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Highlights from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

Priya Kansara stars in Polite Society, directed and written by Nida Manzoor. Parisa Taghizadeh/Courtesy of Sundance Institute hide caption

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Parisa Taghizadeh/Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Highlights from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

Over 100 feature films played at this year's Sundance Film Festival. There were deeply personal stories told by emerging filmmakers, buzzy narratives ripped from the headlines, and so much more. And we've picked a few favorites we think are worth keeping on your radar in the coming year.

Highlights from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

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The Jonas Brothers receive Walk of Fame star and announce new album's release date

The Jonas Brothers react as their Hollywood Walk of Fame Star is unveiled during a ceremony on Monday in Hollywood, Calif. At the ceremony, they announced their sixth album will be released on May 5. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Music News

The Jonas Brothers receive Walk of Fame star and announce new album's release date

The pop group, composed of brothers Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas, formed in 2005. Their next album, titled The Album, will be released May 5.

Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated 'Renaissance' is a thotty and ethereal work of art

Beyonce's Renaissance is the singer's seventh studio album. Parkwood Entertainment hide caption

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Parkwood Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated 'Renaissance' is a thotty and ethereal work of art

Beyoncé's Renaissance is a joyful, sonic immersion made for dance floors of all kinds. The album earned nine Grammy nominations, and during this Sunday's telecast, Beyoncé could win her first-ever, much overdue award for album of the year.

Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated 'Renaissance' is a thotty and ethereal work of art

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A Maine community comes together to save a candlepin bowling tradition

Autumn Mowery, 20, operates the candlepin bowling alley in Ellsworth, Maine. She has been running the place by herself and needs to update the bowling alley's machinery in order to be able to hire any employees. Sofia Aldinio for NPR hide caption

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Sofia Aldinio for NPR

National

A Maine community comes together to save a candlepin bowling tradition

Not well-known in many parts of the United States, candlepin bowling is mostly found in New England and nearby parts of Canada. The aging alleys are held together with "duct tape and bubble gum."

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing

Lesley Manville stars in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Dávid Lukács/Ada Films/Focus Features hide caption

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Dávid Lukács/Ada Films/Focus Features

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, and more.

A silly 'Shotgun Wedding' sends J.Lo on an adventure

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel star in the new Amazon Prime movie Shotgun Wedding. Ana Carballosa/Lionsgate hide caption

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Ana Carballosa/Lionsgate

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A silly 'Shotgun Wedding' sends J.Lo on an adventure

The Amazon Prime action comedy Shotgun Wedding delivers on its title in the sense that it's got a wedding, and it's got lots of guns. The film stars Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel as a couple whose wedding day at a beautiful resort is interrupted by pirates who take their guests hostage. Will they save the guests? Will they save themselves? Will they ever actually get married? And just how great will J.Lo look the entire time?

A silly 'Shotgun Wedding' sends J.Lo on an adventure

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As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

Japanese musician, composer, record producer, pianist, activist, writer, actor and dancer Ryuichi Sakamoto, photographed on June 30, 2016 in Paris. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Music Interviews

As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

The composer has been lauded for decades over his deeply affective music; director Alejandro González Iñárritu, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and more join us to explain why.

As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

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Jimmy Kimmel celebrates 20 years as a (reluctant) late night TV institution

Jimmy Kimmel during a recent taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Randy Holmes/ABC hide caption

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Randy Holmes/ABC

Television

Jimmy Kimmel celebrates 20 years as a (reluctant) late night TV institution

Kimmel says he thought he was going to stop; then he didn't.

Jimmy Kimmel celebrates 20 years as a (reluctant) late night TV institution

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A decade on, the creator of 'This is fine' wants to put the famous dog to rest

KC Green just marked the 10th anniversary of his 2013 comic strip that spawned the "This is fine" meme. He reflects on the smiling dog's popularity. (Story first aired on ATC on Jan. 23, 2023.)

A decade on, the creator of 'This is fine' wants to put the famous dog to rest

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Oscar nominee Michelle Yeoh shines in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan all earned acting Oscar nominations for their work in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Allyson Riggs/A24 hide caption

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Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Oscar nominee Michelle Yeoh shines in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a zany and profound sci-fi action comedy set in multiple dimensions. It stars Michelle Yeoh as a businesswoman whose world is turned upside down the day her family attempts to file their taxes. The film earned 11 Oscar nominations, including best picture, director, and a lead actress for nomination Yeoh. So we thought this would be the perfect time to revisit our conversation about one of our favorite movies of the past year.

Oscar nominee Michelle Yeoh shines in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

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Meet the mathematical minds behind Oscar-nominated 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

The directors of Everything Everywhere All At Once credit their "math brain" for this genre bending story, about laundromat owner Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) battling for the fate of the multiverse. A24 hide caption

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A24

Short Wave

Meet the mathematical minds behind Oscar-nominated 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Film directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively: Daniels) reimagined the multiverse movie in their breakout film Everything Everywhere All At Once. Tuesday, the film received 11 Oscar nominations for the 95th Academy Awards, including best picture and best director. This episode, the Daniels share how science played a starring role.

Meet the mathematical minds behind Oscar-nominated 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

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Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once
Allyson Riggs/A24

It's Been a Minute

Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once

Everything Everywhere All at Once is the critical darling of the 2023 awards season. The film is up for 11 Oscars, including a Supporting Actress nomination for breakout star, Stephanie Hsu. Hsu, who played Joy Wang AKA Jobu Tupaki in the film, started her career in experimental theater, which eventually led her to meet the directors of Everything Everywhere All at Once. Stephanie joined host Brittany Luse to chat about her comedic roots, the freedom of nihilism, and how the film has brought intergenerational healing to the stars.

Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu is everywhere, all at once

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We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

Michelle Yeoh received a best actress Oscar nomination for Everything Everywhere All At Once. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

Nominations for this year's Oscars dropped today, and it's a big year for Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Banshees Of Inisherin, and All Quiet On The Western Front. We run down the nominees in the major categories, plus talk about some surprises and snubs. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour

We break down the 2023 Oscar Nominations

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Panic! at the Disco is ending after nearly two decades

Panic! at the Disco performs onstage at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on May 14, 2016, in Irvine, Calif. The group is ending its nearly two-decade run, frontman Brendon Urie announced Tuesday. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc. hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for CBS Radio Inc.

Music News

Panic! at the Disco is ending after nearly two decades

Brendon Urie, the band's frontman and last remaining original member, made the announcement on Instagram. He said with he and his wife expecting their first child, he wants to focus on his family.

Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

Shelley Long and Ted Danson in Cheers. Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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Alamy Stock Photo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

Cheers is one of the most celebrated TV sitcoms of all time. Set in a Boston bar, the show won major awards and turned stars like Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Rhea Perlman into household names. Cheers ended its run 30 years ago this spring, so we thought this would be a good time to revisit the series and answer your questions.

Has 'Cheers' aged like fine wine? Or has it gone bitter?

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