Pop Culture Happy Hour

This week on Culturetopia: World music superstar Youssou N'Dour’s presidential run in Senegal; a tour of India sponsored by the U.S. State Department for Indian-American comedians; pop goddess Kelly Clarkson on her spike in record sales after endorsing GOP candidate Ron Paul: a Moroccan rapper is imprisoned for his political views; a Canadian rock band auctions off their suddenly desirably URL—TeaParty.com.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes gathers with Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham for the first show of 2012. First a run down New Year's resolutions past and present. Then a discussion about the phenomenon of "pop culture overload," and, as always, What's Making Us Happy.

To round out 2011, NPR News put a new spin on an old chestnut, the end-of-the-year roundup. With the down economy and a series of natural disasters, it was a bad year for many in the U.S., but there are still people, businesses and ideas that have done well. We are going to highlight them in a series called "A Good Year." It's been a good year for Android phones, coconut water, deportations, beets and the word "swag." Along the way touched on topics from science to politics, hip-hop to hell. Here are some of the cultural connections from our series.

This Week On Culturetopia: A movie round-up with pieces about Daniel Craig and "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," Glenn Close and "Albert Nobbs," Meryl and "The Iron Lady," and Angelina Jolie on "In the Land Of Blood and Honey."

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon look back at their favorite moments of 2011: the singers, the comics, the books that made us feel them all the way to our toes, and more. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: Bill T. Jones on a winter song that haunts him; a Minneapolis rapper finds hip-hop roots in poetry and jazz; Canadian guitarist Cam Penner

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon make their big predictions for 2012. Plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This Week in Culturetopia: "Redneck" sterotypes on TV; new stories by author Anita Desai; the band Miracles of Modern Science; what the movies "Young Adult" and "We Need To Talk About kevin" hae in common; remembering Colonel Potter.

This Week in Culturetopia: "Redneck" sterotypes on TV; new stories by author Anita Desai; the band Miracles of Modern Science; what the movies "Young Adult" and "We Need To Talk About kevin" hae in common; remembering Colonel Potter.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang take a look at the "guilty pleasure" — whether they believe in guilty pleasures, and then explore the notion with songs. Then it's time for a discussion of holiday music and, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: an interview with Mary J. Blige; the modernist homes of architect John Lautner; how Harvey Weinstein picks movies; a capella group Pentatonix; traffic sign haiku.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon consider the Muppets and the nature of nostalgia itself. Then they talk about where to find common ground with loved ones so nobody gets really angry over the holidays, and of course cover What's Making Us Happy this week.

This (Movie) Week on Culturetopia: Making "My Week With Marilyn"; working sans sound in "The Artist"; a beauty queen caught in the drug trade in a new film from Mexico; holiday treats from Hollywood; Susan Stamberg visits The Muppets.

This Week in Culturetopia: Comedian Donald Glover; new twists on TV; how networks are filling time without the NBA; the new crime drama "Person of Interest"; jass pianist Keith Jarrett's entirely improvised new album.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham talk about what they do and don't like in memoirs, and then explore the most suitable of Thanksgiving topics: what goes well with a pop culture turkey. All that plus What's Making Us Happy.