Pop Culture Happy Hour

It's a Halloween Spooktacular! We bring you two Halloween-themed segments from our west coast tour: Mallory Ortberg (Dear Prudence, The Toast.) joins us for a Halloween candy debate, and All Things Considered Host Audie Cornish sits down for our super-difficult Halloween quiz. And as always, we close with what's making us happy this week.

The Pop Culture Happy Hour team is traveling this week, so we bring you two of our favorite segments. First, NPR Editor Barrie Hardymon joins the panel for a discussion about Jane the Virgin. Then, Code Switch's Kat Chow and the gang discuss Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro talks with Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga, the stars of Queen of Katwe. Then, television critics Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall chat with Linda Holmes about TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time. Then, Ari Shapiro interviews comedians Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher about their show Take My Wife, which is now streaming on Seeso.

NPR Film Critic Bob Mondello joins the panel for a fall television and movie preview. Plus, what's making us happy this week.

Writer Chris Klimek and NPR Editor Tanya Ballard join Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon to review the remake of The Magnificent Seven. Then, they chat about Fleabag, a dark British comedy currently streaming on Amazon. Plus, What's Making Us Happy.

Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon reflect on this year's Emmy Awards. Then, Morning Edition host David Greene interviews comedian Hari Kondabolu. We close the show with NPR Books Editor Petra Mayer's conversation with writer and comics legend Alan Moore.

Sam Sanders, Co-Host of NPR's Politics Podcast, joins the panel for a discussion of Documentary Now!, the mockumentary series from Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Seth Meyers. Then, the panel rounds up some interesting docs streaming online. Plus, what's making us happy.

Code Switch's Kat Chow and Weekend Edition Editor Barrie Hardymon join Linda Holmes and Glen Weldon for a discussion of home improvement shows, real estate shows, and cooking shows. Plus, What's Making Us Happy.

Pop Culture Happy Hour Producer Emeritus Mike Katzif joins the panel for a discussion of the FXX comedy You're The Worst. Then, they discuss when the lines get blurred between comedy and drama. And, as always, we close with What's Making Us Happy this week.

WEST COAST TOUR! WOOHOO!We are so excited to announce that Pop Culture Happy Hour is coming to the west coast in October. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 6th at NPRpresents.org. Here are the dates: Monday, October 17, Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA. Guest: Audie Cornish. Wednesday, October 19: Revolution Hall, Portland, OR. Guest: Audie Cornish. Friday, October 21: Marines' Memorial Theatre, San Francisco, CA. Guest: Mallory Ortberg. Sunday, October 23: The Regent Theater, Los Angeles, CA. Guest: Kumail Nanjiani. WOOHOO!

Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson discuss this year's MTV Video Music Awards. This year's VMAs featured Rihanna, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and several minutes of Kanye West doing whatever he wants — all vying for social-media dominance in the hours, days and weeks ahead.

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen joins Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon for a discussion of the critically acclaimed Disney film Pete's Dragon. Then its onto kids and their monsters, both real and imaginary. And, as always, we close with What's Making Us Happy this week.

All Things Considered Host Ari Shapiro talks with Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of the Netflix summer hit Stranger Things. (A shorter version of this interview aired on All Things Considered on August 19, 2016.)

Morning Edition host David Greene talks with comedian Amy Schumer about her new book, the Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo. (A shorter version of the interview aired on Morning Edition on August 19, 2016.)

Writer Kiana Fitzgerald and Brittany Luse, host of Sampler and For Colored Nerds, join Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson for a chat about the Netflix series The Get Down. Then, Linda gives a roundup of what she learned and saw at the Television Critics Association press tour, which gives critics a first look at fall television. Plus, What's Making Us Happy.