Smooth, Andrew (Cooper Raiff), an aimless 22-year-old, finds a new direction when he becomes a party motivator at bar and bat mitzvahs in his hometown. He develops a bond with Domino (Dakota Johnson), who's at her own crossroads in life. The film was a breakout hit at Sundance earlier this year and is now streaming on Apple TV+.

In 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' coming of age takes a little while

Listen · 11:56
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Friday

In the Pixar prequel 'Lightyear,' Buzz gets his own swashbuckling space epic

Sox (voiced by Pete Sohn) and Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) star in the film Lightyear. Pixar hide caption

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Pixar

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In the Pixar prequel 'Lightyear,' Buzz gets his own swashbuckling space epic

If you've seen any of the Toy Story movies, you know about Buzz Lightyear, the heroic space ranger immortalized in a line of action figures. Now, the character is getting a Disney and Pixar prequel — an origin story starring Chris Evans as the space ranger who started it all. (Take our annual survey at npr.org/podcastsurvey)

In the Pixar prequel 'Lightyear,' Buzz gets his own swashbuckling space epic

Listen · 23:01
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Monday

The delightfully low-stakes 'Floor Is Lava' returns

Inspired by the classic kids game, Netflix's Floor Is Lava asks contestants to navigate obstacles in a room filled with, you guessed it, lava. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The delightfully low-stakes 'Floor Is Lava' returns

The Netflix game show Floor Is Lava is so silly, so stupid, so low-stakes that we can't stop watching it. Teams of three try to cross a course made of furniture and obstacles without touching the ground. Floor Is Lava recently returned for a new season, so in this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about the series.

The delightfully low-stakes 'Floor Is Lava' returns

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Thursday

'American Idol' contestants, ranked according to listeners

Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London perform on the third season of American Idol. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images hide caption

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Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'American Idol' contestants, ranked according to listeners

It's been 20 years since the beginning of American Idol. It has inspired imitators and parodies, and it's also a show that actually made people stars. So we asked you to vote for the best American Idol contestants of all time.

'American Idol' contestants, ranked according to listeners

Listen · 29:45
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Tuesday

Our favorite graduation moments in pop culture
Vstock/Getty Images/Uppercut RF

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our favorite graduation moments in pop culture

This is the time of year when so many students graduate from so many schools in so many caps and gowns. Whether it's graduation episodes of our favorite TV series, high school songs, or movies about the last wild night of high school, we're here to commence a show about commencement.

Our favorite graduation moments in pop culture

Listen · 24:23
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