Accessibility links
Pop Culture News and commentary on popular culture trends. Download the Pop Culture podcast.

Pop Culture

Friday

Science

Analysing The Evidence On DNA

When police find DNA at a crime scene, the amount and how it's handled are crucial components in solving a case. Greg Hampikian, Director of the Idaho Innocence Project, discusses the use and misuse of DNA analysis, and why he says all DNA evidence is not created equal.

Analysing The Evidence On DNA

Listen · 12:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161955789/161955782" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Pop Culture Happy Hour: The State Of Television And The Tweed Set
NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: The State Of Television And The Tweed Set

On this week's show, we talk about the state of television and the Emmy Awards, and then we explore academia in the form of our favorite pop-culture professors and teachers.

Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour

Listen · 44:36
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161949358/161951320" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

A Woman As Sherlock's Dr. Watson is 'Elementary'

Lucy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller star as modern versions of Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes on the CBS drama Elementary. David M. Russell/CBS hide caption

toggle caption
David M. Russell/CBS

Television

A Woman As Sherlock's Dr. Watson is 'Elementary'

There have been a lot of different Sherlock Holmes adaptations over the years, but Lucy Liu is probably the first woman to play Dr. Watson. In the CBS drama Elementary, Holmes and Watson solve crimes in modern-day New York City. Liu says a female Watson is a "wonderful concept."

A Woman As Sherlock's Dr. Watson is 'Elementary'

Listen · 7:20
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161859930/161863545" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Pow, Crash, Boom! Marvel Thrashes DC On Screen

The Avengers has brought in more money than any other movie this year — upwards of $600,000,000 domestically. Based on characters in Marvel comics, The Avengers was released on DVD on Tuesday. Walt Disney hide caption

toggle caption
Walt Disney

Pow, Crash, Boom! Marvel Thrashes DC On Screen

You can find vocal and passionate fans on both sides of the great DC versus Marvel Comics debate — but there's one thing both sides agree on: Movies featuring Marvel characters are far more successful than DC's at the box office.

Pow, Crash, Boom! Marvel Thrashes DC On Screen

Listen · 3:27
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161819451/161843084" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

A Political Litmus Test, In 6 Jokes

President Obama laughs as comedian Jimmy Kimmel gives his monologue during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 28. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Elections

A Political Litmus Test, In 6 Jokes

Could humor be the key to bridging a divided nation? Read these relatively nonpolitical jokes told by six very politically outspoken comedians, and tell us which ones you think are funny. We'll try to determine whether that says something about your political leanings.

Monday

Making A Comedy Pilot? You Might Want To Call James Burrows

In a 2001 photo, actress Debra Messing and director James Burrows pose together after Burrows won a Directors Guild of America award for directing the pilot of Will & Grace. Chris Weeks/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Weeks/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Making A Comedy Pilot? You Might Want To Call James Burrows

James Burrows has directed more than 50 pilots, including Cheers, Friends, Taxi, and Frasier.

Making A Comedy Pilot? You Might Want To Call James Burrows

Listen · 6:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161680089/161669987" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Breakup Culture And Fall Television Predictions
NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Breakup Culture And Fall Television Predictions

On this week's show, we jump into fall television and make some doomed predictions, and then we roll around in the agony of great breakup songs and scenes.

Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour

Listen · 47:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161532022/161497916" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Kelly Macdonald: Strong Woman On The 'Boardwalk'

In Boardwalk Empire, Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) is married to corrupt political boss "Nucky" Thompson (Steve Buscemi.) Macall B. Polay/HBO hide caption

toggle caption
Macall B. Polay/HBO

Television

Kelly Macdonald: Strong Woman On The 'Boardwalk'

Fresh Air

The Scottish actress plays Margaret Thompson, a young Irish widow who marries a corrupt politician on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Macdonald, who got her start in Trainspotting, tells Fresh Air that she enjoys playing a "strong character" for a change.

Kelly Macdonald: Strong Woman On The 'Boardwalk'

Listen · 24:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161477059/161477654" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Friday

Meet 'The Most Interesting Man In The World'

Jonathan Goldsmith plays "The Most Interesting Man in the World" in beer company Dos Equis' ad campaign. The audition, he says, "was a cattle call." Courtesy of Anderson Group Public Relations hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Anderson Group Public Relations

Meet 'The Most Interesting Man In The World'

Young boys idolize him. Old men stop him on the bus to tell him they want to "come back" as him. He's actor Jonathan Goldsmith, and he is "The Most Interesting Man in the World" — or at least he plays him on TV.

Meet 'The Most Interesting Man In The World'

Listen · 4:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/161146982/161161114" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript