Linda Holmes
Linda Holmes is a pop culture correspondent for NPR and the host of Pop Culture Happy Hour. She began her professional life as an attorney. In time, however, her affection for writing, popular culture, and the online universe eclipsed her legal ambitions. She shoved her law degree in the back of the closet, gave its living room space to DVD sets of The Wire, and never looked back.
Holmes was a writer and editor at Television Without Pity, where she recapped several hundred hours of programming — including both High School Musical movies, for which she did not receive hazard pay. Her first novel, Evvie Drake Starts Over, was published in the summer of 2019.
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In the second season finale of HBO's Succession, the Roys regroup after their difficult congressional hearings. It turns out the family that yachts together ties itself into knots together. -
"The Muppet Movie" is 40 years old. It was one of the highlights of childhood for many members of Generation X, but it may not have been given all the attention it deserved.
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The Muppet Movie is an unusually silly and unusually profound musical. At 40 years old, the music still astounds, provokes and entertains. -
There was major drama in the reality TV world when Bachelorstar Colton Underwood stormed off set and hopped over a fence. These surprise moments give long-running reality shows staying power.
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In the new Netflix show Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, the Japanese decluttering diva shows Americans how to do with less, challenging America's hoarding and consumer cultures.
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Hulu and Netflix released documentaries about the failed Fyre Festival this week. Both offer insight into what went wrong with the infamous music festival crafted for social media influencers.
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Comedian Kevin Hart was set to host the Oscars, until his past tweets resurfaced, revealing homophobic and sexist attitudes. He has since stepped down as host.
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Corruption is kind of a big news story these days and it's one of Hollywood's favorite subjects. NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour takes a look at how corruption is presented in TV and movies.
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Sacha Baron Cohen likes to dress up and try to get people to say dumb things, and in one case in his new Showtime series, he finds success. But other times, the show falls flat. -
"Have you seen Nanette?" is the question on everyone's lips and phone screens this summer. Hannah Gadsby's stand-up special doesn't hold back — and might change stand-up comedy as we know it.
