Pop Culture Happy Hour

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon are joined by NPR Code Switch's Gene Demby to discuss the Civil Rights Era film Selma. They'll discuss the direction by Ava DuVernay, the Oprah of it all, and how well it brings Martin Luther King, Jr. to life. Then they'll discuss other historical dramas and the advantages and limitations of dramatic license. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson chat about the Oscar nominations. They'll discuss the idiosyncratic men up for nominations and the films, actors, and directors who the Academy decided not to recognize.

In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson talk about the Golden Globes. They'll talk about the surprising wins, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's final night as hosts, and much more.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon, and Kat Chow partake in a PCHH New Year's tradition. First, they'll look back on their pop culture resolutions for 2014 before setting some new goals for 2015. Then, they'll relive their predictions for the previous year and then make some guesses about what's to come in 2015. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson talk about Monday night's three hour premiere of The Bachelor. They'll talk about the Iowa farmer at the center of the fury, the women trying to win his heart, and lots more.

Stephen Thompson and Gene Demby remember influential ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott, who died yesterday at the age of 49.

This week you'll hear the second half of our live show at the Sixth & I in Washington, D.C. First, a few quizzes, featuring our friends Matt Thompson, Kat Chow, Bob Mondello and Audie Cornish. Then, Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon answer some audience questions.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Bob Mondello discuss Disney's film adaptation of the Broadway musical Into The Woods. Then they'll discuss movie franchises--why do some take off while others never fail to leave the ground? All that, plus What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Audie Cornish talk about the new Chris Rock film Top Five. Then they'll discuss the art of the mixtape. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Barrie Hardymon are LIVE from the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C. They'll discuss what their takeaways from the year in pop culture before sharing some embarrassing stories about some of their pop culture firsts. All that, plus All that, plus What's Making Us Happy. Topics covered: Beyonce, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Let It Go, Pharrell Williams, Chris Pratt, Serial, The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters, Ali Smith, Department of Speculation, David Mitchell, The Bone Clocks, Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming, What If, Obious Child, Judy Blume, Wifey, Mary Oliver, Chicago, Iron Maiden, Heather Thomas, Trans Am, Sideshow Bob, Van Halen, Saved By The Bell, Split Enz, Pride and Prejudice, The Lorax, Donald Duck, Encyclopedia Brown, Archie Comics, Legion of Super-Heroes, The Flash, Lord of the Rings, Grey Gardens, The King and I, Transparent, Thom Yorke, Ms Marvel, D4ve, Hip Hop Family Tree, The Gigantic Beard that was Evil, The Wicked and the Divine, Trillium, Here, Boardwalk Empire, Into the Woods, The Next Five Years, Peter Pan.

This week, we step into the Pop Culture Happy Hour time machine to bring you two encore segments. First, a trip back to 2010 when the gang discussed some of their favorite and least favorite holiday pop culture artifacts. Then you'll hear a segment from 2011 about the best and worst Christmas music.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and TED Radio Hour host and PCHH-newbie Guy Raz briefly discuss Big Hero 6 before diving into a lively conversation about other kids' movies. Then they'll discuss the appeal of bloopers and outtakes. The gang also shares some embarrassing stories from the PCHH blooper vault. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Bob Mondello discuss the wrestling drama Foxcatcher. They'll discuss the fine performances from Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo. They'll also talk about if you'll be hearing more about the film during Oscar season. Then they'll chat about movie trailers, how they evolved, and what make's a memorable trailer. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy.

Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson remember writer-director-performer Mike Nichols, who died yesterday at the age of 83.

In this Pop Culture Happy Hour extra, Linda Holmes talks with Gene Demby about the podcast Serial, a spin-off of This American Life. They'll discuss the podcasts created to discuss Serial and why listeners are picking apart episodes as if it's True Detective.