Accessibility links
Vincent Acovino
Stories By

Vincent Acovino

Friday

40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers

Decades after its release, Return of the Jedi still draws a crowd. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Movies

40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers

Back in 1983, All Things Considered host Susan Stamberg asked a young moviegoer to give us a "sneak preview" of Return of the Jedi. The flood of complaints from listeners led to an on-air apology.

40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers

Listen · 2:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178361638/1178363617" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Movies

40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers

Back in 1983, All Things Considered host Susan Stamberg asked a young moviegoer to give us a "sneak preview" of Return of the Jedi. The flood of complaints from listeners led to on-air apology.

40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers

Listen · 2:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178270175/1178270195" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
DC Comics' boss knows the challenges ahead — and the problem superhero films can pose

Jim Lee says the key to success has never been to treat characters as "creatures that are ossified in amber." Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Main Character of the Day

DC Comics' boss knows the challenges ahead — and the problem superhero films can pose

Superhero movies transformed the film industry over the last 15 years. But how does the man in charge of some of the most beloved comic book characters chart the years ahead?

DC Comics' boss knows the challenges ahead — and the problem superhero films can pose

Listen · 7:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178119988/1178125215" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Being a TV writer has changed — and so have the wages, says 'The Wire' creator

Writers Guild of America East members hand out flyers as they walk a picket line in New York on May 16. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Television

Being a TV writer has changed — and so have the wages, says 'The Wire' creator

The Wire creator David Simon says he doesn't think artificial intelligence can "remotely challenge" what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.

Being a TV writer has changed — and so have the wages, says 'The Wire' creator

Listen · 7:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1177476499/1177476718" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

All Things Considered

Jim Lee talks about his journey from superhero fan to DC Comics president

Jim Lee, the new president of DC Comics, talks about the history and future of superhero comics.

Jim Lee talks about his journey from superhero fan to DC Comics president

Listen · 7:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178020845/1178021322" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Friday

All Things Considered

TV writer David Simon weighs in on the Writers Guild of America strike

David Simon talks about how being a TV writer has changed over the years — and so have writer's wages.

TV writer David Simon weighs in on the Writers Guild of America strike

Listen · 7:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1177194215/1177220667" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

All Things Considered

The new Zelda game, 'Tears of the Kingdom,' lives up to the hype

Keza MacDonald, video game editor for The Guardian, talks about the new game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The new Zelda game, 'Tears of the Kingdom,' lives up to the hype

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1175893490/1175915105" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Animals

A giant rat that wasn't suited for its bomb-sniffing job gets a new role

A Gambian rat who was training to be a landmine detector arrived at the San Diego Zoo a few weeks ago. She's better suited to her new role as a rat ambassador.

A giant rat that wasn't suited for its bomb-sniffing job gets a new role

Listen · 2:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1173776542/1173776543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it

A new advisory outlines how a national strategy could tackle the problem of loneliness in the United States. Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Getty Images

Health

America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it

Lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.

America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it

Listen · 7:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1173418268/1173477781" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Metallica's new album, '72 Seasons,' has met critical acclaim. What's their secret?

Metallica perform at Allegiant Stadium in February 2022 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Music

Metallica's new album, '72 Seasons,' has met critical acclaim. What's their secret?

On their new record 72 Seasons, Metallica proves they're still making inspired music for hardcore fans. For a metal band with many of its members approaching 60, that's no small feat.

Metallica's new album, '72 Seasons,' has met critical acclaim. What's their secret?

Listen · 8:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1171703402/1172555809" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Business

Disney flexes its legal muscle in latest feud with DeSantis

NPR's Melissa Block talks with New York Times reporter Brooks Barnes about the feud between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis and the power that Disney holds in the state of Florida.

Disney flexes its legal muscle in latest feud with DeSantis

Listen · 4:47
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1172837056/1172837057" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Movie Interviews

How martial arts and sisterhood inspired the new movie 'Polite Society'

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Nida Manzoor, director of the new movie Polite Society, which is about a British-Pakistani high schooler who wants to be a stuntwoman.

How martial arts and sisterhood inspired the new movie 'Polite Society'

Listen · 8:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1172837092/1172837137" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Politics

Transgender lawmaker speaks out on her banishment from Montana House floor

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Rep. Zooey Zephyr about her ban from attending or speaking in the Montana State House for the rest of the year.

Transgender lawmaker speaks out on her banishment from Montana House floor

Listen · 4:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1172584432/1172584433" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Africa

The U.S. contributed to Sudan's instability, a former official says

Jacqueline Burns, former adviser to the U.S. special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, talks about how the U.S. has contributed to instability in Sudan.

The U.S. contributed to Sudan's instability, a former official says

Listen · 5:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1171719816/1171719817" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript