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'Starstruck' is a meet-cute with fame

Nikesh Patel and Rose Matafeo star in the HBO Max series Starstruck. Mark Johnson/HBO Max hide caption

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Mark Johnson/HBO Max

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Starstruck' is a meet-cute with fame

It might sound like fun to date a glamorous movie star, but in reality, it would probably get very messy. That's the premise of HBO Max's Starstruck, created by and starring New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo. The romantic comedy series is complicated, funny and charming — treating fame as the isolating pain in the neck it often can be. It's a great weekend binge watch, and just returned for a second season. In this encore episode, we discuss the first season.

'Starstruck' is a meet-cute with fame

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Our 2022 Grammys Recap

Olivia Rodrigo accepts the best pop vocal album Grammy. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2022 Grammys Recap

Last night's Grammys featured wins for Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, Jon Batiste, and more. Plus we got a lavish stage show with performances from BTS, Lady Gaga, and many others.

Our 2022 Grammys Recap

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Louis C.K. cancels his cancellation, wins a Grammy and triggers a backlash

Just five years ago, networks such as HBO, Netflix and FX were cutting ties with the formerly revered Louis C.K. and pulled past and upcoming programs alike. Now he is back and has a Grammy. Ben Gabbe/Getty Images hide caption

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Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

The 2022 Grammy Awards

Louis C.K. cancels his cancellation, wins a Grammy and triggers a backlash

The 54-year-old comedian admitted to sexual misconduct almost five years ago. But his most recent album brought home a Grammy for best comedy album.

To honor her dad's legacy, she's sharing his historic photos of MLK, Jackie O and more

Martin Luther King Jr. leads a civil rights march to Boston Common in Massachusetts in 1965. Copyright Ted Polumbaum/Newseum collection hide caption

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Copyright Ted Polumbaum/Newseum collection

The Picture Show

To honor her dad's legacy, she's sharing his historic photos of MLK, Jackie O and more

Judy Polumbaum spent 20 years after her father's death combing through his archives and interviewing his friends and family members. The result is the new book "All Available Light."

What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend reading, listening and gaming

Usagi Tsukino happens upon Luna, a magical talking cat, who tasks Usagi with becoming Sailor Moon. Naoki Takeuchi/PNP/Toei Animation Co.,Ltd. via Viz Media hide caption

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Naoki Takeuchi/PNP/Toei Animation Co.,Ltd. via Viz Media

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

What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend reading, listening and gaming

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: plenty of games and Sailor Moon.

What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend reading, listening and gaming

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The vibe has shifted, plus 'Conversations with People Who Hate Me'

Two people sitting on a bench wearing protective masks using their phones as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States on March 27, 2020 in New York City. Cindy Ord/Getty Images hide caption

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It's Been a Minute

The vibe has shifted, plus 'Conversations with People Who Hate Me'

You may see it in the news or on social media. You may be feeling different in your relationships or with your job. The "vibe" has shifted. Our guest host Jasmine Garsd is joined by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, culture writer for BuzzFeed News and host of CBC's pop culture podcast Pop Chat, to learn more about this vibe shift and why we all may be feeling a little off right now.

The vibe has shifted, plus 'Conversations with People Who Hate Me'

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Michelle Yeoh gets multidimensional in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once, the latest film directed by the Daniels. Allyson Riggs/A24 hide caption

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Allyson Riggs/A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Michelle Yeoh gets multidimensional in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

Everything Everywhere All At Once is the kind of movie that lives up to its title. It's a zany and profound sci-fi action comedy set in multiple dimensions, bursting with ideas about the pursuit of happiness, familial duty and the meaning of life. It stars Michelle Yeoh as a businesswoman whose world is turned upside down the day her family attempts to file their taxes. Forced to confront her life choices, she clashes with her daughter, her husband and a cranky IRS inspector in the weirdest of ways.

Michelle Yeoh gets multidimensional in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'

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Jared Leto is Marvel's bat-man in the vampiric 'Morbius'

Dr. Michael Morbius aims to cure himself of a debilitating illness, but ends up infecting himself with vampirism. Sony Pictures hide caption

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Sony Pictures

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Movies

Jared Leto is Marvel's bat-man in the vampiric 'Morbius'

An ailing biochemist aims to cure himself of a debilitating illness, but ends up infecting himself with vampirism in the Marvel movie Morbius.

Jared Leto is Marvel's bat-man in the vampiric 'Morbius'

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Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in a scene from The Lost City. Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

In the new film The Lost City Sandra Bullock plays a romance novelist who is kidnapped by a duplicitous billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) looking for the real-life lost treasure referenced in her writing. Her cover model (Channing Tatum) embarks on a bumbling quest through the jungle and save her.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have big fun in 'The Lost City'

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The case for 'Is It Cake?,' Netflix's new game show

April Julian on Is it Cake?, measuring a cake made in the image of a shoe. Patrick Wymore/Netflix hide caption

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Patrick Wymore/Netflix

Television

The case for 'Is It Cake?,' Netflix's new game show

There's something perfect about the fact that almost two years after a meme, Netflix made it into a game show.

The case for 'Is It Cake?,' Netflix's new game show

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'Bridgerton' is back, but will you still swoon?

Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey star in the second season of Bridgerton. Liam Daniel/Netflix hide caption

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Liam Daniel/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Bridgerton' is back, but will you still swoon?

The Netflix series Bridgerton is back for a second season. And now, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) is having his story told with the addition of a new love interest, played by Simone Ashley. Based on a series of Regency romance novels by Julia Quinn, there's still high drama, scandalous gossip and elaborate period costumes that sometimes take over entire scenes. So what's different, what's the same and how do Daphne and her duke figure into this season?

'Bridgerton' is back, but will you still swoon?

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Jada Pinkett Smith calls for healing after hair joke, Oscars slap

Composite image of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Chris rock at the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. Angela Weiss/Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Race

Jada Pinkett Smith calls for healing after hair joke, Oscars slap

The "Red Table Talk" host broke her silence on Tuesday, calling for healing after an insensitive hair joke saw her husband slap a Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars on Sunday night.

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