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Thursday

Actor Maika Monroe plays FBI agent Lee Harker in the new film Longlegs.

Actor Maika Monroe plays FBI agent Lee Harker in the new film Longlegs. NEON hide caption

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NEON

'Longlegs' draws from 'Silence of the Lambs,' but stands on its own terrifying feet

In the new Nicolas Cage horror film Longlegs, an FBI agent is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult.

The plot of 'Longlegs' may sound familiar but it stands on its own 2 terrifying feet

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Wednesday

Michelle Buteau arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

Michelle Buteau arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Michelle Buteau decided: 'I better start living'

Buteau says covering the news of the 2001 terrorist attacks crystalized her desire to go into comedy. She stars in the film Babes and in the Netflix series Survival of the Thickest.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Michelle Buteau decided: 'I better start living'

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Friday

In 'Problemista' Julio Torres spins immigration stress into satire

The comic, actor and filmmaker came to the U.S. from El Salvador in his 20s. Torres tackled immigration in Problemista; his new HBO comedy series is Fantasmas. Originally broadcast March 24, 2024.

In 'Problemista' Julio Torres spins immigration stress into satire

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Wednesday

Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

William A. Fitzgerald and Bobby Carnavale in the film Ezra. Bleeker Street hide caption

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Bleeker Street

Consider This from NPR

Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

'Ezra' is a road trip movie, a movie about fathers and sons.

Hollywood flips the script in the new movie 'Ezra'

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Tuesday

Devery Jacobs flies high in 'Backspot'

Devery Jacobs as Riley in Backspot Kirsten Nolan hide caption

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Kirsten Nolan

It's Been a Minute

Devery Jacobs flies high in 'Backspot'

Cheerleaders are canonical when it comes to teen media - but is it time we expand our idea of who cheerleaders can be? Devery Jacobs's new film, Backspot, explores the internal life of a cheerleading backspot - the person making sure those high-flying cheerleaders don't break their necks. Devery joins Brittany to talk about redefining the cheerleader for a new generation, and keeping her sense of integrity while navigating the film industry.

Devery Jacobs flies high in 'Backspot'

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Monday

The lesson Chris Pine learned after his new film was 'obliterated' by critics

Chris Pine says he has "fantastic anxiety dreams." Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images hide caption

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Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The lesson Chris Pine learned after his new film was 'obliterated' by critics

Today, we are bringing you an episode of a new NPR podcast hosted by our pal Rachel Martin. It's called Wild Card, and it's a new interview show where the game controls the conversation. Each week, the guest chooses questions at random — about the memories, insights, and beliefs that have shaped their lives. This episode is an interview with the actor Pop Culture Happy Hour listeners voted as their favorite Chris — Chris Pine.

The lesson Chris Pine learned after his new film was 'obliterated' by critics

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Friday

'Mad Max' director George Miller says the audience tells you 'what your film is'

Fresh Air

Miller directed the first Mad Max in 1979, as well as Mad Max: Fury Road in 2014 and the new prequel Furiosa. In 2016, he revealed that he was never sure how his movies would hold up over time.

'Mad Max' director George Miller says the audience tells you 'what your film is'

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Tuesday

Suburban decay and choking on nostalgia in 'I Saw The TV Glow'

Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Courtesey A24 hide caption

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Courtesey A24

It's Been a Minute

Suburban decay and choking on nostalgia in 'I Saw The TV Glow'

Brittany sits down with Jane Schoenbrun, the director of A24's coming of age horror film, I Saw The TV Glow. Brittany and Jane discuss suburban decay, delightfully creepy kids shows, and new metaphors for the trans experience.

Suburban decay and choking on nostalgia in 'I Saw The TV Glow'

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Monday

'I can only give the best': Bon Jovi on vocal surgery and the road to recovery

Jon Bon Jovi, shown here in 2011, says the band's 1986 hit "Livin' on a Prayer" has "touched more lives than I could have ever dreamt." David Bergman/Hulu hide caption

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David Bergman/Hulu

Music Interviews

'I can only give the best': Bon Jovi on vocal surgery and the road to recovery

Fresh Air

A few years ago, Jon Bon Jovi stopped performing due to a vocal cord injury. The Hulu docuseries Thank You, Goodnight offers a career retrospective, plus a view of his surgery and return to the stage.

'I can only give the best': Bon Jovi on vocal surgery and the road to recovery

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Monday

Why haven't NCAA fans always followed the WNBA? Sue Bird has her theories

Women's college basketball is hot, says now-retired WBNA player Sue Bird (shown here in 2022). "If you liked us in college, why didn't you follow us to the WNBA? It is probably one of the more interesting and maybe more difficult questions to answer." Steph Chambers/Getty Images hide caption

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Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Sports

Why haven't NCAA fans always followed the WNBA? Sue Bird has her theories

Fresh Air

Bird notes that WNBA players represent society's most marginalized groups. "We're Black, we're women, we're gay," she says. "And those are the groups that are held back in our society."

Why haven't NCAA fans always followed the WNBA? Sue Bird has her theories

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Tuesday

'Love Lies Bleeding' and the fear and allure of strong women

Katy O'Brian and Kristen Stewart star in Love Lies Bleeding. Zoey Kang/A24 hide caption

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Zoey Kang/A24

It's Been a Minute

'Love Lies Bleeding' and the fear and allure of strong women

Erotic thrillers are meant to be sexy, bloody, and fun. The best of them also deal with shifts in culture that people are anxious about: Fatal Attraction was about the threat of working single women, and Basic Instinct got into bisexual panic. A hot new erotic thriller takes on women's strength and capacity for rage: Love Lies Bleeding is an 80's fantasia of big muscles and big hair with steamy sexy scenes and thrilling plot twists. It follows the story of a bodybuilder named Jackie, played by Katy O'Brian, who falls madly in love with gym manager Lou, played by Kristen Stewart. Host Brittany Luse sat down with Katy O'Brian to talk about strong women and the fantasy of wielding the rage that lurks just under the surface.

'Love Lies Bleeding' and the fear and allure of strong women

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Monday

In 'Problemista' Julio Torres spins immigration stress into satire

Julio Torres attends a screening of Problemista in New York on Feb. 27. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images hide caption

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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

In 'Problemista' Julio Torres spins immigration stress into satire

Fresh Air

The comic, actor and filmmaker came to the U.S. from El Salvador in his 20s. "This movie deals with the problem of immigration, but I think of it as a very silly, happy and joyful movie," he says.

In 'Problemista' Julio Torres spins immigration stress into satire

Listen · 44:10
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Friday

FX's Shogun Takes A New Approach To An Old Story

Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga in Shogun. The FX streaming series centers more of the story on the Japanese characters than the original NBC miniseries. Sanada served as a producer on film and advised the cast and crew on period authenticity. Kurt Iswarlenko/FX hide caption

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Kurt Iswarlenko/FX

Consider This from NPR

FX's Shogun Takes A New Approach To An Old Story

When Shogun, James Clavell's best selling novel was adapted into a powerhouse NBC miniseries in 1980. The hero of the story was Englishman John Blackthorne.

FX's Shogun Takes A New Approach To An Old Story

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How 'Poor Things' actor Emma Stone turns her anxiety into a 'superpower'

Fresh Air

Stone had her first panic attack at age 7. She says acting helps with anxiety, because it draws on her "big feelings." She's nominated for an Oscar for Poor Things. Originally broadcast Jan. 31, 2024.

How 'Poor Things' actor Emma Stone turns her anxiety into a 'superpower'

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Mark Ruffalo shed the Hulk suit and had 'a blast' making 'Poor Things'

Fresh Air

Ruffalo's up for an Oscar for Poor Things, a bawdy, dark comedy set in Victorian times. The film is a departure from his work in films like Zodiac and Spotlight. Originally broadcast Feb. 13, 2024.

Mark Ruffalo shed the Hulk suit and had 'a blast' making 'Poor Things'

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