Episode notes
The new Apple TV series Last Seen is a compelling thriller. It stars Patrick Brammall ( Colin from Accounts) as an emergency dispatcher named who gets a call one night from a girl he thinks might be his long-missing daughter. The show follows him as he becomes obsessed with finding the truth, even at the cost of his own stability and sobriety. It also tackles some thorny questions about who stands to gain and lose from solving this case. Looking for other compelling thrillers? Check these out: Emmy Rossum tracks down a female serial killer in 'Furious' TV heavy-hitters get dark in 'The Beast…
Podcast
Pop Culture Happy Hour
Trying to keep up with the latest in pop culture? We’ve got you covered. The Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast helps you find the best new binge-worthy tv shows, movies, music, and videogames. Join hosts Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon four episodes a week - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture enthusiasts. It’s your fix for reviews, recommendations, and recaps of…
More from Pop Culture Happy Hour All episodes →
-
25 Sep 2026 · 24 min
Primetime and What's Making Us Happy
The new docudrama Primetime is a weird and highly fictionalized account of the meteoric rise of To Catch a Predato r. Robert Pattinson plays host Chris Hansen, who is struggling to get bigger ratings. Hansen and his team work with local law enforcement to drag the accused sexual abusers of minors before the camera and arrest them. But does director Lance Oppenheim’s highly stylized approach work, or leave viewers feeling empty? If you’re looking for more dramas loosely inspired by real people, check out: ‘Tony’ is a biopic that cooks In 'Marty Supreme,' Timothée Chalamet is good at being…
-
24 Sep 2026 · 26 min
Jay-Z
Jay-Z has been everywhere lately. It’s been 30 years since his acclaimed debut Reasonable Doubt , and he celebrated with a series of concerts at Yankee Stadium. And now there’s the HBO docuseries, JAŸ-Z In 8 , in which Jay-Z dissects his catalog with producer Rick Rubin. The series hopes to further cement his legacy as one of the most revered lyricists of our time. But Jay-Z (or JAŸ-Z, as he’s styled it lately.) has always been a polarizing figure, both in his personal life and as a business mogul. So what does this series accomplish? Looking for more episodes about music? Check out these:…
-
23 Sep 2026 · 33 min
Fall Guide
This fall, there’s a lot of movies and TV on tap for you to see. And we're as excited for all of it to arrive as you are. So we’ve got a guide to what’s worth keeping on your radar, including Wicker , Wildwood , Wild Horse Nine , Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother and Avatar: Seven Havens . Looking for more buzzy movie recommendations? Check out these episodes: ‘Resident Evil' is a grisly, funny fight to survive ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ is as looney as it needs to be ‘The End Of Oak Street’ is a prehistoric good time Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our weekly newsletter…
-
21 Sep 2026 · 22 min
Great documentaries you don’t want to miss
We talk a lot about movies and TV shows, but new documentary films sometimes can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. So today we’re highlighting some new documentaries that are worth your time and you don’t want to miss – including Remake , The History of Concrete , Black Zombie , The Oldest Person in the World , and You Had to Be There . Looking for more films that might have flown under your radar? Check out these episodes: Great movies you may have missed Fun movies you may have missed Our favorite movies on Tubi Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our weekly…
-
18 Sep 2026 · 22 min
Resident Evil and What's Making Us Happy
The new Resident Evil movie is wild, scary, inventive, fast-paced, and funny . That’s because the videogame-turned-film franchise got a reboot courtesy of director Zach Cregger ( Weapons and Barbarian ). Austin Abrams plays a medical courier tasked with transporting an important medical MacGuffin, and his journey goes haywire almost immediately as gnarly perils pile up. But does the movie’s blend of horror and comedy work for newcomers and longtime fans? Looking for more gore? Check out these episodes: In ‘Weapons’, the kids aren't at all right, not in the slightest, nope 'Ready or Not 2' is…
-
16 Sep 2026 · 18 min
Crew Girl
The Netflix TV show Crew Girl follows in the footsteps of successful coming-of-age dramas like Sterling Point and The Summer I Turned Pretty . It follows Teagan, an ambitious high school rower (Miku Martineau) trying to fit in on the boys’ crew team at a fancy prep school. The show’s got a plucky fish out of water, a love triangle with two very different boys (Kyle Clark and Sam Braun), and a dreamy sunlit setting. But does Crew Girl sink, swim, or row ? Looking for more teen coming-of-age stories? Check out these episodes: You’ll want more time in ‘Sterling Point’ ‘The Summer I Turned…
-
15 Sep 2026 · 24 min
2026 Emmys recap
This year’s Emmys were a big night for shows we really love, including Widow’s Bay , The Pitt and Pluribus. Actors Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys picked up wins, and Rhys made some history. And we’ll explain why we love Mariska Hargitay, who proved to be a game yet corny host. Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our weekly newsletter Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and…
-
11 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Practical Magic 2 and What’s Making Us Happy
In Practical Magic 2, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as witch sisters doomed by a family curse that means any man they love will die. They embark on a new chapter where the next generation is discovering the dangers of being born into this family. It’s been over 25 years since the original film. But will practical moviegoers be swept up in the magic twice? If you are gearing up for the witchy spooky season, check out these episode: In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts. Adam Scott checks in to a haunted inn in ‘Hokum’ ' Wicked: For Good' will bring you to tears…
-
10 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Unapologetically basic TV and movies that we love
When you hear the words “pumpkin spice latte,” maybe you think of fall. But maybe you just think about the pleasures of something unapologetically basic. The same can be said for movies and TV. Today, we are revealing some of the most basic things we really love – including National Treasure , Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again , Dateline NBC , and The People’s Court. Looking for more episodes like this? Check out: We talk pop culture pumpkin spice lattes: they're basic but we love them We debate the best movies to watch on an airplane YouTube rabbit holes that are great distractions Connect with…
-
8 Sep 2026 · 18 min
Watch this: Filipiñana
Are you tired of the same eat-the-rich narratives churned out by Hollywood? There is a great new film Filipiñana offering a new take about the inner-workings of a country club in the Philippines. It’s both beautiful to look at and an emotional gut-punch. From director Rafael Manuel, this film kind of feels like if Wes Anderson made an explicitly anti-colonialist satire. If you want a few more stylish and biting films, check out these episodes: ‘Is God Is’ interrogates misogyny in a vivid, scathing revenge tale 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' shows off Rose Byrne's dramatic chops Keke Palmer…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
