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Pop Culture

Sunday

Sputnik at 50: Looking Back at the Space Race

Space Race Permeated Pop Culture

The space race that began with Sputnik not only influenced education but American pop culture as a whole. David Schwartz, the chief curator of the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, says the phenomenon was pushed by an unlikely person — Walt Disney.

Space Race Permeated Pop Culture

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Saturday

Music Interviews

Penn Masala Mixes A Cappella from East and West

At the University of Pennsylvania, a cappella singing can be as serious as the academics. The 15-man group Penn Masala has been a campus standout, spreading its a cappella fusion of Eastern and Western music well beyond campus borders.

Penn Masala Mixes A Cappella from East and West

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Diversions

Behind the Scenes with 'Dancing with the Stars'

Long after reality shows seemingly hit their peak, Dancing with the Stars captivated millions of viewers, as celebrities transformed into ballroom dancers. Scott Simon went to New York to get some tango lessons from the show's contestants.

Behind the Scenes with 'Dancing with the Stars'

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Friday

Opinion

From Our Listeners

Vocal Impressions: Hearing Voices, Round Seven

Vocal Impressions is our challenge to listeners to tell us how to describe famous voices in metaphoric language. We hear descriptions of the voices of Rodney Dangerfield, Paul Robeson, Samuel L. Jackson and "Mama" Cass Eliot, and offer four new voices.

Vocal Impressions: Hearing Voices, Round Seven

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Culture

Apatow and Rogen: From 'Virgin' to 'Knocked Up'

Fresh Air

Judd Apatow has been a writer for Larry Sanders and Ben Stiller, and he worked on the cult-favorite TV comedy Freaks and Geeks. But you'll know him as the writer-director of the hit film The 40-Year-Old Virgin — and the auteur behind this summer's Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen.

Apatow and Rogen: From 'Virgin' to 'Knocked Up'

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Thursday

Media

TV on the Internet: Networks Spread Strategy

The big networks are rolling out their new seasons this week — and not just on TV. They are also presenting their new shows, and some old favorites, on the Internet. NBC is allowing free downloads, with restrictions, of its shows — it streamed the first episode of the new season of Friday Night Lights on Yahoo before it was broadcast.

TV on the Internet: Networks Spread Strategy

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Culture

Modern Prehistoric Spectacle: Dinosaurs on Stage

Massive, scientifically accurate "dinosaurs" have begun stomping around U.S. sports arenas, thanks to the wizardry of 21st century puppetry techniques and robotics. The $20 million theatrical spectacle Walking With Dinosaurs, based on a BBC television series, travels to New York from Washington this weekend.

Modern Prehistoric Spectacle: Dinosaurs on Stage

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Culture

Life Imitating 'Law and Order'

The television show has the mantra of "ripped from the headlines." This week's headlines include stories about O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector and Warren Jeffs. Law and Order writer William Fordes talks about how these cases could inspire new episodes.

Life Imitating 'Law and Order'

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Wednesday

50 Years of 'West Side Story'

Part Three: Broadway to Hollywood — and Beyond

Critics were lukewarm about West Side Story onstage, and some audiences found it alienating. The 1961 movie won 10 Oscars, though — never mind that Broadway librettist Arthur Laurents hated it — and sealed the show's success. In 50 years, it's been staged more than 40,000 times.

Part Three: Broadway to Hollywood — and Beyond

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Music News

A Dream Team, a Dream Musical: 'West Side Story'

The musical West Side Story premiered on Broadway 50 years ago today. While it is now an indelible part of American culture, with well-loved versions of film and music, the show's success was not assured back in 1957. It was the work of director and choreographer Jerome Robbins, playwright Arthur Laurents, lyricist Stephen Sondheim and composer Leonard Bernstein.

A Dream Team, a Dream Musical: 'West Side Story'

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50 Years of 'West Side Story'

Part One: Making a New Kind of Musical

Getting West Side Story from page to stage was no easy task. Its creators had to rewrite Shakespeare, invent a convincing street language and find financial backers for a musical that perplexed pretty much everyone who heard it.

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50 Years of 'West Side Story'

Part Two: Casting Calls and Out-of-Town Trials

Grueling auditions — 13 of them, for the young unknown eventually cast as Maria — and an unprecedented 8-week rehearsal period were just two of the ways West Side Story departed from Broadway norms.

Part Two: Casting Calls and Out-of-Town Trials

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Fall TV Brings Hits, Misses

Television lovers are gearing up for the return of their favorite programs, in addition to the debut of new shows. Tanika Ray, correspondent for the entertainment program Extra, is joined by Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times and The Detroit News media critic Mekeisha Madden Toby about what's on the tube this fall, including the diversity of characters.

Fall TV Brings Hits, Misses

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Tuesday

Review

Music Interviews

'The Real Thing,' According to Jill Scott

The soul singer's new album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, is generating quite a buzz. The award-winning singer talks about the events of her seven-year, singing career, including a new film in the works.

'The Real Thing,' According to Jill Scott

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