Pop Culture Happy Hour

It's a very, very special Pop Culture Happy hour, and we're not just saying that. We take a break from holiday shopping on this week's show to talk about some of the greatest pop-culture gifts we've gotten. The games, the nerd necessities, the things that didn't even fit under the tree ... and, of course, the things we begged and pleaded for. We also consider the cultural artifacts we inherited from our parents, and encourage you to do the same. We've got baseball! We've got superheroes! We've got games of all kinds! We've got glasses! We've got hit tunes!

This week on Culturetopia: It's all music-related pieces in this week's podcast, with a look behind the scenes in Nashville's Music Row; the 50th anniversary of Island Records; how the Juarez Symphony Orchestra offers a refuge in a drug-battered city; painting Simon and Garfunkel lyrics on blighted buildings in Saginaw, Mich.; and as part of our ongoing Hitmakers series, a profile of Will.I.Am a

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson get a visit from frequent Monkey See contributor and book club vice-president Marc Hirsh, who chats with the gang about the state of the network sitcom with shows like Community and Running Wilde. Then a round of picks for the most fascinating failures we can think of. (Two words: Shock Treatment.) Plus more Things Making Us Happy This Week.

This week on Culturetopia: Hitmaker Jerry Wonda on building platinum sound; author Danielle Evans on her new collection of short stories; the extraordinary existence of blues singer Robin Rogers; remembering jazzman James Moody.

You'll hear bells in our winter holiday episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, along with lots of other stuff, as NPR's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang explore some Christmas specials, some not-particularly-Christmas-y movies that show up this time of year anyway, and -- as always -- the things that are making us happy this week. Topics include 'The Year Without a Santa Claus;' 'It's A Wonderful Life,' 'Top Chef All-Stars' 'The A-List,' 'Sing Off' and more!

How to write hits; the $18 million violin; Hawaii's Voice, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole; black filmmakers fight for exposure; the real-life "I Love You Phillip Morris"

This week's Pop Culture Happy Hour devotes the first segment to the new Disney movie Tangled. NPR's Linda Holmes and the rest of the gang discuss the animation, the characters, the voice acting, and even the 3D versus 2D versions. After that, People We're Pulling For, a segment discussing the people who we're rooting for as they work on their comedy careers, their baking, their apparently cursed projects, or possibly just ... rehab. Plus Things Making Us Happy This Week.

The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi; madness in dance flicks; singer Jazmine Sullivan; '50 Great Voices;' a farewell to Bond?

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes along with Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon try out two comic books, leading to a discussion on Batman, Batgirl and the steep learning curve to reading mainstream superhero comics. Then, a few things that we are thankful for this Thanksgiving, be it YouTube, Aquaman or receiving gifts. All that and more!

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes and the gang talk about Conan's new show and what it means for the future of late-night television. Then, a discussion about a few pop-culture searches -- the things we have hunted for, and whether the charm of those things is diminished by our ability to get them whenever we want. Plus, Things Making Us Happy this week, including Sherlock, Lorretta Lynn and more.

'Guy and Madeline;' GLBT Portraiture; the music of the Vietnam War; Ephron on forgetting; a 91 year old musical icon.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Barrie Hardymon discuss pop-culture punching bags. These are the things that take entirely too much abuse that we are here to defend, no matter how unpopular it may make us. Then another entry in Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and Things Making Us Happy, including Judith Krantz, Kung Fu Panda 2, Clem Snide and more.

The director of 127 Hours; "The Scottsboro Boys; Euro-club hit "Barbara Streisand;" "Women On the Verge.." hits the Great White Way; "Colored Girls" critics; real-life Quidditch.

This week on Culturetopia, NPR's arts roundup: Revolutionary Mural To Return To L.A. After 80 Years; Film Chronicles Artist's Work From Rio Dump; From Funnyman Judd Apatow, A Few Solid Laughs; Noomi Rapace: Finding Lisbeth, And Letting Her Go; Christopher Hitchens On Suffering, Beliefs And Dying

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the gang talk about the new James Franco film '127 Hours' and what might and might not keep us from seeing it. Then, it's a round of What's Making Us Happy This Week, in which Stephen Thompson can't stop thinking of things that make him happy (you, collectively, are involved, by the way), Trey Graham plays us some beautiful music, Glen Weldon has yet another funny podcast to share, and Linda admits that I am not built for fancy games.