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Pop culture in high spirits
We recap the Succession finale

Jeremy Strong in the series finale episode of Succession. HBO hide caption

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HBO

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

We recap the Succession finale

The series finale of HBO's Succession was truly a meal fit for a king. Backs were stabbed, alliances were realigned, and a new CEO of the media conglomerate Waystar Royco was crowned. How did the squabbling Roy siblings shake out in the fight to control their family's dynasty?

We recap the Succession finale

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'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Disney hide caption

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'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

The Little Mermaid is Disney's latest property to receive the live-action remake treatment. While some scenes match the original film, there are changes. Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote several new songs for the film. And it stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. The film is directed by Rob Marshall and is in theaters now.

'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

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Remembering Tina Turner

Singer Tina Turner performs onstage during the 50th annual Grammy awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Remembering Tina Turner

The word "icon" is thrown around a lot these days, but Tina Turner was the epitome of that and more. The legendary pop star died today at the age of 83, leaving behind an indelible legacy that spanned decades across the music world, the stage, and the screen. We talk about her life and career, including her hits "River Deep, Mountain High," "Proud Mary," and "What's Love Got To Do With It."

Remembering Tina Turner

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In 'American Born Chinese,' a beloved graphic novel gets Disney-fied

Ben Wang as Jin Wang and Jim Liu as Wei-Chen in American Born Chinese. Disney+ hide caption

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In 'American Born Chinese,' a beloved graphic novel gets Disney-fied

In the Disney+ show American Born Chinese, Jin is an insecure Chinese-American kid just trying to get through high school when he befriends the new kid in town, Wei-Chen. Wei-Chen is actually a god on a divine quest, and he drags Jin along with him. And the two come to realize they're more alike than they ever imagined.

In 'American Born Chinese,' a beloved graphic novel gets Disney-fied

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'XO, Kitty' is a coming-of-age Korean rom-dramedy with heart

Anna Cathcart as Kitty Song Covey in the series, XO, Kitty. Park Young-Sol/Netflix hide caption

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Park Young-Sol/Netflix

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'XO, Kitty' is a coming-of-age Korean rom-dramedy with heart

The Netflix series XO, Kitty is a spinoff of the hit YA book and movie franchise, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Anna Cathcart returns as Kitty Song Covey, a teenager with a penchant for matchmaking. The show is a mash-up of genres, including rom-coms, Korean dramas, and coming-of-age tales.

'XO, Kitty' is a coming-of-age Korean rom-dramedy with heart

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You're overthinking it — how speculating can spoil a TV show

Series like Lost and Westworld were made for intense speculation and close audience attention. Above, Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) and James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway) in Lost. Mario Perez/ABC hide caption

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Mario Perez/ABC

You're overthinking it — how speculating can spoil a TV show

Shows like Lost or The X-Files are carefully packed with secrets and hidden connections for viewers to untangle. But plenty of shows aren't high-concept puzzle boxes and you can just ... watch them.

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

Janelle Monáe attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, Calif. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images hide caption

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

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

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: The Soundtrack Show, Reservation Dogs, Janelle Monáe and more.

'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

Jason Momoa in Fast X. Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures

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'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

More than 20 years into the Fast & Furious franchise, the saga keeps roaring on with the latest installment, Fast X. With a star-studded cast including Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa and many more, the film has plenty of absurd action sequences and logic-defying stunts that have become a trademark. But after all this time, does the magic of fast cars, backyard BBQs and family persist?

'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

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In 'Primo,' a kid comes of age with the help of his colorful uncles

Ignacio Diaz-Silverio as Rafa and Stakiah Washington as Mya in Primo. Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee hide caption

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Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Primo,' a kid comes of age with the help of his colorful uncles

In the charming Amazon Freevee sitcom Primo, Rafa is a typical 16-year-old kid navigating life with the help of his enterprising mom and five very colorful uncles. The show was created by journalist and podcaster Shea Serrano and is executive produced by Mike Schur (The Good Place, Parks & Recreation). So unsurprisingly, there's no shortage of pop culture references, silly situations, and a heartfelt moment or two.

In 'Primo,' a kid comes of age with the help of his colorful uncles

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Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

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Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

The Fast & The Furious debuted as a scruffy car-culture movie, and it was a hit. The franchise, fronted by Vin Diesel, has become a blockbuster machine. In anticipation of Fast X, we're encoring our episode about the legacy of the Fast & Furious franchise.

Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

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In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton, and Jane Fonda in Book Club: The Next Chapter. Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features hide caption

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In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

Book Club: The Next Chapter is a sequel that reunites four legendary actresses: Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen. In this iteration, the ladies jet-set to Italy. It's a light-hearted, very silly romp with a meet-cute, an old paramour, lost luggage, and multiple jokes about meatballs.

In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

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When we grow up alongside our stars

When stars hit it big just as a generation comes of age, it can create a unique and lifelong bond with their fans. Above, Beyoncé performs in Los Angeles in July 2009. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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When we grow up alongside our stars

When stars hit it big just as a generation comes of age, it can create a unique, lifelong bond with their fans. Think: Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, and of course, Beyoncé. It goes way beyond nostalgia.

The summer movies, TV and music we can't wait for

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Warner Bros.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The summer movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Today we offer up a guide to some of the most exciting movies, TV, and music you can check out this summer.

The summer movies, TV and music we can't wait for

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Books We Love: Tales From Around The World

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Becky Harlan/NPR

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Books We Love: Tales From Around The World

Books can take you anywhere. Across oceans, across borders, to places you may have never seen. And those books are some of the ones that we treasure the most. Today we're recommending great books that take you around the world.

Books We Love: Tales From Around The World

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We debate the greatest TV finales of all time

Keri Russell in the series finale of The Americans. FX hide caption

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FX

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We debate the greatest TV finales of all time

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Barry, and Succession will conclude this month, and it's not easy to end a TV series. So we decided to debate: what is the greatest TV finale of all time?

We debate the greatest TV finales of all time

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