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Tuesday

Monday

A Modern 'Roots' For An American Society Still 'Based On The Color Line'

Malachi Kirby and Emayatzy Corinealdi in the new production of Roots. Steve Dietl hide caption

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Steve Dietl

A Modern 'Roots' For An American Society Still 'Based On The Color Line'

The remake of the seminal TV miniseries begins on the History channel this week. Co-producer LeVar Burton says he recognized an opportunity to retell the story "to and for a new generation."

A Modern 'Roots' For An American Society Still 'Based On The Color Line'

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Friday

Pop Culture

Comedian Maria Bamford Finds Humor In Uncomfortable Topics

Fresh Air

The star of the new Netflix series Lady Dynamite has used comedy to address her serious struggles with OCD, bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts. Originally broadcast July 18, 2013.

Comedian Maria Bamford Finds Humor In Uncomfortable Topics

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Chef Eddie Huang On Cultural Identity And 'Intestine Sticky Rice Hot Dog'

Eddie Huang is a chef and restaurateur, a TV host and the author of two memoirs. Donald Traill/Invision/AP hide caption

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Donald Traill/Invision/AP

The Salt

Chef Eddie Huang On Cultural Identity And 'Intestine Sticky Rice Hot Dog'

Huang and his brothers, Evan and Emery, headed to China to reconnect with their culture, to eat lots and lots of food — and to cook. He's documented his travels in his new book, Double Cup Love.

Chef Eddie Huang On Cultural Identity And 'Intestine Sticky Rice Hot Dog'

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Pop Culture Happy Hour: Live At The Vulture Festival

Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon, and Audie Cornish speak onstage during NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast in the Vulture Festival on May 22, 2016 in New York City. Brad Barket/Getty Images for Vulture Festival hide caption

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Brad Barket/Getty Images for Vulture Festival

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Live At The Vulture Festival

Audie Cornish joins us this week for a chat about the things we pick over endlessly and the sometimes unsatisfying intersection of politics and pop culture.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Live At The Vulture Festival

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Thursday

In Its Retelling, 'Roots' Is Powerful, Must-See Television

Malachi Kirby plays Kunta Kinte in the updated version of the miniseries Roots. Steve Dietl/The History Channel hide caption

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Steve Dietl/The History Channel

In Its Retelling, 'Roots' Is Powerful, Must-See Television

Fresh Air

This weekend, an eight-hour remake of the 1977 miniseries begins airing on A&E, Lifetime and The History Channel. TV critic David Bianculli says the new Roots deserves to be seen and talked about.

In Its Retelling, 'Roots' Is Powerful, Must-See Television

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Tuesday

Marc Maron On Sobriety And Managing His 'Uncomfortable' Comfort Zone

In the fourth season of the IFC show Maron, Marc Maron's character becomes addicted to opioids and loses his house, cats and podcast. Tyler Golden/IFC hide caption

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Tyler Golden/IFC

Marc Maron On Sobriety And Managing His 'Uncomfortable' Comfort Zone

Fresh Air

The comic recently played out his own fictional relapse on his IFC show, Maron. He says relapse is "a very real fear of mine. I'm glad it happened in fiction and not in real life."

Marc Maron On Sobriety And Managing His 'Uncomfortable' Comfort Zone

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Friday

From Walter White To LBJ, Bryan Cranston Is A Master Of Transformation

Fresh Air

After five seasons as Walt on Breaking Bad, Cranston reinvented himself as Lyndon B. Johnson in the play (and now the HBO film) All the Way. Originally broadcast March 27, 2014.

From Walter White To LBJ, Bryan Cranston Is A Master Of Transformation

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Thursday

TV Networks Hope To Lure Advertisers At Annual 'Upfronts'

The Late Late Show host James Corden performs in a Hamilton parody, as CBS and other networks present their fall lineups at this year's upfronts. CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images

TV Networks Hope To Lure Advertisers At Annual 'Upfronts'

This week, networks present their new fall shows and strategies at the annual upfronts, in the hopes of raking in an estimated $9 billion from advertisers. Reboots and remakes are prominent this year.

TV Networks Hope To Lure Advertisers At Annual 'Upfronts'

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Wednesday

Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More

Kenya Barris is the creator and showrunner of the ABC comedy series, Black-ish. Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP hide caption

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Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP

Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More

Fresh Air

Barris' ABC comedy series was inspired by his own family experiences. He says the show is about "raising your kids in a different environment than you were accustomed to being raised in."

Kenya Barris On 'Black-ish' And What Kids Lose When They Grow Up With More

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Tuesday

Racing Toward TV's Future, Late-Night Shows Shift To Anytime Social Media

The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon and house band The Roots sing with Adele during the show's Music Room segment. Douglas Gorenstein/NBC hide caption

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Douglas Gorenstein/NBC

Racing Toward TV's Future, Late-Night Shows Shift To Anytime Social Media

Fresh Air

Late-night talk shows are focusing on increasing their Web audiences with segments like "Carpool Karaoke" and "Lip Sync Battle." TV critic David Bianculli says the changes are exciting.

Racing Toward TV's Future, Late-Night Shows Shift To Anytime Social Media

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Monday

How The Narrator Of 'Jane The Virgin' Found His Voice

Mendez stands in his bedroom recording studio. Emily Bogle/NPR hide caption

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Emily Bogle/NPR

Analysis

Code Switch

How The Narrator Of 'Jane The Virgin' Found His Voice

Anthony Mendez's role as Jane's unseen narrator has garnered him critical acclaim. But before Mendez was able to turn his voice into a career, he was selling tombstones for the family business.

How The Narrator Of 'Jane The Virgin' Found His Voice

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Sunday

After A 40-Year Detour, 'Squidbillies' Star Takes Home His Diploma

Bobby Ellerbee, sporting his graduation get-up. Henry P. Taylor/Courtesy of The Red And Black hide caption

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Henry P. Taylor/Courtesy of The Red And Black

Culture

After A 40-Year Detour, 'Squidbillies' Star Takes Home His Diploma

Bobby Ellerbee left his studies to host a radio show, voice a beloved cartoon character, even party with Etta James. Lately, though, he returned to do the one thing he hadn't done yet: graduate.

After A 40-Year Detour, 'Squidbillies' Star Takes Home His Diploma

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Friday