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Pop Culture

Monday

National

Actor Paul Reubens, Pee-Wee Herman

Fresh Air

The complete 45-episode series of the TV show Pee-Wee's Playhouse is now out on DVD. Actor Paul Reubens originally created the Pee-Wee character at the Los Angeles improv group, The Groundlings. Pee-Wee's Playhouse went on the air in 1986. It ran on CBS for 5 years, garnering 22 Emmys.

Actor Paul Reubens, Pee-Wee Herman

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Voice of SpongeBob

Fresh Air

Former standup comic Tom Kenny is the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, the star of his own cartoon show on Nickelodeon cable and a recent feature film. Kenny's other voices include the narrator and the mayor on Cartoon Network's Powerpuff Girls, Dog in Nickelodeon's CatDog, and Boo Boo on Yogi Bear. (Original airdate: 11/16/04).

Voice of SpongeBob

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Sunday

Books

History on a Wrist: 'Charmed Bracelets'

From kitschy miniatures to priceless gem-studded figurines, charm bracelets reveal a lot about the people who wear them. In her new book, Charmed Bracelets, jewelry designer Tracey Zabar explores the enduring appeal of the jingly adornment. Zabar talks with NPR's Jacki Lyden.

History on a Wrist: 'Charmed Bracelets'

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Thursday

'A Front Yard View of the Holidays' in America

For more than 30 years, photographer Christina Patoski has been documenting Americans' holiday displays. Her images appear in the new book "Merry Christmas, America: A Front Yard View of the Holidays."

'A Front Yard View of the Holidays' in America

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Monday

Culture

'Art of Modern Rock' Details Poster Revival

Rock concert posters produced some of the most iconic art of the '60s. Then came a period of decline. But an explosion of indie bands producing their own CDs has revived the genre. Producer Scott Carrier of the Hearing Voices radio project offers a review of the book Art of Modern Rock.

'Art of Modern Rock' Details Poster Revival

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Saturday

Christmas Party Decorating with John Waters

Every year, filmmaker John Waters has hosted a huge Christmas party at his Baltimore home. NPR's Scott Simon visited Waters as he and a team of friends prepared to decorate every room of his four-story 1928 house.

Christmas Party Decorating with John Waters

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Culture

Lemony Snicket on the Big Screen

A Series of Unfortunate Events is likely to be a boon for the nation's movie theaters. The dark comedy is based on three of the popular Lemony Snicket books. Jim Carrey plays the villain. NPR's Bob Mondello reviews the film.

Lemony Snicket on the Big Screen

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Thursday

Day to Day

Wallenstein on TV: Chrismukkah on 'The OC'

Day to Day television critic Andrew Wallenstein comments on Thursday night's "Chrismukkah" episode of the Fox prime-time soap opera The OC. He says that combining the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah -- even on a television show -- misleads people about the nature of the Jewish holiday.

Wallenstein on TV: Chrismukkah on 'The OC'

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Humor & Fun

'Karaoke Revolution' Tests Singing Chops

NPR's Robert Holt reviews the video game Karaoke Revolution, noting that even though his wife doesn't like video games, they played it together for three hours straight -- and Holt claims to be a better singer for it.

'Karaoke Revolution' Tests Singing Chops

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Wednesday

Art & Design

Book Bag: Grown-Up Graphic Novels

Writer Charles Solomon offers his thoughts about graphic novels and collections of comics that deserve more reader attention — including new collections from Love and Rockets creators Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, a narrative of growing up in a Christian fundamentalist household and a compilation of the popular For Better or For Worse syndicated comic strip.

Book Bag: Grown-Up Graphic Novels

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Monday

Saturday

Music Interviews

The Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra

The L.A.-based Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra is breaking new musical ground and expanding audiences. The group presents hip-hop in symphonic form, with a wide variety of musicians from various segments of the Southern California music scene. Fawnee Evnochides reports.

The Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra

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Thursday

Opinion

Slate's Hey Wait A Minute: The Origins of 'Hip'

Jesse Sheidlower, editor the Oxford English Dictionary and a Slate contributing writer, discusses the history of the word "hip." He challenges an assertion made in a new book by author John Leland, Hip: The History, that the word "hip" comes from Africa.

Slate's Hey Wait A Minute: The Origins of 'Hip'

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Wednesday

Tuesday

New Generation Brings Edge to Crafts

Crafts such as knitting, beading and papermaking are getting an update from Gen-Xers who have embraced crafting as both a hobby and a small business. Now, do-it-yourself craft markets are full of tchotchkes geared toward hip consumers. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

New Generation Brings Edge to Crafts

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