Pop Culture Happy Hour

Playing With Characters: This week's sampler of the best arts and culture stories on NPR include interviews with Diana Krall, Judd Apatow and a sweet new singer from Malaysia. And a review of the salty new British political thriller "In The Loop."

This week on Culturetopia, our weekly roundup of arts goodness via podcast, you'll hear Sandman and Coraline writer Neil Gaiman talk about his new Batman graphic novel and actress Barbara Hale remembers the only case that tv lawyer Perry Mason ever lost. We also have Booker Prize winning author Aravind Adiga, hard rocker Andrew W.K. and NPR's Bob Mondello finds out how Pepsi became 'Pecsi' in Argentina.

The Birth of the Sitcom and David Lynch Sings. This week on Culturetopia, our weekly roundup of arts goodness via podcast, you'll hear the insightful author Jeff Yang on Asian-Americans and comic books. And that immortal "Yoo-hoo!" echoing through your headphones emenates from rediscovered radio icon Gertrude Berg, who can fairly claim to have invented the sitcom with her serial "The Goldbergs" starting back in the late 1920s. Plus, we've got a great movie chat with director Mark Webb, who talks about how making music videos influenced is new romantic comedy, "500 Days of Summer." Best of all? You'll hear David Lynch, director of Blue Velvet and Mulolland Drive, sing. And he talks about why the world isn't doomed, not just yet.

This week Culturetopia looks at the recent invasion of zombies in movies and how it has overtaken nearly every form of media. Then NPR's Bob Mondello has a review of the latest Ice Age movie, a computer animated film that is part of a larger revival of 3D and those cool glasses. Also an interview with the filmmakers behind 'The Stoning of Soraya M." a music profile of the new migrations in Latin music and indie rock label Merge Records turns 20.

NPR's weekly arts podcast takes a turn towards the 1980s this week, with a couple of reflections upon important anniversaries. Spike Lee's seminal film "Do The Right Thing" turns 20 this summer, and the classic Prince tune "Purple Rain" celebrates a quarter of a century. Then Hasbro toys turn to the big screen, NPR's Bob Mondello reviews 'The Hurt Locker' nd a look back at the moment Michael Jackson moonwalked into superstardom.

On Patriarchs and Repatriation, Official Music and Offensive Movies. This week, a look at the trailer for the new Sacha Baron Cohen film 'Bruno.' Interviews with writers Christopher Hitchens and Leonard Pitts. Plus jazz at the White House, Dirty Projectors, and Woody Allen's latest movie.

This week in Culturetopia: Dave Brubeck talks jazz, the makers of Food, Inc. talk...well, food, and we visit the New York City subway as it takes center stage in a summer thriller. Plus filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about his new vampire novel, The Strain.

Actors, archives, Greek poetry and flawed nurses on this week's Culturetopia, the best arts and culture stories from NPR. Roger Robinson and Bartlett Sher talk about the Tony Award winning play 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone.' Then a look at Hollywood extras, a review of the new 10 disc Neil Young box set, a Greek poet is translated, and Edie Falco returns to television as 'Nurse Jackie.'

This week, NPR's best arts and culture stories include Susan Stamberg and Broadway orchestrators, an interview with author Luis Alberto Urea, a look at a new hit reality tv series, a Bob Dylan celebration in India and Bob Mondello reviews the movie 'The Departed. Plus Linda Holmes takes a look at Pixar's new film 'Up,' and we hear an interview with its director, Pete Doctor.

Memoirs, movies and Muzak!

Puzzles, Glyphs and Ambigrams: This week, NPR's best arts and culture stories include an interview with director JJ. Abrams, the movie Angels and Demons reviewed and a look at what may be the oldest piece of art in the world.

From a fading Detroit jazz club to the black sands of Iceland. From a Charles Dickens "book pirate" to Colson Whitehead's literary remembrance of an African-American summer enclave. Culturetopia brings you all of this, plus critical insights on the new Star Trek movie.

This week, interviews with actor Gabriel Byrne, star of HBO's series 'In Treatment,' and with Anika Noni Rose who talks about becoming the latest princess in a Disney animated film. Then author Colm Toibin discusses his latest work 'Brooklyn' and NPR's Tom Cole talks about his first jazz records.

It's plenty of poetry and one very expensive chair on the podcast this week. We're also sampling the culturetopia of the Midwest, watching Detroit's image in the movies and listening to Chicago talk like Shakespeare. Then a eulogy for the boombox, replaced by the Walkman and now the iPod.

This week on NPR's Culturetopia we take a look at the ongoing popularity of Spongebob Squarepants, and hear how an story by NPR's Wade Goodwyn inspired the new film 'American Violet.' Then a profile of a publishing icon, an interview from a cast member of the popular play 'Crowns' and a Mexican murder ballad from Texas band The Krayolas.