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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

'Haunted Mansion' is grave

Chase Dillon as Travis and Rosario Dawson as Gabbie in Haunted Mansion. Walt Disney Studios hide caption

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Walt Disney Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Haunted Mansion' is grave

In Disney's Haunted Mansion, a rag-tag group of paranormal experts attempt to get rid of ghosts that haunt a crumbling New Orleans mansion. Based on the beloved theme park experience, the film stars Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Tiffany Haddish — who band together to confront the dangers of the unseen world. But despite its star power, does the movie live up to its supernatural premise?

'Haunted Mansion' is grave

Listen · 20:52
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Tuesday

We spoil 'Barbie'

Ryan Gosling plays one of many Kens in Barbie. Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros. Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We spoil 'Barbie'

In Barbie, Margot Robbie plays the most stereotypically blonde-and-perky Barbie, who finds herself facing an existential crisis. But there are many more twists along the way. Today in this spoiler-packed episode, we discuss Barbie's weirder plot elements and gags that stood out, one perfectly selected song, and what the heck is going on with Ken (Ryan Gosling).

We spoil 'Barbie'

Listen · 22:51
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Saturday

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

Tia Nomore stars in Earth Mama as Gia, a single, pregnant mother of two, working to reclaim her children from foster care. A24 hide caption

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A24

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

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

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: the movie Earth Mama, a recent episode of Vibe Check and albums from Aqua and The Japanese House.

Friday

'Barbie' invites you into a Dream House stuffed with existential angst

Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in Barbie. Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros. Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Barbie' invites you into a Dream House stuffed with existential angst

After many months of buildup and memes, the Barbie movie is finally here. Margot Robbie plays the stereotypically blonde-and-perky Barbie, who finds herself facing an existential crisis. Joined by Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, she heads off on a journey from Barbie Land to Los Angeles. The movie is directed by Greta Gerwig.

'Barbie' invites you into a Dream House stuffed with existential angst

Listen · 27:15
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Thursday

A 'Barbie' v. 'Oppenheimer' Game

Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie as Ken and Barbie in Barbie and Cillian Murphy as Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. Warner Bros. Pictures/ Universal Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros. Pictures/ Universal Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A 'Barbie' v. 'Oppenheimer' Game

In honor of the upcoming clash between the same-day releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer, we asked our listeners to weigh in on some of pop culture's most contentious matchups. And boy, did you deliver. We've got NSYNC versus Backstreet Boys. Superman versus Batman. And most importantly, who is the best Chris?

A 'Barbie' v. 'Oppenheimer' Game

Listen · 30:01
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Thursday

What makes something so bad it's good?

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Mary Evans Picture Library Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo

Pop Culture Happy Hour

What makes something so bad it's good?

Can something bad really be good? Or are we just using "bad" to mean "silly"? Where does a classic like Rocky Horror Picture Show fit into this scheme? And how do you know whether your appearance in a Sharknado movie bodes well or ill for your acting career? In this encore episode from 2014, we explore the idea of questionable pleasures.

What makes something so bad it's good?

Listen · 16:07
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Friday

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 7

Dominic Fike's Sunburn is on our shortlist of the best albums out on July 7. Daniel Prakopcyk/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Daniel Prakopcyk/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 7

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the return of PJ Harvey, the continued arrival of Dominic Fike, Little Dragon, Aluna and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 7

Listen · 33:37
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Saturday

Tuesday

In 'No Hard Feelings,' Jennifer Lawrence throws herself into comedy

Andrew Barth Feldman and Jennifer Lawrence star in No Hard Feelings. Sony Pictures Entertainment hide caption

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Sony Pictures Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'No Hard Feelings,' Jennifer Lawrence throws herself into comedy

Jennifer Lawrence has starred in The Hunger Games, played a member of the X-Men, and won an Oscar — but she hasn't done a ton of broad comedy until now. She makes a left turn in the movie No Hard Feelings, in which rich helicopter parents hire a woman to seduce their teenage son, in the hopes that he'll come out of his shell in time for college.

In 'No Hard Feelings,' Jennifer Lawrence throws herself into comedy

Listen · 16:47
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Monday

Friday

Monday

Music

Three songs for the perfect summer road trip playlist

Pop Culture Happy Hour host Stephen Thompson and NPR Music contributor Marissa Lorusso suggest three songs to make your summer road trip playlist perfect.

Three songs for the perfect summer road trip playlist

Listen · 6:13
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Wednesday

'Vanderpump Rules,' 'Scandoval' and a fight that never ends

Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval, and Ariana Madix in Vanderpump Rules. Nicole Weingart/Bravo hide caption

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Nicole Weingart/Bravo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Vanderpump Rules,' 'Scandoval' and a fight that never ends

Bravo's hit reality show Vanderpump Rules has become infamous due to a much-discussed affair between two members of its cast. The whole thing has been nicknamed "Scandoval" and has led to record-breaking ratings, countless memes, and even a joke at the White House Correspondents Dinner. In a world were reality television is synonymous with secret affairs and drama, why is "Scandoval" such a big deal?

'Vanderpump Rules,' 'Scandoval' and a fight that never ends

Listen · 27:12
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Tuesday

Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' is the country song we didn't know we had

Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" takes a simple, Springsteenian plea for escape and uses it as a jumping-off point for a life's story. Sounds like a country song. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images hide caption

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Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

#NowPlaying

Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' is the country song we didn't know we had

In Luke Combs' unexpected cover of the Tracy Chapman classic, NPR's Stephen Thompson found hope for a world with fewer boundaries and binaries and roped-in genres.