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Culture

Are We Having Fun Yet? The Serious Business Of Having Fun

Catherine Price, author of "The Power of Fun", says having fun often involves connection with others. Samuele Recchia/NPR hide caption

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Samuele Recchia/NPR

Perspective

Consider This from NPR

Are We Having Fun Yet? The Serious Business Of Having Fun

If you can't remember the last time you had fun, you're not alone. If you want to have more fun, prioritizing it may be the key.

Are We Having Fun Yet? The Serious Business Of Having Fun

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The life lessons Fantasia brought to 'The Color Purple'; plus, Personal Style 101

Fantasia as Celie in The Color Purple (2023) Warner Bros. hide caption

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Warner Bros.

It's Been a Minute

The life lessons Fantasia brought to 'The Color Purple'; plus, Personal Style 101

Fantasia Barrino-Taylor is picking up awards buzz for her portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple, and Brittany is sitting down with the former American Idol winner to look at the path she took from high school dropout to potential Oscar nominee. Brittany and Fantasia explore how her journey in life has made her come to love the character she plays, and even heal some old wounds along the way.

The life lessons Fantasia brought to 'The Color Purple'; plus, Personal Style 101

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Theater

Josh Groban never gave up his dream of playing 'Sweeney Todd'

Fresh Air

The Tony-nominated baritone gives his final performance in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical on Jan 14, after 46 weeks and rave reviews. Originally broadcast April 10, 2023.

Josh Groban never gave up his dream of playing 'Sweeney Todd'

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Paintings on paper reveal another side of Rothko

Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1958, oil on watercolor paper mounted on hardboard. ShootArt Mobile 1/Copyright © 2023 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko hide caption

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ShootArt Mobile 1/Copyright © 2023 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko

Fine Art

Paintings on paper reveal another side of Rothko

The National Gallery of Art is showing more than 100 of Mark Rothko's paintings on paper, many on view for the first time, in a new glimpse of the artist best known for huge paintings on canvas.

Paintings on paper reveal another side of Rothko

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The Emmys are confusing this year, so here's a guide to what is and isn't eligible

We pull back the curtain on Emmy eligibility and explain why the seasons you'd think are up for awards just ... aren't. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Emmys are confusing this year, so here's a guide to what is and isn't eligible

The Emmys ceremony was delayed due to the Hollywood strikes — and that means several shows and actors won't be winning awards for their most recent work. Here's a breakdown of what's in the running.

Is the musical 'Mean Girls' fetch, or is it never going to happen?

Jaquel Spivey, Angourie Rice and Auli'i Cravalho in Mean Girls. Jojo Whilden/Paramount hide caption

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Jojo Whilden/Paramount

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is the musical 'Mean Girls' fetch, or is it never going to happen?

Mean Girls is a film adaptation of the Broadway adaptation of the beloved Lindsay Lohan and Tina Fey comedy. The songs are there, the dances are there, and the nasty, nasty high school drama is there. But does the retelling capture the energy, the style, and the jokes of the original? The new cast includes Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Angourie Rice.

Is the musical 'Mean Girls' fetch, or is it never going to happen?

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Taiwan's History of Colonialism Forged Its Distinct Cuisine

Authors' of the book, Made in Taiwan, Clarissa Wei, left, and Ivy Chen right, browsing at the Shuixian Gong Market. An Rong Xu for NPR hide caption

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An Rong Xu for NPR

Consider This from NPR

Taiwan's History of Colonialism Forged Its Distinct Cuisine

Tainan is considered the culinary capital of Taiwan. At one of the oldest wet markets in that Southern city, Shuixian Gong Market, the island's vibrant cuisine is on the display.

Taiwan's History of Colonialism Forged Its Distinct Cuisine

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Stephen Sondheim is cool now

Sondheim had the highest standards for himself, the director of Here We Are said. Emilio Madrid/Here We Are hide caption

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Emilio Madrid/Here We Are

Theater

Stephen Sondheim is cool now

The late composer/lyricist was once considered an acquired taste — but with three shows running in New York and another on tour, he's a hit.

Stephen Sondheim is cool now

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For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

Pink's 2009 pop hit "Sober" may be the best known song about sobriety. She's shown above at The BRIT Awards in London in 2019. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images hide caption

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Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

Plenty of songs celebrate drinking. But what about music that finds joy in — well, not drinking? Music critic Sasha Frere-Jones reflects upon a few songs that have been meaningful to his sobriety.

For Dry January, we ask a music critic for great songs about not drinking

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Tired of waiting for the delayed Emmys? Our TV critic presents The Deggy Awards

So what if the second season of The Bear isn't eligible for Monday's Emmys? The annual, imaginary Deggy Awards aren't concerned with arbitrary cutoffs or categories. Above, Jeremy Allen White and Molly Gordon in The Bear, Season 2. Chuck Hodes/FX hide caption

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Chuck Hodes/FX

Review

TV Reviews

Tired of waiting for the delayed Emmys? Our TV critic presents The Deggy Awards

In a turbulent year for Hollywood, our TV critic Eric Deggans offers his own set of awards — with fewer rules and cutoffs. Here's a breakdown of what will probably win, and what he wishes would win.

'Baldur's Gate 3' is the game of the year, and game of the Moment

The Half-Elf Cleric Shadowheart, a character in Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios hide caption

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Larian Studios

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Baldur's Gate 3' is the game of the year, and game of the Moment

Baldur's Gate 3 was the most acclaimed video game of last year and recently won Game of the Year at The Game Awards. It maps the experience of Dungeons and Dragons onto the mechanics of videogames. You and your companions embark on an epic quest, going through dark dungeons and dangerous wilderness — all while being confronted with choices that change the game in ways big and small. But what makes it so beloved?

'Baldur's Gate 3' is the game of the year, and game of the Moment

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Paul Giamatti's own high school years came in handy in 'The Holdovers'

Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham in Alexander Payne's new film, The Holdovers. Seacia Pavao/Focus Features hide caption

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Seacia Pavao/Focus Features

Movie Interviews

Paul Giamatti's own high school years came in handy in 'The Holdovers'

Fresh Air

Giamatti says his latest movie, filmed at various prep schools in Massachusetts and directed by Alexander Payne, triggered memories of the time he spent as a day student at a private school.

Paul Giamatti's own high school years came in handy in 'The Holdovers'

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American Fiction is a rich story — but is it a successful satire?

American Fiction Claire Folger/Orion Releasing LLC hide caption

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Claire Folger/Orion Releasing LLC

It's Been a Minute

American Fiction is a rich story — but is it a successful satire?

American Fiction is a movie you can spend hours discussing. Based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure, the movie is a satire of what the publishing industry wants from Black authors. The film also belongs to a lineage of Black movies that look at selling out in the entertainment industry: from CB4 to Hollywood Shuffle. But does American Fiction say anything new? Host Brittany Luse chats with Aisha Harris, NPR culture critic and co-host of Pop Culture Happy Hour, about her essay on what American Fiction gets right — and the cultural marks it misses.

American Fiction is a rich story — but is it a successful satire?

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'Sex With a Brain Injury' reveals how concussions can test relationships

Annie Liontas is a professor of writing at George Washington University. Their previous book is Let Me Explain You. Simon & Schuster hide caption

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Simon & Schuster

Your Health

'Sex With a Brain Injury' reveals how concussions can test relationships

Fresh Air

Annie Liontas experienced three brain injuries in the span of one year, which led to dizziness, memory fog and anger — and impacted Liontas' marriage and sex life.

'Sex With a Brain Injury' reveals how concussions can test relationships

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'Night Country' is the best 'True Detective' season since the original

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis star in True Detective: Night Country. HBO hide caption

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HBO

Review

TV Reviews

'Night Country' is the best 'True Detective' season since the original

Fresh Air

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis play bickering cops searching for a missing crew of Arctic scientists in the fourth season of the creepy and haunting HBO series.

'Night Country' is the best 'True Detective' season since the original

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