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Pop Culture

As Leno Goes Late Again, Is His Brand Still Strong?

Still Smiling? Jay Leno, seen here in 2004 behind the desk on his old Tonight Show set, returns to the show March 1 — but may be bringing some baggage along. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Television

As Leno Goes Late Again, Is His Brand Still Strong?

The host's affable-uncle persona may have taken on some tarnish during the high-profile battle over NBC's Tonight Show and its time slot. But will it damage his performance once he's back where many fans think he belongs?

As Leno Goes Late Again, Is His Brand Still Strong?

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Opinion

'Equation,' 'Gingerly' And Other Linguistic Pet Peeves

Fresh Air

Linguist Geoff Nunberg doesn't enjoy everything about the English language. There are phrases that get on his nerves and words that he prefers not to use. And Nunberg says he's not the first person to have linguistic pet peeves — nor will he be the last.

'Equation,' 'Gingerly' And Other Linguistic Pet Peeves

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Opinion

Can I Just Tell You?

Why The Media Won't Swallow Tiger's Apology

This week, Tell Me More senior producer Alicia Montgomery asks how much of the Tiger Woods takedown is a revenge fantasy for journalists. Montgomery says Woods is no longer being punished for disgracing his family, but defying media expectations.

Why The Media Won't Swallow Tiger's Apology

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For Love Of Do-Good Vampires: A Bloody Book List

Tod Browning's 1931 film Dracula, released in the chaos and uncertainty of the Great Depression, turns in part on the character of Mina (Helen Chandler), who manages to maintain her i--ocence — and--ontrol — despite having suffered at the hands of Bela Lugosi's vampire. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

For Love Of Do-Good Vampires: A Bloody Book List

NPR correspondent Margot Adler has read 75 vampire books in the past nine months. It was a fascination with the classic vampire's immortality that got her started — but it was her discovery of the modern vampire's sense of morality that kept her going.

For Love Of Do-Good Vampires: A Bloody Book List

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Oscars 2010

Shankman's Winning Job: Producing The Oscars

Fresh Air

Adam Shankman has one of the coolest, most stressful jobs around: He's producing the Oscars. The Hairspray director, who is also a judge onSo You Think You Can Dance, joins Fresh Air to dish about seating arrangements and speeches.

Shankman's Winning Job: Producing The Oscars

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Opinion

Oscars 2010

Unsex The Oscars — Let The Best Performer Win

Bob Mondello has a modest proposal: Make the Oscars gender-neutral so Sandra Bullock can compete with Jeff Bridges. After all, nobody separates best director from best directress, so why separate actors by gender? And it might even shorten the ceremony.

Unsex The Oscars — Let The Best Performer Win

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Arts & Life

Fashion Week's Latest Trend? Plus-Size Models

New York Fashion Week gives us a glimpse of what will be fashionable next fall. And with the event comes the discussion of the models' sizes. Size zeros are still common, but lately some fashion spreads have prominently featured plus-size models.

Fashion Week's Latest Trend? Plus-Size Models

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Attention Oscar: Why Doris Day Should Get Her Due

Doug McGrath, filmmaker and journalist, gets moody around this time of year. Why? Oscar time inevitably reminds him of a gross oversight: Doris Day has never received an Academy Award. Host Gwen Thompkins talks with McGrath about giving Day proper recognition.

Attention Oscar: Why Doris Day Should Get Her Due

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National

Hollywood Sign Goes Under Cover

For the first time in anyone's memory, the iconic Hollywood sign is being covered as part of an effort to save the surrounding hills from development. The sign, which is four stories tall and visible throughout much of Los Angeles, will be draped with a huge banner reading, "Save The Peak." It refers to an adjacent piece of land once owned by Howard Hughes that's been slated as a site for luxury homes. The land owner is willing to sell the property to preservationists who need to raise several million dollars to close the deal. NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates reports.

Hollywood Sign Goes Under Cover

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Law

Lines Between Fair Use And Copyright Theft Blurry

Hollywood studios and the recording industry have railed against copyright infringement, but fair use advocates say intellectual property can be widely shared — legally. As long as people are creating something new out of copyrighted work, it's fair game.

Lines Between Fair Use And Copyright Theft Blurry

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Move Over, Cupcake: Make Way For The Macaroon

Cupcakes Are So 2005: The latest "it" dessert is the macaroon ... or macaron, if you want to be French about it. Kyle Samperton hide caption

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Kyle Samperton

Food

Move Over, Cupcake: Make Way For The Macaroon

Hate to break it to you, but cupcakes are so 2005. The latest "it" dessert is the macaroon ... or macaron, if you want to be all French about it. The colorful little almond-and-air cookies have taken off in the U.S. — they've made cameos in Gossip Girl and at Starbucks, and make-your-own macaroon classes are selling out.

Move Over, Cupcake: Make Way For The Macaroon

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