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Editing Reality
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Editing Reality

We live in divided times, when the answer to the question 'what is reality?' depends on who you ask. Almost all the information we take in is to some extent edited and curated, and the line between entertainment and reality has become increasingly blurred. Nowhere is that more obvious than the world of reality television. The genre feeds off our most potent feelings – love, hope, anxiety, loneliness – and turns them into profit... and presidents. So in this episode, we're going to filter three themes of our modern world through the lens of reality TV: dating, the American dream, and the rage machine.

Editing Reality

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We watched 'Maury,' but that doesn't mean we felt good about it

Maury Povich announces the 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy award nominations in 2005. Peter Kramer/Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Kramer/Getty Images

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

We watched 'Maury,' but that doesn't mean we felt good about it

For more than three decades, Maury has been a platform for flamboyant guests seeking paternity and lie detector tests for significant others. They've yelled, bawled and kicked over chairs. Now, the show's host Maury Povich is retiring and it's the end of an era for a particular brand of uber-trashy daytime TV.

We watched 'Maury,' but that doesn't mean we felt good about it

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Latino superheroes are saving the day in Hollywood

Leslie Grace (left), Antonio Banderas, Lynda Carter, Xochitl Gomez, Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), El Santo and Xolo Maridueña have played or are in production to play superheroes. Mike Gallegos for NPR hide caption

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Mike Gallegos for NPR

Latinos in Hollywood

Latino superheroes are saving the day in Hollywood

Many of the new movie superheroes star Latino actors or have Latino characters. Their origin stories are diverse.

Latino superheroes are saving the day in Hollywood

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The music and meaning of Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey performs during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The music and meaning of Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey's landmark album Butterfly recently turned 25. The album is certified five-times platinum, and includes singles like "Honey" and "My All." The singer-songwriter and pop star seems as omnipresent and ever, thanks to a perennial holiday hit and her devoted and social media-savvy fanbase. In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about Mariah Carey.

The music and meaning of Mariah Carey

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We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

Florence Pugh stars in Don't Worry Darling. Warner Bros. Entertainment hide caption

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Warner Bros. Entertainment

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

In the new film Don't Worry Darling Florence Pugh plays Alice, a woman living in an idyllic planned community with her husband Jack, played by Harry Styles. But strange things begin to happen that make her suspect that all is not well in the community run by Jack's mysterious employer (Chris Pine). The film is directed by Olivia Wilde and in this spoiler-packed episode, we try to chase some answers down.

We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

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

Group photo of Bakers in the Tent (L to R) (back) Sandro, William, Abdul, Carol, Maisam, Syabira, Maxy (front) James Rebs Janusz, Dawn, Kevin on The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. Mark Bourdillon/Netflix hide caption

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Mark Bourdillon/Netflix

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: Industry, The Great British Baking Show, and more.

Will the murder mystery 'See How They Run' keep you guessing?

Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan in See How They Run. Parisa Taghizadeh/Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Parisa Taghizadeh/Searchlight Pictures

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Will the murder mystery 'See How They Run' keep you guessing?

The new comedy See How They Run is a whodunit for people who really like a whodunit. Set behind the scenes at a 1950s production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, the film is a murder mystery with a big cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, David Oyelowo, Ruth Wilson, and Adrien Brody. And it's an entertaining send-up that takes some very meta swings at the very idea of a murder mystery.

Will the murder mystery 'See How They Run' keep you guessing?

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High school is hazardous in the stylish 'Do Revenge'

Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes star in the Netflix film Do Revenge. Kim Simms/Netflix hide caption

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Kim Simms/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

High school is hazardous in the stylish 'Do Revenge'

The new Netflix film Do Revenge takes its cues from a lot of other films. Some are comedies about the psychology of high school, like Clueless and Heathers. Some are more traditional tales of dark plotting, like Strangers on a Train. Directed and co-written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film stars Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke as two teenagers committed to getting back at each other's enemies.

High school is hazardous in the stylish 'Do Revenge'

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How the investigation of Adnan Syed became a podcast phenomenon

Adnan Syed, center, leaves the Cummings Courthouse in Baltimore on Monday. A judge has ordered the release of Syed after overturning his conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast Serial. Brian Witte/AP hide caption

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Culture

How the investigation of Adnan Syed became a podcast phenomenon

With more than 300 million downloads and multiple awards, Serial's investigation into Adnan Syed's case paved the way for a veritable cottage industry of true crime podcasts.

'Reboot' is a comedy that's fresher than it sounds

Keegan-Michael Key in a scene from the Hulu series Reboot. Hulu hide caption

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Hulu

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Reboot' is a comedy that's fresher than it sounds

The new Hulu show Reboot follows a fictional behind-the-scenes attempt to create a gritty update of a TGIF-style family sitcom. The effort is led by Hannah (Rachel Bloom) who is constantly clashing with the show's original showrunner Gordon (Paul Reiser). The reunited cast is played by Judy Greer, Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, and Calum Worthy. Reboot was created by Modern Family alum Steven Levitan.

'Reboot' is a comedy that's fresher than it sounds

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Spanish 'Dracula' finds new blood, more than 90 years after its release

Carlos Villarías and Lupita Tovar starred in the 1931 Spanish language version of Dracula. Mike Gallegos for NPR hide caption

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Latinos in Hollywood

Spanish 'Dracula' finds new blood, more than 90 years after its release

In 1931, an entire new cast and crew reshot Dracula into Spanish on the Universal Studios lot.

Spanish 'Dracula' finds new blood, more than 90 years after its release

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Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) in a scene from the series Archer. FXX hide caption

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FXX

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

The animated comedy Archer explores the exploits of Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), the world's most dangerous spy. Now in its 13th season, it's a workplace comedy full of guns, sex, and the occasional mad scientist. Created by Adam Reed, the series airs on FXX and streams on Hulu.

Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

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Why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better

Ismael Cruz Cordova as Arondir in Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Ben Rothstein/Prime Video hide caption

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Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

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Culture

Why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better

Producers of fantasy shows should use diversity to deepen storylines.

Why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better

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

Sheryl Lee Ralph accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary onstage during the 74th Emmy Awards. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

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: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kenan & Kel, and more.

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