Pop Culture Happy Hour Get obsessed with us. Five days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

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Get obsessed with us. Five days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.

Make your happy hour even happier with Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus! Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/happyhour

Most Recent Episodes

Jess Hong in the Netflix series 3 Body Body Problem. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

In '3 Body Problem,' Earth is doomed... eventually

In the new Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem, a killing during the Chinese Cultural Revolution sparks a chain of events that puts humanity at risk. When scientists start dying in mysterious ways, five friends just might be the key to saving the world. The series' showrunners include David Benioff and D.B Weiss, the team behind Game of Thrones, who are once again adapting an epic book series.

In '3 Body Problem,' Earth is doomed... eventually

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Bryan Hearne in the docuseries Quiet on Set. ID/Warner Bros hide caption

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ID/Warner Bros

'Quiet On Set' considers the hard lives of child stars

The new docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV examines the working environment of the young stars who fueled Nickelodeon's rise. The series pays close attention to allegations of sexual harassment, manipulation, and other problematic behavior by Dan Schneider, who was in charge of shows like iCarly, Sam & Cat, and All That. And Drake & Josh star Drake Bell talks publicly for the first time about the sexual abuse and assault he says he experienced at the hands of his dialogue coach. Today, we talk about the series and how it fits into a larger conversation about protecting kids who work in entertainment.

'Quiet On Set' considers the hard lives of child stars

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Finn Wolfhard, Celeste O'Connor, Paul Rudd, Kumail Nanjiani, Logan Kim and Carrie Coon in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Columbia Pictures hide caption

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Columbia Pictures

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' is a chill hang

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the latest entry in the blockbuster action-comedy franchise. This time, the crew has set up shop in New York, and, with the help of the surviving original Ghostbusters, tries to stop a demon looking to freeze the world and rule over it. The film is packed with both newer and nostalgic cast members, including Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and more.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' is a chill hang

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Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House. Laura Radford/Prime Video hide caption

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Laura Radford/Prime Video

Jake Gyllenhaal punches up a 'Road House' remake

The 1989 movie Road House starred Patrick Swayze as a no-nonsense bouncer who saves a honky-tonk bar from a local toughs. Now, in the new remake, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a former UFC fighter who accepts a job to clean up a seaside bar in the Florida Keys that's being terrorized by a motorcycle gang. There's still plenty of fighting and plenty of brooding, but how does it hold up to the original cult classic?

Jake Gyllenhaal punches up a 'Road House' remake

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Sydney Sweeney stars in Immaculate. Neon hide caption

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Neon

Sydney Sweeney is a devout scream queen in the twisted 'Immaculate'

In the new movie Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney plays Cecelia, an American woman who joins a convent in Italy. But after she arrives, she encounters strange occurrences and mysteriously winds up pregnant. Almost everyone in the convent touts it as a miracle, but Cecelia isn't so sure. Horror, of course, ensues. Immaculate was directed by Michael Mohan – who previously collaborated with Sweeney on the Hitchcock-esque thriller The Voyeurs.

Sydney Sweeney is a devout scream queen in the twisted 'Immaculate'

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Ed Speleers and Lindsay Lohan in Irish Wish. Patrick Redmond/Netflix hide caption

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Patrick Redmond/Netflix

Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

If there is a spot in your heart-shaped like a rom-com, we've got some good news for you. You can stream a few playful love stories from your couch, whether you're a fan of Lindsay Lohan's red hair shining in Irish sunlight, Glen Powell's gleaming chest, or Camila Mendes navigating the glamorous art world. Today, we're rounding up three recent romantic comedies: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, and Upgraded.

Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

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Julio Torres wrote, directed and stars in Problemista. A24 hide caption

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A24

'Problemista' speaks softly but carries big laughs

In the very funny and gently surreal new film Problemista, Julio Torres plays Alejandro, a young man from El Salvador scraping by in New York City as he pursues his dreams. But those dreams – and his immigration status – become imperiled. He must turn to a frazzled, fire-breathing art critic played by Tilda Swinton for emotional and financial support, which proves very fraught.

'Problemista' speaks softly but carries big laughs

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Katy O'Brian and Kristen Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding. A24 hide caption

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A24

'Love Lies Bleeding' is the queer erotic thriller Kristen Stewart fans have wanted

The movie Love Lies Bleeding is a fun and weird erotic thriller. It's set in the late 1980s and stars Kristen Stewart as a brooding gym manager who falls in love with a hitchhiking bodybuilder, played by Katy O'Brian. Directed by Rose Glass (Saint Maud), the film's got a killer electronic soundtrack, and cinematic references of everything from John Waters to Showgirls.

'Love Lies Bleeding' is the queer erotic thriller Kristen Stewart fans have wanted

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Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Busy Philipps, and Renee Elise Goldsberry in a season three episode of Girls5eva. Emily V Aragones/Netflix hide caption

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Emily V Aragones/Netflix

You'll love 'Girls5eva' 5eva, because forever is too short

The bingeable comedy series Girls5eva is a silly parody of the music industry. It's about four down-on-their-luck members of a 90s girl group who reunite to stage a comeback, and find that a lot has changed. The show features a stacked cast, including Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell. Girls5Eva recently moved to Netflix and just returned for a new season, so today, we revisit our conversation about the series.

You'll love 'Girls5eva' 5eva, because forever is too short

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Shifu voiced by Dustin Hoffman and Po voiced by Jack Black return in DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda 4. DreamWorks Animation hide caption

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DreamWorks Animation

Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise?

Kung Fu Panda 4 is the latest movie in the popular and surprisingly thoughtful animated film franchise. Jack Black returns to voice Po, a gigantic, adorable panda who becomes the highly unlikely Dragon Warrior. He embarks on a quest alongside a devious fox, played by Awkwafina, to face a new villain, the Chameleon, played by Viola Davis. You got your hero's journey and training montages and some pretty stellar voice acting.

Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise?

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