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Where Did TV's Villains Go? Monsters, Anti-Heroes And Alexis Colby Carrington

Old-school villains like Dynasty's Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan (Joan Collins) could always be counted upon to bring some melo- with the drama. Bob D'Amico/ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Bob D'Amico/ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Where Did TV's Villains Go? Monsters, Anti-Heroes And Alexis Colby Carrington

TV has a bad guy problem. The rise of morally ambiguous anti-heroes like Tony Soprano has pushed chewier, more melodramatic villains aside. What we gained in nuance, we lost in sheer, hiss-worthy fun.

Where Did TV's Villains Go? Monsters, Anti-Heroes And Alexis Colby Carrington

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Television

Larry Wilmore On Being Nerdy, Breaking Taboos And 'The Nightly Show'

Fresh Air

The self-deprecating former host of Comedy Central's The Nightly Show talks about getting his start and finding humor in politics. Originally broadcast Feb. 19, 2015; Aug. 20, 2015 and May 16, 2016.

Larry Wilmore On Being Nerdy, Breaking Taboos And 'The Nightly Show'

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Can A Canadian Prime Minister Be An Action Hero? Marvel Comics Thinks So

The cover of Marvel's Civil War II features Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a boxing ring. Artwork by Ramon Perez/Courtesy of Marvel hide caption

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Artwork by Ramon Perez/Courtesy of Marvel

Parallels

Can A Canadian Prime Minister Be An Action Hero? Marvel Comics Thinks So

Justin Trudeau has had a varied career — bouncer, snowboard instructor, Canada's prime minister. Now he's a Marvel Comics action hero.

Can A Canadian Prime Minister Be An Action Hero? Marvel Comics Thinks So

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In This 2005 Interview, Gene Wilder Explains How He Learned To Get Laughs

Actor Gene Wilder, who entertained audiences with his performances in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Producers and Blazing Saddles, died Monday. He was 83 years old. Art Selby & Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images hide caption

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Art Selby & Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Obituaries

In This 2005 Interview, Gene Wilder Explains How He Learned To Get Laughs

Fresh Air

When he was 8, Wilder's mother had a heart attack, and he took it upon himself to cheer her up. We'll listen back to a Fresh Air interview with the comic actor, who died Monday at age 83.

In This 2005 Interview, Gene Wilder Explains How He Learned To Get Laughs

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At MTV's Video Music Awards, It's All About 'Moments'

Drake presents Rihanna with the the Video Vanguard Award during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

At MTV's Video Music Awards, It's All About 'Moments'

This year's VMAs featured Rihanna, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and several minutes of Kanye West doing whatever he wants — all vying for social-media dominance in the hours, days and weeks ahead.

At MTV's Video Music Awards, It's All About 'Moments'

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Television

Musicians 'Let It All Out' At MTV's Video Music Awards

Complex magazine writer Alex Gale talks about the more than 30-year history and previews what to expect for Sunday night's Video Music Awards on MTV.

Musicians 'Let It All Out' At MTV's Video Music Awards

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First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

Actress Constance Zimmer attends the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on on January 17, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Mike Windle/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Windle/Getty Images

Television

First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

Cuba Gooding Jr., Rami Malek and Constance Zimmer all have one thing in common: this year is the first time each has been nominated for an Emmy. Their nominations hint at deeper changes in television.

First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys

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A Hero For The Arts And Sciences: Upcoming Marvel Covers Promote STEAM Fields

Invincible Iron Man — featuring the debut of a new hero, Riri Williams — is one five books Marvel is using to promote science, math, and arts disciplines through a series of covers. Courtesy of Marvel hide caption

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Courtesy of Marvel

The Two-Way

A Hero For The Arts And Sciences: Upcoming Marvel Covers Promote STEAM Fields

The five covers feature the company's heroes — including Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Hulk — all engaging in activities educators have been trying to promote.

Art & Design

Nina McLemore's Clothes Are A 'Weapon' Of Powerful Women

Nina McLemore designs clothes for powerful women: Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Janet Yellen, Elena Kagan and others. She talks about how fashion can help women stand out in political office.

Nina McLemore's Clothes Are A 'Weapon' Of Powerful Women

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Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Pete's Dragon' And Kids And Their Monsters

Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney's Pete's Dragon. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Pete's Dragon' And Kids And Their Monsters

On this week's show, we visit with Disney's latest live-action effort and talk about why kids have, and love, their friendly monsters.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Pete's Dragon' And Kids And Their Monsters

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Shante, He Stays: RuPaul Reflects On Decades Of Drag — And 2 Emmy Nominations

RuPaul on the set of his hit reality show, RuPaul's Drag Race. Logo TV hide caption

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Logo TV

Shante, He Stays: RuPaul Reflects On Decades Of Drag — And 2 Emmy Nominations

RuPaul is the most recognizable drag queen in America. His hit show, RuPaul's Drag Race is up for two Emmy Awards as it begins filming its ninth season. But drag, he says, will never be mainstream.

Shante, He Stays: RuPaul Reflects On Decades Of Drag — And 2 Emmy Nominations

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One Professor's Quest To Collect Every Video Game Soda Machine

A screenshot from the video game Fallout 3 of a character standing near a Nuka-Cola machine. Soda machines appear in video games a lot more frequently than Jess Morrissette expected, so he decided to document this phenomenon. @decafjedi/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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@decafjedi/Screenshot by NPR

All Tech Considered

One Professor's Quest To Collect Every Video Game Soda Machine

From Sprunk and Grog to Nuka-Cola and Fountain View, soda machines are everywhere in video games. A researcher says they can serve a dose of nostalgia after the apocalypse.