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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

Sunday

Pop Culture

San Diego Comic-Con is back in person (and character!)

We get the latest from this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. It's being held in person for the first time since the pandemic began.

San Diego Comic-Con is back in person (and character!)

Listen · 5:12
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Wednesday

Lizzo's 'Special' is a giddy burst of affirmation and joy

singer, rapper, dancer, flutist, and actress Lizzo. AB+DM hide caption

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AB+DM

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Lizzo's 'Special' is a giddy burst of affirmation and joy

Grammy-winning artist Lizzo enjoyed a major breakthrough in 2019 with her album Cuz I Love You. Now she's back with Special, which features one of the summer's most inescapable songs "About Damn Time." The album features songs about love, affirmation, friendship, empowerment, and confidence.

Lizzo's 'Special' is a giddy burst of affirmation and joy

Listen · 17:29
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Tuesday

We debate the greatest movie soundtracks of all time

Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, and Angela Bassett in 1995 film Waiting To Exhale. Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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Alamy Stock Photo

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We debate the greatest movie soundtracks of all time

We debate: what is the greatest movie soundtrack of all time?

We debate the greatest movie soundtracks of all time

Listen · 27:24
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Friday

In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya Clark in Where the Crawdads Sing. Sony Pictures hide caption

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Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment

The new film Where The Crawdads Sing stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a girl who was abandoned in the marshes of North Carolina as a child and raised herself into adulthood. It's part mystery, part courtroom drama, part love triangle, and part nature film. The film is based on Delia Owens' bestselling novel, and features a new Taylor Swift song.

In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment

Listen · 22:33
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Thursday

To understand BTS, it helps to reach beyond the hits

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS attend the Grammy Awards in 2022. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Pop Culture Happy Hour

To understand BTS, it helps to reach beyond the hits

The Korean pop sensation BTS recently announced that its members are taking a break to pursue solo projects. The band has had massive success in the U.S. with songs like "Dynamite" and "Butter", but their discography is farther-reaching than casual fans might think. So we thought now would be a good time to showcase some of the best deep cuts in the BTS catalog.

To understand BTS, it helps to reach beyond the hits

Listen · 22:39
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Friday

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Ngô Thanh Vân as Linh and Joey King as The Princess in the new Hulu film The Princess. 20th Century Studios/Hulu hide caption

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20th Century Studios/Hulu

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

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Rutherford Falls season two, Magic Mike XXL, and more.

'Thor: Love And Thunder' puts the pedal to the (heavy) metal, again

Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth star in Thor: Love And Thunder. Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios hide caption

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Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Thor: Love And Thunder' puts the pedal to the (heavy) metal, again

Marvel's Thor: Love And Thunder follows in the footsteps of the much-loved Thor: Ragnarok. Both are directed by Taika Waititi, and both offer a lighthearted take on the godlike superhero, played again by Chris Hemsworth. The new film introduces Christian Bale as a villain named Gorr, The God Butcher, and brings back Natalie Portman as Jane Foster — who now wields Thor's hammer.

'Thor: Love And Thunder' puts the pedal to the (heavy) metal, again

Listen · 22:12
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Wednesday

Movies

Latest 'Minions' movie set a box office record for the July 4th weekend

Minions: The Rise of Gru brought out audiences in droves for the July fourth weekend. Its success is partly due to a TikTok trend.

Latest 'Minions' movie set a box office record for the July 4th weekend

Listen · 3:35
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Saturday

Friday

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Samara Weaving as Olivia and Eugenio Derbez as Antonio in the new Hulu film The Valet. Dan McFadden/Hulu hide caption

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Dan McFadden/Hulu

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

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: The Valet on Hulu, watching wrestling, and a playlist crafted for the perfect summer vibe.

Music

Beyonce? Lizzo? Drake? Here are the early contenders for song of the summer

What makes a song of the summer? And are there any early contenders for 2022? NPR Music's Stephen Thompson makes his predictions.

Beyonce? Lizzo? Drake? Here are the early contenders for song of the summer

Listen · 7:46
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Those chaotic tater tots return in 'Minions: The Rise of Gru'

Minions: The Rise of Gru is the latest movie in the Despicable Me film franchise. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Those chaotic tater tots return in 'Minions: The Rise of Gru'

Minions: The Rise Of Gru is the fifth film in the animated Despicable Me series. Set in the late 1970s, the new movie chronicles the early days of the supervillain Gru (voiced again by Steve Carell) and his relationship with the silly yellow babbling banana-loving henchmen who do his bidding.

Those chaotic tater tots return in 'Minions: The Rise of Gru'

Listen · 26:22
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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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