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Joey Chestnut lifts his fist in excitement onstage, in his Unfinished Beef jersey.

Joey Chestnut ate 83 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes onstage in Las Vegas for a live Netflix event on Monday. His longtime rival, Takeru Kobayashi, ate 66. David Becker/Getty Images for Netflix hide caption

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David Becker/Getty Images for Netflix

National

Top dog Joey Chestnut beats his archrival and his own hot dog-eating world record

Joey Chestnut faced off against Takeru Kobayashi in a Netflix showdown on Monday. Chestnut downed 83 hot dogs and buns to Kobayashi's 66 in 10 minutes, beating his own world record from 2021.

'Kaos' takes on the Greek gods, but is it a hit or a myth?

Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus in Kaos. Justin Downing/Netflix hide caption

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Justin Downing/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Kaos' takes on the Greek gods, but is it a hit or a myth?

In the clever new Netflix series Kaos, the Greek Gods are a rich and powerful modern-day family. They're led by an impulsive and deeply insecure Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), who lives on Mount Olympus with his wife Hera (Janet McTeer). But there is a plan to overthrow Zeus that depends on a slew of gods, demigods and mortals working together, whether or not they are aware of the roles they each are playing.

'Kaos' takes on the Greek gods, but is it a hit or a myth?

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Reality TV, romance, and race
Jackie Lay/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Reality TV, romance, and race

Some people may flinch at the genre of reality TV – it's full of tropes and manipulative editing and ridiculous premises. It's been referred to as a funhouse mirror of our culture. But it can reflect back to us new ways of understanding what we accept as a society – especially when it comes to things like gender, sexuality, class and race. Today we're bringing you an episode of NPR's Code Switch that zeroes in on the The Bachelor and Love Island.

Reality TV, romance, and race

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'American Pie', and the bygone era of raunchy teen comedies

Jim (Jason Biggs) Is Caught In An Embarrassing Moment By His Mom (Molly Cheek) And Dad (Eugene Levy) In "American Pie." (Photo By Getty Images) Getty Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Consider This from NPR

'American Pie', and the bygone era of raunchy teen comedies

Raunchy sex comedies had a moment at the end of the 20th century. And perhaps the king of them all, was American Pie. Even people who have never seen the movie probably know the most memorable scene has something to do with a sex-obsessed teenage boy doing something unseemly with a homemade apple pie.

'American Pie', and the bygone era of raunchy teen comedies

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Decoy, dog of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, delivered a ceremonial first pitch before a game at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 28, 2024 in Los Angeles.

Decoy, dog of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, delivered a ceremonial first pitch before a game at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 28, 2024 in Los Angeles. Harry How/Getty Images hide caption

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Harry How/Getty Images

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing and gaming

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: the shows Mrs. Davis and Disaster Autopsy and the card game Cockroach Poker.

'Afraid': A not-OK computer

John Cho in Afraid. Glen Wilson/Sony Pictures hide caption

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Glen Wilson/Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Afraid': A not-OK computer

The new movie Afraid is latest in the well-established genre of "the computer is alive" stories. John Cho plays a dad who has a chance to try out a very advanced AI system at his home — and it does a lot more than talk back.

'Afraid': A not-OK computer

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Chappell Roan and celebrity hazing; plus, MrBeast's entertainment charity

Singer Chappell Roan and YouTuber Mr. Beast Rodin Eckenroth/Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images hide caption

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Rodin Eckenroth/Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Chappell Roan and celebrity hazing; plus, MrBeast's entertainment charity

After Chappell Roan posted about how some fans have been making her feel unsafe, there's been speculation around whether the singer is really 'cut out to be a pop star.' But are the critiques fair? Brittany sits down with Kelsey McKinney, who wrote about the controversy for Defector, and Dr. Mel Stanfill, author of Fandom is Ugly. They discuss modern fandom, how Chappell Roan framed it as a conversation about gender and what people misunderstand about celebrity.

Chappell Roan and celebrity hazing; plus, MrBeast's entertainment charity

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'The Crow' puts the ick in gothic

Bill Skarsgård in The Crow. Larry Horricks/Lionsgate hide caption

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Larry Horricks/Lionsgate

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Crow' puts the ick in gothic

In the new film The Crow, Bill Skarsgård plays a man who gets brutally murdered alongside his soulmate (FKA twigs). He returns to life as an unstoppable figure of vengeance, hunting down their killers. It's not a remake of the 1994 cult classic; the filmmakers are pitching it as a brand new reimagining of the comic book series that inspired the original film. But how does this new movie stack up?

'The Crow' puts the ick in gothic

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Jools Lebron

Tiktok influencer Jools Lebron has partnered with Verizon. Verizon hide caption

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Verizon

'Very demure, very mindful' trademark issue is 'handled,' TikTok influencer says

While Jools Lebron was captivating millions of people with her "very demure, very mindful" TikTok videos, at least two people submitted applications to trademark her catchphrases.

What the "very demure, very mindful" trend can teach about trademark laws

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Adar (Sam Hazeldine) engages in a bit elf-reflection.

Adar (Sam Hazeldine) engages in a bit elf-reflection. Ross Ferguson/Prime Video hide caption

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Ross Ferguson/Prime Video

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

You’ve got questions about 'The Rings of Power' Season 2. We’ve got answers.

The second season of the Lord of the Rings prequel has many of the same pitfalls as the first – but for fans eager to return to Middle-earth, it’s still worth watching.

You’ve got questions about 'The Rings of Power' Season 2. We’ve got answers.

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Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

Sabrina Carpenter's new album Short 'n Sweet is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

Sabrina Carpenter has had two of the year's biggest hits with "Espresso" and "Please Please Please." Now, she's released a new full-length album called Short n' Sweet, which serves up more catchy silliness and high drama. But does the album keep that "Espresso" magic alive?

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

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The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

The PSL or Pumpkin Spice Latte. Christina Tkacik/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service hide caption

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Christina Tkacik/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service

Perspective

It's Been a Minute

The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

It's been 21 years since Starbucks debuted the first pumpkin spice latte in 2003. Since then, it's become a cultural phenomenon greater than itself: it's shorthand for fall, for basicness, for femininity, and even for white culture. In this episode from last year, we explore why the PSL became so powerful — and how food trends garner so much meaning.

The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

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Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm attends the premiere of FOX's Lucy In The Sky at Darryl Zanuck Theater at FOX Studios on September 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images hide caption

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Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm is an actor with a lot of range. He can do serious, and he can definitely do funny. When he last joined us on the show, he had just starred in a comic noir called Maggie Moore(s). A film with a perfect mix of serious and funny. He chatted with us about that film, how he landed his memorable role on Mad Men, and much more.

Listen to this Epsiode

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When celebrities portray themselves

Martin Short and Zach Galifianakis in the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building. Eric McCandless/Hulu/Disney hide caption

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Eric McCandless/Hulu/Disney

Pop Culture Happy Hour

When celebrities portray themselves

It's practically a tradition for famous people to portray a really offbeat version of themselves in TV and movies. The latest season of Only Murders in the Building features Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria all playing fictional versions of themselves. So we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about about the many ways actors portray themselves on screen, and why it does and doesn't work.

When celebrities portray themselves

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Liam (right) and Noel Gallagher, pictured in London in February 1999.

Liam (right) and Noel Gallagher, pictured in London in February 1999, were members of the beloved band Oasis from 1991 until it broke up in 2009. PA Images via Getty Images hide caption

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PA Images via Getty Images

Music

The Gallagher brothers are reviving Oasis. Here's a look at their decades-long feud

Famously feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have announced an Oasis reunion, 15 years after its dramatic breakup. Here's a brief timeline of their tumultuous history — and how they got here.

The Illusionist in question.

The Illusionist in question. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: The Rogues Gallery, by Brian Blume with Dave Cook and Jean Wells. 1980, TSR Games. hide caption

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Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: The Rogues Gallery, by Brian Blume with Dave Cook and Jean Wells. 1980, TSR Games.

Analysis

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Dungeons, Dragons and shoulder pads: Why I loved D&D as a closeted teen

As Dungeons & Dragons turns 50, critic Glen Weldon looks back on playing the game in its early years — and stumbling upon the fierce, shoulder-padded illusionist that would become his first character.

As D&D turns 50, we remember the early days

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ScarLip

(Photo by Raven B. Varona) Raven B. Varona/Courtesy of Epic Records hide caption

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Raven B. Varona/Courtesy of Epic Records

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

ScarLip

ScarLip is hip-hop's next rising star with her forceful flow and energy inspired by the late rapper DMX. She's just been named to XXL's 2024 freshman class and received the stamp of approval from hip-hop giants Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg. We get into her ascent in the game, breath control while performing, and staying in school against all odds. Plus: What's a Glizzy? We answer that and so much more.

ScarLip

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Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

Channing Tatum stars as Slater King in Blink Twice. Zachary Greenwood/Amazon MGM Studios hide caption

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Zachary Greenwood/Amazon MGM Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

In the new psychological thriller Blink Twice, Naomi Ackie plays a woman who is invited to the private island of a tech billionaire, played by Channing Tatum. He's recently re-entered public life after a scandal and has gathered his friends for a long party. But as the party stretches on, it's clear that something is seriously amiss. Blink Twice is the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, and the vibes are definitely pretty weird.

Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

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"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING'

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. Michael B. Thomas/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael B. Thomas/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING'

As the dust settles on the DNC, host Brittany Luse takes a look at the challenges facing a group of progressive democrats commonly known as "The Squad." Incumbent Reps. Cori Bush in Missouri and Jamaal Bowman in New York lost their seats this summer to candidates whose campaigns received funding from pro-Israel PACs. Brittany is joined by POLITICO Congress reporter Sarah Ferris and Capital B News national politics reporter Brandon Tensley to understand how these PACs are impacting progressives in Congress.

"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING'

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The reality TV shows we'd actually win

Ted Allen on Chopped. Food Network hide caption

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Food Network

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The reality TV shows we'd actually win

Part of the fun of reality TV is putting yourself in the shoes of the people you're watching. Maybe you'd make a great Real Housewife. Maybe you could win The Amazing Race. Maybe you could even win the fickle hand of The Bachelor. We're not here to make friends, but we are here to pick the reality shows that we think could thrive on.

The reality TV shows we'd actually win

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The SMACKDOWN: Maya Angelou vs. Harvey Milk vs. MC Hammer

San Francisco. Harvey Milk. MC Hammer. Maya Angelou. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Perspective

It's Been a Minute

The SMACKDOWN: Maya Angelou vs. Harvey Milk vs. MC Hammer

Who will win today's cage match?

The SMACKDOWN: Maya Angelou vs. Harvey Milk vs. MC Hammer

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