Accessibility links
Pop Culture Happy Hour Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy HourPop Culture Happy Hour

Pop culture in high spirits
'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Sony Pictures hide caption

toggle caption
Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

The new animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to the Oscar-winning Into The Spider-Verse. It continues the story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), as he battles a new villain, The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). The stakes grow as Miles and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) face greater conflicts as they traverse the multiverse.

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

Listen · 28:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1176735268/1179503989" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Beth in You Hurt My Feelings. A24 hide caption

toggle caption
A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

You Hurt My Feelings is the latest film from the writer and director Nicole Holofcener. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a writer who discovers that her husband (Tobias Menzies) doesn't like her new book. She's rattled so hard that it threatens her marriage. The supporting cast also includes Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed, and Owen Teague.

In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

Listen · 14:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1176702339/1179107325" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
'Barry' fades to black (comedy)

Bill Hader in the final episode of Barry. HBO hide caption

toggle caption
HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Barry' fades to black (comedy)

The HBO series Barry ended on Sunday. Throughout its run, the dark comedy brought a delicate tonal balance to Bill Hader's hitman-turned-actor. Its sharp take on Hollywood was funny, but it never let us forget that Barry was a violent sociopath. Barry's final season made choices so surprising and emotionally brutal that everything that came before it looked almost light and frothy.

'Barry' fades to black (comedy)

Listen · 21:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1174746671/1178862276" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
These are the new movies and TV shows we can't wait to watch this summer

Clockwise from top left: Elemental, Flamin' Hot, Barbie, Shortcomings, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Secret Invasion. Disney/Pixar, Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Animation, Des Willie/Marvel hide caption

toggle caption
Disney/Pixar, Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Animation, Des Willie/Marvel

Review

These are the new movies and TV shows we can't wait to watch this summer

Studios raced to finish summer attractions ahead of the writers strike. So we're back with a great big, filterable guide of what to watch — and where to find it — as the days get hotter and longer.

In 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' the open world is wide open

Link returns in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo hide caption

toggle caption
Nintendo

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' the open world is wide open

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the latest, and fastest-selling game in Nintendo's beloved franchise. Many critics and gamers are declaring it not only the best game of the year, but maybe the best game, period.

In 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' the open world is wide open

Listen · 20:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1176832256/1178424027" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
We recap the Succession finale

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

toggle caption
HBO

Review

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

Listen · 25:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178689930/1178701469" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing and listening

Gretchen (Aya Cash) is a self-centered music publicist who falls in love with Jimmy (Chris Geere) in the FXX series You're the Worst. Prashant Gupta/FX hide caption

toggle caption
Prashant Gupta/FX

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

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

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: You're the Worst, 60 Songs that Explain the '90s, and Little Moon wins the Tiny Desk.

'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

toggle caption
Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'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

Listen · 21:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1174750539/1178184920" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Remembering Tina Turner

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

toggle caption
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

Listen · 20:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178026571/1178085883" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
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

toggle caption
Disney+

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

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

Listen · 25:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1176487971/1177762337" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
'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

toggle caption
Park Young-Sol/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'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

Listen · 16:50
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1174744775/1177493668" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
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

toggle caption
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

toggle caption
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

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

toggle caption
Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'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

Listen · 27:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1173318373/1176901889" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
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

toggle caption
Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee

Review

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

Listen · 20:27
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1173984134/1176668297" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel in F9: The Fast Saga. Universal Pictures hide caption

toggle caption
Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

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

Listen · 21:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1175235412/1176433784" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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

toggle caption
Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

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

Listen · 13:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1172808072/1176174165" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org