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Aretha Franklin Shines In, And Despite, The New Miniseries, 'Genius: Aretha'

Courtney B. Vance, left, as C.L. Franklin, with Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin, in a scene from the miniseries Genius: Aretha set at The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church. Richard DuCree/National Geographic/Richard DuCree hide caption

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Richard DuCree/National Geographic/Richard DuCree

Television

Aretha Franklin Shines In, And Despite, The New Miniseries, 'Genius: Aretha'

Debuting this Sunday on National Geographic, Genius: Aretha looks at the Queen of Soul's life through the lens of a television biopic.

Aretha Franklin Shines In, And Despite, The New Miniseries, 'Genius: Aretha'

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'Zack Snyder's Justice League': Vindication For Fans But What About Everybody Else?

Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. HBO Max hide caption

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HBO Max

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Zack Snyder's Justice League': Vindication For Fans But What About Everybody Else?

The 2017 film Justice League had a famously rocky road to the big screen and premiered to polarized reactions. Following an extended online campaign by Zack Snyder's hardcore fanbase, the director has gone back and recreated his original vision for the film, now called Zack Snyder's Justice League.

'Zack Snyder's Justice League': Vindication For Fans But What About Everybody Else?

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Here At Long (Really Long) Last, 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' Is ... Not Bad?

Zack Snyder directs Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot. Zack Snyder's Justice League is the director's 2021 cut of the 2017 film. Clay Enos/HBO Max hide caption

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Clay Enos/HBO Max

Review

Movie Reviews

Here At Long (Really Long) Last, 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' Is ... Not Bad?

Zach Snyder's Justice League drops on HBO Max on Thursday; despite being an eye-popping four hours long, it's a stronger film than the 2017 version finished by Joss Whedon after Snyder stepped away.

Here At Long (Really Long) Last, 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' Is ... Not Bad?

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Steven Yeun's Essential Performances

Steven Yeun plays Ben in the 2018 South Korean psychological thriller Burning. Well Go USA hide caption

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Well Go USA

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Steven Yeun's Essential Performances

Steven Yeun's filmography reveals a remarkably varied career. From his breakout role as Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead to his work with directors like Bong Joon-ho and Boots Riley, Yeun can easily jump between playing enigmatic cosmopolitan characters and endearing supportive boyfriend characters. As awards season kicks off, Pop Culture Happy Hour revisits great performers and a few of their essential performances. Today, we're spotlighting Yeun, whose role in Minari makes him the first Asian-American nominee for a lead actor Oscar.

Steven Yeun's Essential Performances

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The Bachelor's Cluelessness About Race Comes To A Head In Season Finale

On Monday's After the Final Rose special, bachelor Matt James revealed why he broke things off with Rachael Kirkconnell after photos of her at an antebellum South-themed party surfaced on social media. Craig Sjodin/ABC hide caption

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Craig Sjodin/ABC

Television

The Bachelor's Cluelessness About Race Comes To A Head In Season Finale

Matt James — the first Black bachelor in the franchise's history — broke things off with winner Rachael Kirkconnell after photos of her at an antebellum South-themed party surfaced on social media.

Can't Let It Go
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders

Can't Let It Go

A special episode from our friends at NPR's Planet Money: A show all about the things we're obsessed with. Sam joins Planet Money co-host Karen Duffin to dig into obsessions including the Beyoncé of economics, an actual musician, Lubalin, finding deep inspiration in shallow web posts, and curried chicken. Also, we stage an intervention, and, we bring you Planet Money's first ever meditation to help you breathe deeply and let go. Just let it go. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.

Can't Let It Go

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Oscar Nominations 2021: The Highs And The Snubs

Nomadland star Frances McDormand and director Chloé Zhao are nominated for prizes at this year's Academy Awards. Joshua James Richards/20th Century Studios hide caption

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Joshua James Richards/20th Century Studios

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Oscar Nominations 2021: The Highs And The Snubs

The Oscar nominations are out, and in the lead is Mank. The David Fincher-directed film about the writing of Citizen Kane picked up the most nominations with 10, while other films including Nomadland, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Minari, and Judas and the Black Messiah performed well, too. We'll get into what surprised us and what disappointed us. And this year, more than ever, you can check out the eligible movies from the comfort of your own home.

Oscar Nominations 2021: The Highs And The Snubs

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Our 2021 Grammys Recap

Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion accept the best rap performance award for "Savage" during Sunday's Grammy Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

After a six week delay due to COVID-19, we did finally have a Grammys ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, with loads of socially distanced performances and big wins for Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, and Billie Eilish.

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

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'The Bachelorette' Gets New Hosts To Replace Chris Harrison After Racial Controversy

Tayshia Adams appears at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 22, 2020. She will co-host The Bachelorette with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment announced. Chris Pizzello/Invision hide caption

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Chris Pizzello/Invision

Television

'The Bachelorette' Gets New Hosts To Replace Chris Harrison After Racial Controversy

Harrison will not host the upcoming season of the show following controversy over racially insensitive comments. He will be replaced by former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe.

The Evolution Of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

Michelle Visage, RuPaul and Ross Mathews in Season 9, Episode 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Logo hide caption

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Logo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Evolution Of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

RuPaul's Drag Race began in 2009 as a raggedy spoof of reality competition shows, with hilariously low-rent production values on Logo. After 13 seasons and a move to VH1, it has transformed and distilled the once-underground and defiantly transgressive culture of drag into a formula perfectly suited to mainstream viewing.

The Evolution Of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

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Microtransactions Are Great For Game Companies, Less Fun For Players

One of the suits of armor available in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla — if you're willing to pay real money. Screenshot by Elijah Smith/Ubisoft hide caption

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Screenshot by Elijah Smith/Ubisoft

Join The Game

Microtransactions Are Great For Game Companies, Less Fun For Players

Microtransactions are small in-game purchases that grant you mostly cosmetic upgrades — but sometimes, they can affect game play. And some gamers say they're becoming increasingly intrusive.

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

Leigh Keno (right) appraises two chairs with a guest on Antiques Roadshow. Jeff Dunn/WGBH/PBS hide caption

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Jeff Dunn/WGBH/PBS

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

For over twenty years, PBS has ensured that one of the hottest places in American television is your attic. And if you want to know what all that old stuff is worth, you can take yourself right to the people at Antiques Roadshow. Sometimes, you'll find that you're sitting on buried treasure--and sometimes, you won't. In this encore episode, we revisit our discussion of Antiques Roadshow.

Buried Treasure: 'Antiques Roadshow' Is Still Just Like New

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'Ginny And Georgia' Is Too Much Show

Antonia Gentry and Brianne Howey star in Ginny & Georgia. Courtesy of Netflix hide caption

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Courtesy of Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Ginny And Georgia' Is Too Much Show

Netflix's Ginny & Georgia follows a young single mom, her teenage daughter, and their efforts to create a life for themselves in the suburbs of Massachusetts. It's got high school standbys like new friendships and first sexual experiences, but it's also got adult soap standbys like secret pasts and shady figures. To say it has a lot going on is a wild understatement.

'Ginny And Georgia' Is Too Much Show

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Roblox Goes Public — What's Roblox? Ask Anyone With Kids.

The world of Roblox has become a popular escape during the pandemic. Roblox hide caption

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Roblox

Games

Roblox Goes Public — What's Roblox? Ask Anyone With Kids.

Roblox, the online gaming platform, is going public on Wednesday. During the pandemic lockdown it's become a virtual playground, and the company has seen a surge in users, with millions now active.

Roblox Goes Public — What's Roblox? Ask Anyone With Kids.

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Delroy Lindo's Essential Performances

Delroy Lindo plays attorney Adrian Boseman in CBS' The Good Fight. Courtesy of CBS hide caption

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Courtesy of CBS

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Delroy Lindo's Essential Performances

Delroy Lindo is one of those performers you probably recognize as "that dude." Even if he's only on screen for a few scenes, he tends to stand out. He gave one of last year's most critically acclaimed onscreen performances as a troubled Vietnam war vet in Spike Lee's Da Five Bloods. As awards season ramps up, we revisit some of Delroy Lindo's essential performances.

Delroy Lindo's Essential Performances

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Pop Culture Happy Hour: L'Amour For 'Lupin'

Omar Sy plays Assane Diop in Netflix's new French series Lupin. Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix hide caption

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Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix

Review

It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders

Pop Culture Happy Hour: L'Amour For 'Lupin'

Sam joins the Pop Culture Happy Hour team to talk about the French Netflix series Lupin with culture writer Bedatri D. Choudhury and co-hosts Aisha Harris and Glen Weldon. They discuss the twisty caper's exciting (if implausible) plot, dissect its take on race and class, and gush over Omar Sy's performance.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: L'Amour For 'Lupin'

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