This Week on Culturetopia: Actor Christian Bale talks about "The Flowers of War"; the screenwriter for "Red Tails" discusses the Tuskagee Airmen ; publishers and booksellers decry Amazon's predatory pricing; how much it costs to produce a hit single; the Cultural Revolution cookbook

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes joins Trey Graham, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson for a long discussion about the Golden Globes, including Ricky Gervais' hosting duties. Then a look at Spin Magazine's decision to review music on Twitter whether criticism is just as good if you do it in 140 characters.

This Week on Culturetopia: Top TV picks for January; cable sport’s big money; “excessive entertainment” purged from Chinese TV; producer Mara Brock Akil; Real Housewives and the "botox tax."

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson look at PBS and where they might go after the successes of Downton Abbey and Sherlock. Then, who might be rediscovered any day now? These topics, plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: World music superstar Youssou N'Dour’s presidential run in Senegal; a tour of India sponsored by the U.S. State Department for Indian-American comedians; pop goddess Kelly Clarkson on her spike in record sales after endorsing GOP candidate Ron Paul: a Moroccan rapper is imprisoned for his political views; a Canadian rock band auctions off their suddenly desirably URL—TeaParty.com.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes gathers with Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham for the first show of 2012. First a run down New Year's resolutions past and present. Then a discussion about the phenomenon of "pop culture overload," and, as always, What's Making Us Happy.

To round out 2011, NPR News put a new spin on an old chestnut, the end-of-the-year roundup. With the down economy and a series of natural disasters, it was a bad year for many in the U.S., but there are still people, businesses and ideas that have done well. We are going to highlight them in a series called "A Good Year." It's been a good year for Android phones, coconut water, deportations, beets and the word "swag." Along the way touched on topics from science to politics, hip-hop to hell. Here are some of the cultural connections from our series.

This Week On Culturetopia: A movie round-up with pieces about Daniel Craig and "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," Glenn Close and "Albert Nobbs," Meryl and "The Iron Lady," and Angelina Jolie on "In the Land Of Blood and Honey."

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon look back at their favorite moments of 2011: the singers, the comics, the books that made us feel them all the way to our toes, and more. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: Bill T. Jones on a winter song that haunts him; a Minneapolis rapper finds hip-hop roots in poetry and jazz; Canadian guitarist Cam Penner

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon make their big predictions for 2012. Plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This Week in Culturetopia: "Redneck" sterotypes on TV; new stories by author Anita Desai; the band Miracles of Modern Science; what the movies "Young Adult" and "We Need To Talk About kevin" hae in common; remembering Colonel Potter.

This Week in Culturetopia: "Redneck" sterotypes on TV; new stories by author Anita Desai; the band Miracles of Modern Science; what the movies "Young Adult" and "We Need To Talk About kevin" hae in common; remembering Colonel Potter.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang take a look at the "guilty pleasure" — whether they believe in guilty pleasures, and then explore the notion with songs. Then it's time for a discussion of holiday music and, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: an interview with Mary J. Blige; the modernist homes of architect John Lautner; how Harvey Weinstein picks movies; a capella group Pentatonix; traffic sign haiku.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon consider the Muppets and the nature of nostalgia itself. Then they talk about where to find common ground with loved ones so nobody gets really angry over the holidays, and of course cover What's Making Us Happy this week.

This (Movie) Week on Culturetopia: Making "My Week With Marilyn"; working sans sound in "The Artist"; a beauty queen caught in the drug trade in a new film from Mexico; holiday treats from Hollywood; Susan Stamberg visits The Muppets.

This Week in Culturetopia: Comedian Donald Glover; new twists on TV; how networks are filling time without the NBA; the new crime drama "Person of Interest"; jass pianist Keith Jarrett's entirely improvised new album.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham talk about what they do and don't like in memoirs, and then explore the most suitable of Thanksgiving topics: what goes well with a pop culture turkey. All that plus What's Making Us Happy.

This Week On Culturetopia: Leonardo DiCaprio on playing J. Edgar Hoover; Walmart’s new fine art museum; the lasting impact of Ayn Rand’s novels on legislators; how Spotify works; remembering Heavy D.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes returns to lead a discussion on winter movie, from the art filmes and Oscar-bait movies like My Week With Marilyn, The Iron Lady and Young Adult to potential blockbusters The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Mission Impossible, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and more. Then, a look at television shows that use music exceptionally well, including Six Feet Under, Freaks and Geeks, Jimmy Fallon and more. Plus What's Making Us Happy this week. 

This week on Culturetopia: The Surgery That Saves Silenced Singers, 'Art Of The Arab Lands' Displays A Global Heritage, Punk Rock Grows Up, And Grays, In 'Other F Word', J. Cole: An Upstart Rapper Speaks For Himself, The Red Solo Cup: Every Party's Most Popular Guest

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, the PCHH gang talk about people in pop culture we've underestimated — from Lisa Kudrow to Russell Brand. Then a disccusion about makes a great game show, Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia Justin Timberlake on his adventures in comedy, music, and acting. Tony Bennett talks about his new album Duets II. Rita Moreno and John Leguizamo discuss cultural hurdles. and John Landis on the Thriller dance.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham consider the Halloween television that they enjoy (and don't), from The Simpsons and the Great Pumpkin to the Addams Family, Frasier, Freaks and Geeks and more. Then the gang expands on some recommendations we've made in the past, and talk about What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Culturetopia: Actress Amy Poehler speaks about the political aspirations of Leslie Knope, her character on NBC's comedy Parks and Recreation. Martin Lindstrom about his new book Brandwashed. Plus bilingual Texas trio Girl in a Coma; arts funding lacks diversity; and the 'Real Sybil' admits her multiple personalities were fake.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon talk about the aging of admiration, the progress of fall television — including Revenge, Terra Nova, Pan Am and Gifted Man. Then What's Making Us Happy.

This Week on Culturetopia: Whether Hollywood's run out of ideas; electronic music festivals in the media's crosshairs; "Catch 22" turns fifty; the real birdwatchers behind "The Big Year."

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes along with Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson and Trey Graham are joined by pop culture critic and boxing expert for a lively discussion about robot boxing, regular boxing and the new film Real Steel. Plus a new twist on the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz (including musicals!), and lots and lots more.

This Week On Culturetopia: Hemingway's fishing boat; the joy of letters; folk icon Bert Jansch remembered; an Afghan-American performance artist in Kabul; the latest album from singer-songwriter Feist.

This Week on Culturetopia: Idris Elba on playing Luther (and hopefully, James Bond); a lost work of Beethovan's, restored; Showtime's new series about an unstable CIA agent; remembering the Godmother of Hip-Hop; Ben-Hur on DVD

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson explore the rebooted DC comics universe by sampling issues of the newly relaunched series. They then talk about watching football together, and — naturally — tell you What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang gather after watching the first week of FOX's new singing competition show, The X Factor.  Then movies about sneezing, countertenors, and a game that will call upon your vast knowledge of famous injuries in pop-culture history.  Plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week in Culturetopia: The author of "Moneyball" speaks; a new documentary backed by Jamie Foxx; an idiosyncratic composer reveals his methods; new biopics reviewed; Susan Lucci says goodbye.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Music's Stephen Thompson takes the reigns in Linda Holmes absence to lead a brief discussion of this year's Emmy Awards — who won, who lost and how host Jane Lynch did. Then the gang make their picks for new fall television shows they're championing sight unseen and will be periodically watching throughout the season. Plus, What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Culturetopia: The Night Circus; Citizen Kane meets Blu-Ray; portraits of New York African-American women; Roger Ebert on his new memoir; last purchases at Borders Bookstore.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes sits with PCHH regulars Glen Weldon, Trey Graham and producer Mike Katzif to talk about local culture — from local sports and eats, to those wackadoo local television programs. Then a look culture that uses food well and makes us hungry: Chocolate, Ratatouille, The Sopranos, Bridesmaids and more. All that plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This Week on Culturetopia: Alexandra Fuller's new memoir; Western opera singers in China; cellist Zoe Keating; Libyan author Hisham Matar; what tennis star Zina Garrison's listening to now

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham preview this fall's upcoming movies — from Ides of March and Contagion to I Don't Know How She Does It and more. Then a look at the best television guest stars, who should be caset and who we want to see again. Plus, What's Making Us Happy.

This Week on Culturetopia: Hugh Laurie plays the blues; comedy after 9/11; the song of the summer; the comedy webseries "Awkward Black Girl"

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, the PCHH staff takes a look at fictional schools we have known — from Buffy The Vampire Slayer to Freaks and Geeks to Heathers and beyond — the traditions that kinda go with Labor Day, and one of our favorite pointless television spectacles of the year: the VMAs.

This Week On Culturetopia: origins of the banjo revealed; the importance of location in the film ‘Fort Apache the Bronx;’ Irish rockabilly singer Imelda May; comparing the 1947 gangster film ‘Brighton Rock’ to its recently released remake; the new reality TV show ‘Russian Dolls.’

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH crew have a somewhat spoilery discussion of Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, talk about how to get over insomnia, and talk — as always — about what's making us happy this week. Plus an earthquake update!

This Week on Culturetopia: Photographer Elliott Erwitt; a rebooted “Porgy and Bess;” musician Grey Reverend; the new documentary “Senna;” the healing power of blues dancing.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes returns to the host chair to give a quick recap of TCA. Then the rest of the PCHH gang — Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Mike Katzif — discuss some unsung heroes in pop culture, from the straight man in a comedy duo to film editors to the Washington Generals. All that plus more Pop Culture Blind Spots and What's Making Us Happy this week — the Green Bay Packers, the return of a comedy podcast, Curb Your Enthusiasm and a classic 80s show.

This Week on Culturetopia: Jeff Bridges releases a country music album; our series On Location continues with a look at the film "Touch of Evil;" actress Octavia Spencer on the controversies surrounding "The Help;" Bert and Ernie are officially just friends; a remembrance of a Mexican comic legend.

This Week on Culturetopia:  Crime novelist George Pelecanos; Shakespeare in the Park; Wil Wheaton remembers "Stand By Me"; the vanishing profession of snake charming

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson, Tanya Ballard Brown and Barrie Hardymon take a look at some of the recent news going on in the world: London's burning, and the markets are having mood swings — and naturally look to Hollywood for lessons about what to do when the center isn't holding. Then a discussion of frequent pop culture punching bag, fast food. And lastly, What's Making Us Happy this week including the Green Bay Packers, the Canadian television drama Intelligence, 'The Help' and more.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes is still away covering the Television Critics Association gathering in Los Angeles, but she still manages to drop by via Skype to talk about some of the best shows, worst shows she's seen and share some wackadoo stories. Then, a discussion of some regrettable television: Same Name, starring David Hasselhoff and his similarly named doppleganger. Plus What's Making Us Happy This Week.

This week on Culturetopia: 'Wacky Genius' actor and comedian Jonathan Winters; The Whistleblower is basd on the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, played by Rachel Weisz; A frantic nonstop chase at Point Blank range; singer Joss Stone returns with her first new album on her own label; and remember jazz saxophoist Frank Foster.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham are joined again by Barrie Hardymon to ask exactly how hot would it have to be outside before you'd see a movie like 'The Smurfs' just for the air-conditioning? Are you a Boggle person or a Scrabble person? Does the Game of Life reveal the tragic dark side of the American Dream? All that plus 'What's Making Us Happy This Week?' including Captain America, Slings and Arrows and more.

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This week on Culturetopia: A Tribe Called Quest: The Rise And Fall Of A Legend; On Location: The Central Florida Of 'The Yearling;' Living Multiple Outcomes: Brit Marling Is A Hyphenate On 'Another Earth'; Enterprising Young Musicians On The Road To Interlochen; Yo, Bro! Belly Up To The Bar And Recite 'Broetry'

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR' Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH team gather for another pop culture round-table tackling the issue of cultural pretenders, along with obscure talents that need to make their triumphant returns and a few of the wackiest (really!) TV episode titles we could find. Plus What's Making Us Happy This Week.

This week on Culturetopia: Saying goodbye to 'Friday Night Lights;' James Marsh and his new documentary 'Project Nim;' one man watches Oprah's network OWN; neo soul from Nikki Jean; and sounds of the summer.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, it's the one-year anniversary so NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH game  take on the theme of appreciation — things that came along at just the right time, things we fondly wish we could have more of, and the things that, as always, we appreciate for just making us happy, including The Simpsons, Gotham Central, Martha Wainwright, Bon Iver, Mr. Show, the Muppets, George Carlin, Jerry Orbach's theatre career, country line dancing and much much more.

This week on Culturetopia: Outer space in the movies; John Singleton and Cuba Gooding Jr. reflect on Boyz N the Hood 20 years later; Dolly Parton returns with a new album; Ledisi returns with new record.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon are joined by dear friend Barrie Hardymon, who joins in for a discussion of homebound pop culture and when it's okay to just walk out on a book, a movie, or even a live performance. All that plus What's Making Us Happy This Week.

This Week on Culturetopia: Marlon Brando's lost musical innovation; extreme reactions to 'Tree of Life'; what it costs to make a hit song; Hollywood sequelitis; a look back at Ernest Hemmingway

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes returns, along with Glen Weldon, Trey Graham and Stephen Thompson to chat about Pixar and 'Cars 2' (taking a rare break from superheroes). Then round of Regrettable Television Pop Quiz, and a talk about the Fourth of July and what it actually does mean to us. And, of course, What's Making Us Happy this week.

This Week On Culturetopia: Tom Hanks on his latest film; Jeopardy contestant wranglers; a Peruvian actress challenges the status quo; Telemundo’s biggest-ever hit; which shows should win Emmys.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, the <em>PCHH</em> gang descends into madness in host Linda Holmes' absence. An influx of guests discuss Green Lantern, the differences between the movie version and the live theatre version of Stephen Sondheim's Company and more.

This Week on Culturetopia: Jil Scott on acting versus singing; a kids' show gets an indie-rock following; Google honors Les Paul; a jazzman traces his Cuban roots; campfire songs

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes along with Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon salute their dads and the things they liked. Also they discuss the Tony Awards and Super 8 and Things Making Us Happy This Week. All in all, a fairly contended week on the PCHH floor.

This Week on Culturetopia: the best of summer television; a new exhibition about Gertrude Stein; Broadway stars who made a splash this season; dispatches from cocktail culture; a Native American tribe opens a museum

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Trey Graham and Stephen Thompson all dig into the the summer's latest superhero blockbuster, X-Men: First Class, as well as the hilariously bad trailers that preceded that movie. Then a disccusion about dark young adult fiction and what's making us happy this week.

This Week on Culturetopia: Ann Patchett's latest novel; how music affects the brain; a fresh look at Verdi’s Requiem; playwright Edward Albee causes a flap.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham and Stephen Thompson are joined by a special guest — NPR Digital News editor Tanya Ballard Brown — to discuss critics and blockbusters — including The Hangover 2, X-Men First Class and Bridesmaids — pop culture prices, and — as always — what's making us happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: Brad Pitt's career-defining role in "The Tree of Life;" competing family memoirs; breakout singer Daphne Willis; the latest Stanley Kubrick DVD collection; techno music's origins celebrated in Detroit festival.

stories not often told, celestial surfing and real life noire sleuthing.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson celebrate the arrival of summer with their summer reading lists, favorite signals that the season has arrived, and the music that keeps them company in the heat. All that, plus What's Making Us Happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: 'Bridesmaids' and female buddy flicks; Will Ferrell plays it straight; the Library of Congress starts a national jukebox; practitioners of a high-energy Chicago dance style called Footwork; a secret night market in Oakland, Calif.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour: Our summer movie season kicks off with an absurdly detailed discussion of Thor, from pecs to family dynamics, plus other movies coming this summer including Captain America, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Bridesmaids. Then what's making us happy, whether it's what we've found or what we've abandoned.

This week on Culturetopia: Shania Twain's personal travails; the subversive art of Libyan youth; a new cultural center celebrates L.A.'s Mexican roots; how publishers churn out newsworthy books; artist Glen Ligon.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang talk about whether there's any actual momentum toward more (and more active) female fighters. Then they consider the movies they can't help watching whenever they show up on television. Plus, of course, What's Making Us Happy this week.

This Week on Culturetopia: The power of Libyan fiction; Ice-T on his new memoir; 'Everybody Loves Raymond' goes to Russia; the progressive racial politics of 'The Fast and the Furious'; remembering Phoebe Snow.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon kick off with a brief discussion of the pulpily titillating HBO fantasy miniseries Game of Thrones, then delve into adaptations, Pop Culture Travels and all things happiness-inducing.

This week on Culturetopia: the best of NPR's arts coverage includes a look at the panglobal world of foreign film; how a Columbian city supports music; the griping new film Incendies; how legendary reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry stays relevant; a fake press release intrigues an NPR Music editor .

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and Trey Graham talk about London, royalty, deep and abiding villainy — from soap opera and classic film villains to Disney movies and Seinfeld — and then what's making us happy. We've got sitcoms, we've got Molly Ringwald — you just never know where things might go.

This Week in Culturetopia: Tina Fey on her new memoir; "Game of Thrones" on HBO; the lost stories of Dr. Seuss; TV news pioneer Belva Davis shares her favorite tunes.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes along with Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon plunge into the churning waters of stunt casting, strenuously defend their most indefensible positions — including discussions of Twin Peaks, Weird Al Yankovic, and LOST — and play a game requiring a thorough working knowledge of drinks made with Red Bull. Then, Things Making Us Happy.

This Week on Culturetopia: The new 'Upstairs Downstairs'; a virtual choir on Youtube; the future of libraries in the e-book age; 'naro novelas' play out dramas of Mexican drug wars; the remake of 'Arthur.'

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH crew take on the pop culture comfort food — from Talking Heads and Laura Gibson, to classic comedies like Airplane! to television shows like Arrested Development. Then, the return of the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz, and, as always, what's making us happy this week.

This Week on Culturetopia: Editing David Foster Wallace's last book; creating Re-Animator:The Musical's special effects; jazz singer Ella Laya; remembering Manning Marable; the culture of nuclear fear;

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang pause to consider the pranks they're not crazy about on April Fool's Day, Then the archetypes we want to see next, the genres we embrace, and — as always — what's making us happy this week.

This Week On Culturetopia: 'Angry Birds' takes flight; an irreverent Broadway musical from 'South Park"s creators; 'Miral' and the Palestinian perspective in Hollywood; the post-revolution plight of Egyptian antiquities; the perils of auto-correct.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's round-table podcast, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson talk about Rebecca Black, the lesser-known works and deep cuts of Elizabeth Taylor, the things we once loved and no longer love, and the things that are making us happy this week including Karl Pilkington, Dancing With the Stars, House of Cards on Netflix and more.

This Week on Culturetopia: Trent Reznor on scoring "The Social Netowrk"; DJ Rekha on bhangra beats; the revolutionary songs of Tahir; a new genre of global dance music.

This week on Culturetopia: a smiling take on Native American representation; a movement to get black movies into theaters; the director of the new film Jane Eyre'; the rise and fall of CDs; and a visit with New Orleans funk legend Dr. John.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Trey Graham and Stephen Thompson discuss things we were terribly wrong about at first glance but grew to love — including Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Buffy, and even Shakespeare. Then how to fill the time we won't be around to fill next week, and as always, what's making us happy this week.

This week on Culturetopia: Harvey Weinstein's return; interracial couples on TV; picks from the Winter Music Conference; Jane Russell and Suze Rotolo remembered.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang talk about everything a little kid could need to grow up strong, smart, and addicted to lots and lots of elements of pop culture. From Looney Toons, Pee Wee, Weird Al, Super Chicken and Muppets to opera, books, comics and more!

This week on Culturetopia: the new film 'Of Gods and Men'; the sexy Titian masterpieces that belonged a devout Spanish king; the story of Hollywood's foremost studio percussionist; comic book artists compete in a relay race on paper; an unusual Black History Month celebration at an airport.

On this week's Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon start off with another round of 'People We're Pulling For' — including voice actor H. Jon Benjamin, Spider-Man, Ken Jennings, and Adrianne Palicki. Then, technology blindspots. All that plus 'What's Making Us Happy' and more!

This week on Culturetopia: a copyright spat between Rhianna and David La Chapelle; the life of Edward Gorey; arts nonprofits fear tax law changes; fading originality in Hollywood; Joan Williams' playlist.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the gang gather to discuss the Grammys and specifically the so-called upsets that saw independent music darlings Esperanza Spalding and Arcade Fire take home awards over the likes of Justin Bieber and Eminem. Then a recap of videogames including a fighting game that have everyone out for bloodlust. Plus a discussion of IFC's Portlandia and another round of What's Making Us Happy This Week — including Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, Banksy doc Exit Through The Gift Shop, The Good Wife and Newsies!

This week on Culturetopia: Critic Bob Mondello on the new Spiderman musical; New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians seek to copyright their costumes; the buzzy first novel Swamplandia; remembering Maria Altman; new music from Mexico.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes and the PCHH gang wrap up the football and Super Bowl talk for the season — from the game to the results of Stephen's chicken-eating contest to the ads to the halftime show to the always tricky words to the National Anthem. After that, a discussion of Valentine's Day pop culture touching on the straightforwardly romantic and bitterly, ironically romantic things we love so much.

This week on Culturetopia: Playing Lady Bracknell on Broadway; a restored mural by Maurice Sendak; chef Jeff Henderson's new guide to soul food; Apple's new rules for selling e-books; Ricky Martin's new album.

This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See's Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon dig into the Academy Awards with a discussion of the ten Best Picture nominees including 127 Hours, The Social Network, True Grit, Winter's Bone, The Kids Are All Right and more. Then the return of the Regrettable Television Pop Quiz and What's Making Us Happy.

This week on Culturetopia: Steve Harvey's media empire; Gang of Four's first studio album in 16 years; nonagenarian actor Ernest Borgnine; remembering country singer Charlie Louvin.