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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

'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

John David Washington as Joshua in The Creator. 20th Century Studios hide caption

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20th Century Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

In the new movie The Creator, humanity is at war with artificial intelligence. It stars John David Washington as a former soldier who's been recruited to find and kill the creator of a powerful AI weapon. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film's big themes involve the role of AI, the brutality of war, and the building blocks of life and society.

'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

Listen · 22:09
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Tuesday

In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

Pete Davidson and Paul Dano in Dumb Money. Claire Folger/Sony Pictures hide caption

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Claire Folger/Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

The snappy "eat the rich" comedy Dumb Money is about a sly bunch of Reddit users who made some Wall Street billionaires sweat, in an infamous stock market incident known as the Game Stop short squeeze. With a star-studded ensemble including Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Pete Davidson, the movie has got class warfare and needle drops galore. But will it inspire you to fight the power or just go out and buy some stocks?

In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

Listen · 21:39
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Monday

Music

R&B Pillar, Usher, to headline super bowl 58 halftime show

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Stephen Thompson, from NPR Music, about the NFL's announcement that R&B pillar, Usher Raymond, will headline Super Bowl 58's halftime show.

R&B Pillar, Usher, to headline super bowl 58 halftime show

Listen · 4:14
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Friday

Review

Movies

The best '90s thrillers according to NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour

NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts Stephen Thompson and Linda Holmes give us their picks for the best 90's thrillers.

The best '90s thrillers according to NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour

Listen · 7:56
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Wednesday

Three great 90s thrillers

Harrison Ford in The Fugitive. PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three great 90s thrillers

When you're talking about the movies of the 1990s, you have to mention the decade's huge assortment of thrillers. From courtroom standoffs and frantic chases to wild twists and A-list stars, today, we are recommending three of our favorite 90s thrillers.

Three great 90s thrillers

Listen · 9:13
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Friday

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Cailee Spaeny stars in Priscilla. A24 Films hide caption

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A24 Films

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Today we offer up a guide to some of the most exciting movies, TV, and music you can check out this fall.

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Listen · 28:09
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Thursday

On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

Olivia Rodrigo returns with her sophomore album Guts. Nick Walker/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nick Walker/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, Sour, was one of the biggest hits of 2021. Now, she's back with a new record called GUTS, which has already spawned two hits with "vampire" and "bad idea right?" The album sharpens a sound inspired by pop, punk and singer-songwriters.

On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

Listen · 18:51
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Wednesday

For The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift takes a lucrative, satisfying victory lap

Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her Eras Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

For The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift takes a lucrative, satisfying victory lap

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is on pace to become the biggest and most lucrative concert tour in history. Each night's show offers up a career-spanning three-hour epic, with a sprawling setlist that includes a nightly assortment of surprises. But what made the tour such a juggernaut this summer?

For The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift takes a lucrative, satisfying victory lap

Listen · 22:56
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Tuesday

What makes a good TV guest star?

Meryl Streep on Only Murders in the Building. Patrick Harbron/HULU hide caption

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Patrick Harbron/HULU

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

What makes a good TV guest star?

New seasons of FX's The Bear and Hulu's Only Murders in the Building are bringing in big talent like Jamie Lee Curtis, Olivia Coleman and Meryl Streep. So we decided to discuss: What makes a great TV guest star? And who are some of the best guest stars of all time?

What makes a good TV guest star?

Listen · 25:54
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Friday

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Sept. 1

Speedy Ortiz's Rabbit Rabbit tops this week's shortlist of the best albums out on Sept. 1. Chris Carreon/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chris Carreon/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Sept. 1

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the jagged indie-rock of Rabbit Rabbit from Speedy Ortiz, hip-hop royalty Illa J's No Traffic and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Sept. 1

Listen · 26:42
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Thursday

NewJeans is a new kind of K-pop juggernaut

NewJeans released a new EP titled Get Up earlier this summer. ADOR hide caption

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ADOR

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

NewJeans is a new kind of K-pop juggernaut

In a little more than a year, NewJeans has become huge in the world of K-pop, with a reputation for upending industry conventions. They've become the fastest K-Pop act ever to reach one billion streams on Spotify, and their new EP, Get Up, just hit number one on the Billboard charts. Plus, their single "OMG" went viral on TikTok, spawning dance challenges and memes.

NewJeans is a new kind of K-pop juggernaut

Listen · 16:49
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