Pop Culture Happy Hour

Soul singer Leela James; the advancing "music cloud;" fall movie preview; Martin Landeau on TOTN; the latest in Mexican rock.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour: Discussing the Emmy Awards and the rise of unironic happiness; one great comedy podcast 'Comedy Death Ray,' one great movie 'White Wedding;' 'Project Runway' reconsidered; and a whole bunch of things that one of us is very, very much opposed to. Also: a chance for you to contribute your thoughts.

Today on Pop Off, we take a tour of the top of the pop charts. All the songs in the top ten have an electronic shimmer to them, as if they've been computer processed to be more perfect than perfect. That's what our Pop Off team Jay Smooth and Maura Johnston are talking about.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour: Discussing the Emmy Awards and the rise of unironic happiness; one great comedy podcast 'Comedy Death Ray,' one great movie 'White Wedding;' 'Project Runway' reconsidered; and a whole bunch of things that one of us is very, very much opposed to. Also: a chance for you to contribute your thoughts.

Queen's Freddie Mercury among "50 Great Voices;" does the ending of 'As The World Turns' signal the death of soap operas?; films predict the future; and gender politics and 'Freedom''s glowing reviews.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon look at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards as a preview to this weekend's Emmys. Then we delve into new territory with "Tomorrow's Rediscoveries," in which we consider what pop culture figure who's either currently out of fashion or currently not taken seriously might have an opportunity to rise from the ashes.

NPR Host Scott Simon's new memoir on adoption; a documentary about the controversial death of a U.S. Army Ranger; the Beach Boys' former frontman goes Gershwin; Soul Queen Irma Thomas; a classical choir's DIY success; bringing satire (and politics) to Bollywood.

In this week's edition of Pop Culture Happy Hour, we dive into a discussion of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (and the trailer we saw before it), which leads to discussions of arcade games, the fall of a once-popular director M. Night Shyamalan, the movie August Rush, and who might be the Robin Williams of the future.Then, we address our pop culture blind spots, discussing Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, Modern Family and Lord of the Rings.

This week, we remember two icons of jazz -- singer and activist Abbey Lincoln and jazz photographer Herman Leonard. Also why do some women in pop perform in character; A review of new Sundance hit 'Animal Kingdom;' the dresses of Scarlett O'Hara and the feminine mystique, expressed in silks and satins.

In this week's rather punchy edition of Pop Culture Happy Hour, Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the rest of the gang hit some highlights from my trip to California, play a quick Regrettable Television Pop Quiz, discuss Rob Corddry's new old show Childrens Hospital, have a surprisingly long discussion about donkey racing in Scandinavia, Wisconsin, and lots more.

50 Great Voices: Bjork; Robyn's Swedish pop; Yale University's cabaret conference; what 3D lends to dance movies; a company that ranks celebrity bankability; the new film La Mission

This week on Culturetopia: Disasters In Reel Life: It's About Time (And Suspense); Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions; Holly Golightly: Breaking Rules In A Little Black Dress; Writer Anne Rice: 'Today I Quit Being A Christian;' Biggie Smalls: The Voice That Influenced A Generation

Jay Smooth and Maura Johnston take on modern duets, as three of the top five songs on the charts are male rapper/female singer pairings. When you heard a duet from Ray Charles and Betty Carter, or Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, they each shared center stage in the verses and harmonized in the chorus. But in "Love The Way You Lie," for example, Eminem's sole custody of the verse gives him literally ten times as much time to speak as Rihanna. Do you think it's possible these days for women to have an equal say in pop duets?

In this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour: So what is up with Inception, anyway? And what does it say about criticism? Plus: Wonder Woman, football stars, the Old Spice Man, and lots more. Plus another round of the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz.

Pop Culture Happy Hour is a very special audio experiment in which NPR's Linda Holmes sits down for a chat with some of Monkey See's favorite people about television, movies, and other oddities of popular entertainment. In this episode: Wipeout, Doctor Who, Community, Knight and Day and so much more, including a pop quiz.