621 episodes

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

Pop Culture Happy Hour Pop Culture Happy Hour

    • TV & Film
    • 4.7 • 230 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Best Fictional Bands And What's Making Us Happy

    Best Fictional Bands And What's Making Us Happy

    Sometimes, our favorite musical artists are too good to be true because they're sprung from the imaginations of Hollywood screenwriters. But what makes a fake band great? Today, we are debating the best fictional bands in TV and film — including from Mamma Mia!, Josie and the Pussycats, It's Your Move, and Miami Connection.

    We want to hear your opinions about summer snacks. Are you Team Hot Dog or Team Hamburger? What's better: churro or a funnel cake? Click here to cast your votes. The results will be revealed at a virtual live event for Pop Culture Happy Hour+ supporters on Thursday, June 27th at 6 p.m. ET.

    Sign up for PCHH+ at plus.npr.org/happyhour to get access to the event.

    (Once you've signed up for PCHH+, make sure to set up your special feed, where you'll see a special bonus episode from May 31st with instructions on how to register for the live event. Email plus@npr.org for any extra assistance.)

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    • 27 min
    A special Pop Culture Happy Hour+ virtual live event!

    A special Pop Culture Happy Hour+ virtual live event!

    We're going to do a special virtual live event, just for Pop Culture Happy Hour+ supporters! Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon, and Aisha Harris will be talking about the best summer snacks, plus answering some of your questions.

    Take the poll + send in your questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTGMRknex3Lm4AdpE3HxVdoXyyd8l7xDoxCtoE4CZ_zVDTpQ/viewform

    Listen to this episode to find out how to sign up for the virtual bonus episode taping, which is just for PCHH+ supporters.

    Date: Thursday, June 27th at 6pm ET/3pm PT
    Location: Zoom

    Tell all your friends to sign up for Pop Culture Happy Hour+ or sign them up with a gift at plus.npr.org/happyhour. Pop Culture Happy Hour+ is a great way to support the show and public radio, and also offers sponsor-free listening for every Pop Culture Happy Hour episode. We appreciate all your support!

    We Are Lady Parts rocks with bracing honesty and nuance

    We Are Lady Parts rocks with bracing honesty and nuance

    The Peacock series We Are Lady Parts is a bold and very funny comedy about an up-and-coming London punk band called Lady Parts. The members of Lady Parts, and its manager, are all young Muslim women, from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Over the course of its first season, each member experiences triumphs and setbacks – including its lead guitarist, who strives to overcome stage fright. The show is about to return for a new season, so today, we are revisiting our conversation about it.

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    • 12 min
    Terrible but bingeable TV shows

    Terrible but bingeable TV shows

    What is it about a show that turns you into a bitter-ender, that keeps you dutifully watching every last episode, long after the train has jumped the tracks? Even when you know it's not good, but, for you anyway, it's just good enough to muddle through, all the way to the finale? Today, we're talking about terrible but bingeable TV shows.

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    • 23 min
    Why Chris Pine gave up on being perfect

    Why Chris Pine gave up on being perfect

    Today, we are bringing you an episode of a new NPR podcast hosted by our pal Rachel Martin. It's called Wild Card, and it's a new interview show where the game controls the conversation. Each week, the guest chooses questions at random — about the memories, insights, and beliefs that have shaped their lives. This episode is an interview with the actor Pop Culture Happy Hour listeners voted as their favorite Chris — Chris Pine.

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    • 25 min
    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga And What's Making Us Happy

    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga And What's Making Us Happy

    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is packed with bone-crunching practical stunts and lots of gnarly, diesel-powered chase scenes. It also shows a commitment to worldbuilding that grapples with themes of feminism, environmentalism, and humanity. Directed by George Miller, the prequel film tells the story of a Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), who was taken from her home as a girl, raised to be a warrior in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and now seeks revenge on an evil warlord (Chris Hemsworth).

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    • 25 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
230 Ratings

230 Ratings

203887best ,

OMG WOW!

This is the first podcast I have ever binge listened too and it is absolutely incredible, great pop culture analysis and surprisingly appropriate for my kids

ajdrayt ,

Always love the panel

Can’t tell you how much “What Makes Us Happy” has informed my music, book and TV choices. Love the team and guest reviewers.

Wait come back ,

The research is unparalleled

Everyone comes into the episode with a great take. Sometimes the research is out of hand! I've heard multiple times where a host will rewatch a whole TV series just for like 5 cumulative minutes of opinions. The research is unparalleled.

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