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Candice Lim Candice Lim is an assistant producer on Pop Culture Happy Hour.
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Friday

Greta Lee in TRON: Ares.

Greta Lee in TRON: Ares. Leah Gallo/Disney hide caption

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Leah Gallo/Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Reality bytes in ‘TRON: Ares’

TRON: Ares is the third film in the franchise, and this time flips the script: Instead of humans entering the digital world, this movie sees human-shaped artificial intelligence programs entering our world. Starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Evan Peters, is TRON: Ares an upgrade from the previous movies?

TRON: Ares And What's Making Us Happy

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Tuesday

Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) in The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Erika Doss/Prime hide caption

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Erika Doss/Prime

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ has drama, romance and the music of Taylor Swift

The TV series The Summer I Turned Pretty features a messy love triangle, plenty of drama, and a LOT of Taylor Swift songs. The show has become a word-of-mouth sensation, with fans obsessing over whether they’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. Now in its final season, the Prime Video series is based on a series of books by Jenny Han (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, XO Kitty).

The Summer I Turned Pretty

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Friday

Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday.

Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday. Glen Wilson/Disney hide caption

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Glen Wilson/Disney

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Freakier Friday' is a zany parent (and grandparent) trap

Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis first switched bodies over 20 years ago in the beloved Disney body swap movie, Freaky Friday. They return in the long-awaited sequel, Freakier Friday, which offers twice as many body swaps, fights galore, and a whole lot of jokes about being old and kids these days. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.

Freakier Friday And What's Making Us Happy

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Wednesday

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

Rachel McAdams as Barbara and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Dana Hawley/Lionsgate hide caption

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Dana Hawley/Lionsgate

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

Judy Blume's 1970 novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. was a staple of countless childhoods. But until now, it's never been adapted into a film. Like the book, the movie tells the story of a preteen girl who moves to New Jersey, makes new friends, and waits for the arrival of her period.

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

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Thursday

'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

Joaquin Phoenix stars in the A24 film Beau Is Afraid. Takashi Seida/A24 Films hide caption

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Takashi Seida/A24 Films

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

In the extremely divisive film Beau Is Afraid, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a schlubby, anxiety-ridden man whose existence is an extended nightmare of guilt, shame, dread and paranoia. Written and directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), the film follows Beau as he attempts to visit his mother. But he gets repeatedly frustrated by a series of deeply disturbing obstacles that may be real, or may be entirely of his own making.

'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

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Thursday

Our favorite Judy Blume books

Judy Blume attends The 2020 MAKERS Conference on February 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MAKERS hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MAKERS

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our favorite Judy Blume books

Judy Blume has been a prominent author for more than 50 years and her books are incredibly beloved. She's written for kids and adults, and has faced controversy. Perhaps her most treasured book, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, is about to get its first film adaptation, and Blume is the subject of a new documentary. Today, we're talking about why we love Judy Blume, and recommend some of our favorite books.

Our favorite Judy Blume books

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Tuesday

In 'Showing Up,' Michelle Williams just wants to make some art

Michelle Williams stars in Kelly Reichardt's latest film Showing Up. Allyson Riggs/A24 hide caption

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Allyson Riggs/A24

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Showing Up,' Michelle Williams just wants to make some art

In Showing Up, Michelle Williams plays a sculptor preparing to exhibit her work in a small art gallery, even as family and friends complicate her life and steal her focus. It's the latest feature from Kelly Reichardt, a director known for quiet, intimate films about isolation, alienation, and community.

In 'Showing Up,' Michelle Williams just wants to make some art

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Thursday

'My Name Is Mo'Nique,' and the evolution of an entertainment legend

Comedian Mo'nique in the Netflix special My Name is Mo'Nique. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'My Name Is Mo'Nique,' and the evolution of an entertainment legend

Oscar-winner Mo'Nique has had a storied career in entertainment. She's a successful standup comedian, and a former sitcom star turned talk show host. But she's also had a contentious relationship with the industry, and alleges she was blackballed for not playing by Hollywood's rules. In her candid new Netflix comedy special My Name is Mo'Nique, she deconstructs her own public persona with keen observations about her childhood and family. She also reveals a long-held secret and, as always, keeps it very real.

'My Name Is Mo'Nique,' and the evolution of an entertainment legend

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Wednesday

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star in the Netflix series Beef. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

In the great new Netflix series Beef, two people have a lot of beef with each other. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as characters whose worlds collide when they engage in a manic road rage war. Neither can help trying to one up the other in a long-running, increasingly mortifying tit-for-tat that reveals past traumas and existential dread.

'Beef' is intense, angry and irresistible

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Tuesday

It's a lovely day in London with the romantic 'Rye Lane'

David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah star in the new romantic comedy Rye Lane. Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Searchlight Pictures

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

It's a lovely day in London with the romantic 'Rye Lane'

The snappy new romantic comedy Rye Lane follows Dom and Yas, two South Londoners who meet in the restroom of an art show and wind up spending the day together. It's a day of adventures, long conversations and terrible exes. But it might just offer them a little bit of hope for the future. Directed by Raine Allen-Miller, the movie is streaming now on Hulu.

It's a lovely day in London with the romantic 'Rye Lane'

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Wednesday

Our Favorite Muppets

Miss Piggy stars in Muppets Now. Disney+ hide caption

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Disney+

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our Favorite Muppets

Today we are tackling two of the most important questions of our time: who are our favorite Muppets? And which Muppets do we most identify with? As they always say, the Muppets are the window to the soul.

Our Favorite Muppets

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Tuesday

Settle in for the spy-show pleasures of 'The Night Agent'

Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso star in Netflix's The Night Agent. Dan Power/Netflix hide caption

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Dan Power/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Settle in for the spy-show pleasures of 'The Night Agent'

An FBI agent working in a lonely, secret office in the White House basement gets a phone call. A woman needs help, right away. That's the beginning of The Night Agent, a Netflix spy thriller series full of action and intrigue. Created by The Shield's Shawn Ryan, the series follows Peter and Rose — the agent and the tech expert he's protecting — as they try to uncover a conspiracy that goes right to the heart of the government.

Settle in for the spy-show pleasures of 'The Night Agent'

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Monday

Books We Love: No Biz Like Show Biz
Beck Harlan/NPR

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Books We Love: No Biz Like Show Biz

NPR's Books We Love is full of stories. The feature rounds up fiction and nonfiction of many different kinds, and it gives you lots of ways to find what you might love, too. Today we're recommending great books for people who love show business, including a fictional take on a popular gossip Instagram account, a love story, and a memoir.

Books We Love: No Biz Like Show Biz

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Wednesday

The intense sting of 'Swarm' might be worth the pain

Dominique Fishback stars as Dre in Swarm. Warrick Page/Prime Video/Prime Video hide caption

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Warrick Page/Prime Video/Prime Video

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

The intense sting of 'Swarm' might be worth the pain

In the new Amazon Prime series Swarm, Dominique Fishback plays Dre, a socially awkward young woman who is obsessed with the mega pop star Ni'Jah, a thinly veiled analog for Beyoncé. When a life-changing event occurs, Dre's obsession with Ni'Jah takes on a more sinister tone. Donald Glover co-created the show with Janine Nabers, and it definitely shares an off-kilter vibe with his previous hit Atlanta.

The intense sting of 'Swarm' might be worth the pain

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Tuesday

'Grand Crew' is a network comedy to sip and savor

Echo Kellum plays Noah on Grand Crew. Elizabeth Morris/NBC hide caption

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Elizabeth Morris/NBC

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Grand Crew' is a network comedy to sip and savor

The very funny, bingeable NBC sitcom Grand Crew has a dependable sitcom setup: Six friends hang out together to decompress and commiserate about their careers and their love lives. They're Black, their hangout is a Silver Lake wine bar, and the show – like the vino they're always guzzling – has gotten better with age.

'Grand Crew' is a network comedy to sip and savor

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Thursday

2023 Oscars Guide: International Feature

Felix Kammerer stars as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2023 Oscars Guide: International Feature

The five films nominated for international feature at this year's Oscars wrangle with some tough ideas and issues. There's the brutality of war, the human cost of fascism, animal cruelty, neglectful parenting and the prison of masculinity. Yet all of these films find room to offer glimmers of hope — some more than others.

2023 Oscars Guide: International Feature

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Tuesday

2023 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

Sara Dosa's film Fire of Love earned an Oscar nomination for documentary feature. National Geographic Documentary Films hide caption

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National Geographic Documentary Films

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

2023 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

This year's Oscar nominees for documentary feature include films about two brothers who rescue birds, a man who takes on Vladimir Putin, and a couple that chases volcanoes. From Ukraine to India, Russia to New York City, these films will take you places you couldn't go otherwise. And you can stream them from home.

2023 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

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Thursday

'Return To Seoul' might break you, in the best way

Park Ji-Min stars as Freddie in Return To Seoul. Sony Classics hide caption

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Sony Classics

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'Return To Seoul' might break you, in the best way

In the moving film Return To Seoul, a young woman named Freddie visits South Korea for the first time since her birth, when she was adopted by a French couple. Freddie's attempt to contact her biological parents sets her on an uneasy path toward self-discovery and reconciliation. Written and directed by Davy Chou, the film spans several years and many emotions, and features a vivid lead performance by newcomer Park Ji-Min.

'Return To Seoul' might break you, in the best way

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Wednesday

Don't put 'The Consultant' in the parking lot

Christoph Waltz stars in the new Amazon series The Consultant. Courtesy of Prime Video hide caption

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Courtesy of Prime Video

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Don't put 'The Consultant' in the parking lot

In the darkly satiric, highly bingeable Amazon Prime series The Consultant, Christoph Waltz plays a mysterious businessman who takes over a videogame company upon the violent death of its founder and CEO. When two of the company's employees attempt to investigate Waltz's shady past, they get drawn into his sinister circle and realize that their jobs (and their lives) are on the line.

Don't put 'The Consultant' in the parking lot

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Monday

The New Black Film Canon is your starting point for great Black filmmaking
Mark Harris/Slate

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The New Black Film Canon is your starting point for great Black filmmaking

NPR has teamed up with Slate to expand the Black Film Canon, a collection of the best films directed by Black filmmakers. The intent is to challenge both gatekeepers and makers of best of lists to consider the breadth of artistry black creators have demonstrated on screen–despite the odds being historically stacked against them. In this episode, we're picking a few of our favorite additions, and you can check out the full list of 75 movies here.

The New Black Film Canon is your starting point for great Black filmmaking

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Friday

This is your bear on drugs: Going wild with 'Cocaine Bear'

Keri Russell stars in Cocaine Bear. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

This is your bear on drugs: Going wild with 'Cocaine Bear'

A movie called Cocaine Bear needs two things: a bear, and some cocaine. Both are abundant in the new action comedy about a large quantity of cocaine that accidentally winds up deep in the Georgia forest. And who eats it? That's right: a bear. The movie was directed by Elizabeth Banks, and the cast includes Keri Russell, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale, and O'Shea Jackson Jr.

This is your bear on drugs: Going wild with 'Cocaine Bear'

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Thursday

In 'The Last of Us,' there's a fungus among us

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star in HBO's The Last Of Us. Liane Hentscher/HBO hide caption

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Liane Hentscher/HBO

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'The Last of Us,' there's a fungus among us

The HBO series The Last Of Us is a huge hit and it offers a novel, fungus-based twist on a zombie apocalypse. Civilization is in ruins, and its only hope is a young girl (Bella Ramsey) who's mysteriously immune to the fungal infection – and her gruff, taciturn protector (Pedro Pascal). Together they must travel across a desolate wasteland peppered with outposts of humanity that house violent factions competing for control, or at least, survival.

In 'The Last of Us,' there's a fungus among us

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Wednesday

Grab a tissue and get emotional with 'Dear Edward'

Colin O'Brien stars in the Apple TV+ series Dear Edward. Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Grab a tissue and get emotional with 'Dear Edward'

In the Apple TV+ series Dear Edward, a plane crashes, and there is only one survivor – a 12-year-old boy named Edward, who loses his whole family. He goes to live with relatives, and the web of people grieving loved ones who died in the crash grows and connects. The show was created by Jason Katims, who has a long history making high-octane emotional ensemble shows including Friday Night Lights and Parenthood.

Grab a tissue and get emotional with 'Dear Edward'

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Tuesday

2022 Books We Love: Nonfiction
Noa Denmon for NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2022 Books We Love: Nonfiction

NPR's Books We Love is full of stories. The feature rounds up fiction and nonfiction of many different kinds, and it gives you lots of ways to find what you might love, too. Today, we're diving into the category of nonfiction and highlighting some of our favorite picks.

2022 Books We Love: Nonfiction

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