Pop Culture Happy Hour

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the gang gather to discuss the Grammys and specifically the so-called upsets that saw independent music darlings Esperanza Spalding and Arcade Fire take home awards over the likes of Justin Bieber and Eminem. Then a recap of videogames including a fighting game that have everyone out for bloodlust. Plus a discussion of IFC's Portlandia and another round of What's Making Us Happy This Week — including Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, Banksy doc Exit Through The Gift Shop, The Good Wife and Newsies!

This week on Culturetopia: Critic Bob Mondello on the new Spiderman musical; New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians seek to copyright their costumes; the buzzy first novel Swamplandia; remembering Maria Altman; new music from Mexico.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang wrap up the football and Super Bowl talk for the season — from the game to the results of Stephen's chicken-eating contest to the ads to the halftime show to the always tricky words to the National Anthem. After that, a discussion of Valentine's Day pop culture touching on the straightforwardly romantic and bitterly, ironically romantic things we love so much.

This week on Culturetopia: Playing Lady Bracknell on Broadway; a restored mural by Maurice Sendak; chef Jeff Henderson's new guide to soul food; Apple's new rules for selling e-books; Ricky Martin's new album.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon dig into the Academy Awards with a discussion of the ten Best Picture nominees including 127 Hours, The Social Network, True Grit, Winter's Bone, The Kids Are All Right and more. Then the return of the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Culturetopia: Steve Harvey's media empire; Gang of Four's first studio album in 16 years; nonagenarian actor Ernest Borgnine; remembering country singer Charlie Louvin.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon talk about the Oscar nominations and if there were any surprises in the list. Then, a chat about the new season of American Idol and the show's new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. All that plustalk a little about Oscar parties and other pop-culture competitive events and Things Making Us Happy This Week.

This week on Culturetopia: A gender-bending new album of operatic arias; Haitian musician Jowee Omicil's favorite tunes; making grand pianos even grander; a museum's swimming pool; the resilient art of old age.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon talk about the Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais' non-controversial controversial hosting, the state of awards shows and the nature of fearlessness in comedy. Then on to the Web sites to visit in our free 15 minutes. Also: Reader mail, and what's making us happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: a primer on Westerns; boogie woogie's back story; Google translations of poetry as AI success; the DVD release of a delightfully weird Dr. Seuss film; remembering singer Margaret Whiting.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the gang talk about the movies they're anticipating with glee, dread, or simple curiosity for 2011. They discuss a glut of superhero films -- Green Lantern, Green Hornet, Thor, Captain America, X-Men -- as well as new animated movies, choice dramas and this year's slate of romantic comedies featuring Jennifer Aniston. After that, a new rousing game called "Phil, Favre, or Fortune Cookie." Plus 'Things Making Us Happy.'

This week on Culturetopia: "ghost singer" to the stars Marnie Nixon; the inner workings of the Wu-Tang Clan; a new biography of Gypsy Rose Lee; hit British TV series 'Downton Abbey' on PBS; electric guitarist John McLaughlin on his hero, John Coltrane.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour: A look at comedian Patton Oswalt's essay at Wired, called "Wake Up, Geek Culture. Time To Die." Linda, Stephen, Trey, Glen use Oswalt's argument as a jumping-off point to talk about how it is and isn't different now to be invested (and overinvested) in the culture you love, and ponder how what's been lost might be compensated for by what's been gained. Then Pop Culture New Year's Resolutions and Things Making Us Happy.

This week on Culturetopia: All book-related stories this week, including Jay-Z's memoir; how independent bookstores have found a silver lining in an era of online buying; a young Indian-American's journey to his parents' homeland; the story of the world's most-stolen painting.

This week on Culturetopia: the breakout young star of 'True Grit;" Ben Affleck on 'The Company Men;" Anthony Mackie's rising Hollywood profile; the virtues of playing sad and depressed during Oscar season; Jack Black's insecurities.