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Pop culture in high spirits
'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

John David Washington as Joshua in The Creator. 20th Century Studios hide caption

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20th Century Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

In the new movie The Creator, humanity is at war with artificial intelligence. It stars John David Washington as a former soldier who's been recruited to find and kill the creator of a powerful AI weapon. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film's big themes involve the role of AI, the brutality of war, and the building blocks of life and society.

'The Creator' is based on big ideas — and a lot of spare parts

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Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sense' is still burning down the house

David Byrne of the Talking Heads in Stop Making Sense. A24 hide caption

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A24

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sense' is still burning down the house

Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense has been called the greatest concert film of all time. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the iconic 1984 film takes the audience onstage with the band and captures them at the height of their power. Now, a restored version of the film is back in theaters, featuring propulsive performances of early hits like "Psycho Killer," along with deeper and funkier cuts, too.

Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sense' is still burning down the house

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What happens when your secret fiancee becomes your boss? Find out in 'Fair Play'

A cutthroat power couple Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) and Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) end up in a power struggle in Fair Play. Sergej Radovic/Netflix hide caption

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Sergej Radovic/Netflix

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What happens when your secret fiancee becomes your boss? Find out in 'Fair Play'

A power couple crumbles when one gets promoted over the other at their cutthroat hedge fund firm. Fair Play is a withering melodrama, depicting a relationship contaminated by ambition and jealousy.

In 'Cassandro,' a gay luchador finds himself, and international fame

Gael García Bernal stars in Cassandro. Amazon Prime Studios hide caption

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Amazon Prime Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Cassandro,' a gay luchador finds himself, and international fame

In the new film Cassandro, Gael García Bernal plays the real-life Mexican-American wrestler who came to international stardom by adopting the persona of the flamboyant Cassandro, the Liberace of Lucha Libre. It's the story of a queer man who challenges a macho and homophobic system through sheer showmanship – and earns the respect of his fellow wrestlers and audiences.

In 'Cassandro,' a gay luchador finds himself, and international fame

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In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

Pete Davidson and Paul Dano in Dumb Money. Claire Folger/Sony Pictures hide caption

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Claire Folger/Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

The snappy "eat the rich" comedy Dumb Money is about a sly bunch of Reddit users who made some Wall Street billionaires sweat, in an infamous stock market incident known as the Game Stop short squeeze. With a star-studded ensemble including Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Pete Davidson, the movie has got class warfare and needle drops galore. But will it inspire you to fight the power or just go out and buy some stocks?

In 'Dumb Money,' the mischievous are eating the rich

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'Sex Education' teaches valuable lessons in empathy

Ncuti Gatwa in season 4 of Netflix's Sex Education. Samuel Taylor/Netflix hide caption

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Samuel Taylor/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Sex Education' teaches valuable lessons in empathy

Netflix's hit series Sex Education is a refreshing and frank coming-of-age story about modern teens learning about their bodies and themselves in awkward, relatable ways. In the final season, amateur sex therapist Otis (Asa Butterfield), his best friend Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), and their friends juggle academic life and young adulthood.

'Sex Education' teaches valuable lessons in empathy

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In 'Starfield', human destiny is written in the stars

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Bethesda Softworks

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Starfield', human destiny is written in the stars

Starfield is one of the biggest and most anticipated video game releases of the year. It's a massive open world game set in humanity's future, when we've settled on star systems throughout the galaxy. There's over 1000 planets to explore, multiple factions to join, spaceships to pilot and quests to go on. But does Starfield live up to the hype?

In 'Starfield', human destiny is written in the stars

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Three great 90s thrillers

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PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three great 90s thrillers

When you're talking about the movies of the 1990s, you have to mention the decade's huge assortment of thrillers. From courtroom standoffs and frantic chases to wild twists and A-list stars, today, we are recommending three of our favorite 90s thrillers.

Three great 90s thrillers

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'The Other Black Girl' explores identity and unease

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Hulu

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Other Black Girl' explores identity and unease

Part blistering workplace satire, part creepy thriller, Hulu's The Other Black Girl packs a lot of punches. Nella (Sinclair Daniel) is a young editorial assistant who forms a fast-friendship with her new-coworker, Hazel (Ashleigh Murray) as they both navigate working in a mostly white publishing company. Hazel is confident, a bit mysterious, and full of secrets. The Other Black Girl is based on the novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris.

'The Other Black Girl' explores identity and unease

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Maybe think twice before making an innocent stranger go viral?

Other people just going about their lives in public are not fodder for your social media. Let's think a little harder about the etiquette of putting pictures and videos of strangers up online. Delmaine Donson/Getty Images hide caption

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Delmaine Donson/Getty Images

Opinion

Maybe think twice before making an innocent stranger go viral?

Other people just going about their lives in public are not fodder for your social media. Let's think a little harder about the etiquette of putting pictures and videos of strangers up online.

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Cailee Spaeny stars in Priscilla. A24 Films hide caption

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A24 Films

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

Today we offer up a guide to some of the most exciting movies, TV, and music you can check out this fall.

The Fall movies, TV and music we can't wait for

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On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

Olivia Rodrigo returns with her sophomore album Guts. Nick Walker/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, Sour, was one of the biggest hits of 2021. Now, she's back with a new record called GUTS, which has already spawned two hits with "vampire" and "bad idea right?" The album sharpens a sound inspired by pop, punk and singer-songwriters.

On 'GUTS', Olivia Rodrigo is more than the sum of her influences

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Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour is a cozy, hypersonic, soul-healing experience

Beyoncé performs onstage during her Renaissance World Tour at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland. Kevin Mazur /WireImage for Parkwood / Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Mazur /WireImage for Parkwood / Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour is a cozy, hypersonic, soul-healing experience

This summer, millions of us got cozy with Beyoncé during the Renaissance World Tour. With stunning visuals, an array of costume changes, and the occasional Blue Ivy cameo, this is reportedly Beyonce's highest-grossing tour yet. Renaissance has been unlike any other Beyoncé experience, a truly communal and social media-hyped dance party.

Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour is a cozy, hypersonic, soul-healing experience

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We unpack Jimmy Fallon and the 'Strike Force Five' podcast

Jimmy Fallon hosts the The Tonight Show in March 2023. Todd Owyoung/NBC hide caption

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Todd Owyoung/NBC

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We unpack Jimmy Fallon and the 'Strike Force Five' podcast

Recently, late night talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Jimmy Kimmel started the chat podcast Strike Force Five to raise money and support their staff during the actors and writers strikes. Shortly after it launched, an investigation in Rolling Stone outlined allegations of erratic and aggressive behavior by Jimmy Fallon and a generally terrible working environment at The Tonight Show. So now, this unusual project finds itself in an awkward position.

We unpack Jimmy Fallon and the 'Strike Force Five' podcast

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'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' heads for the homeland

Nia Vardalos stars as Toula and John Corbett stars as Ian in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Focus Features hide caption

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Focus Features

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' heads for the homeland

The family comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a very big hit back in 2002. So it was inevitable that the movie spawned a couple of sequels – thus, we now have My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Writer and director Nia Vardalos is back as Toula, John Corbett is back as her husband, and this time, they're headed to Greece for a family reunion.

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3' heads for the homeland

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