Pop Culture Happy Hour: On Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Paper Girls And More

I got the chance to crash the Pop Culture Happy Hour party again.

This time, we gathered to discuss the fantastic, hilarious show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which in the absence of Parks And Recreation is now my favorite network comedy.

Also on the show, we discuss a topic I originally suggested as a joke, mostly because due to being so busy with the day job and writing so much for NPR Music — plus the Royals being in the playoffs all of October — and not having much time to catch up on movies or TV. The topic title still cracks me up: Pop Culture I Hop To Finally Get Around To One Day When I Have Some Damn Spare Time To Myself Oh God I’m So Tired I Just Need To Lie Down For A Second But I Promise I’ll Get To It Soon.

Then, in What’s Making Me Happy this week, I talk about the first issue of a great new comic series Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang. It’s already so good.

One other note: This podcast was originally taped on Oct. 26, the day before the Royals started the World Series — but it dropped a few days after the team won it all. So you can prob hear a little bit of my hesitant optimism here because I’m sure I was a) just thrilled to be in the playoffs and World Series; and b) nervous that they might fall short. Luckily, in present day, I know we didn’t and won! So, relax Oct. 26 Mike, everything turns out just great in the end!

Pop Culture Happy Hour: On Trainwreck, Ant-Man, Wilco And More

Trainwreck. (Courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Trainwreck. (Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Once again, for a second week in a row, I had the pleasure of appearing as the “fourth chair” guest on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. In this episode, we discuss the new Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck, directed by Judd Apatow. Then the latest Marvel superhero movie, Ant-Man — a palette-cleansing heist comedy with Paul Rudd. And, what what was making me happy this week? Star Wars — no, not THAT Star Wars — the new surprise record from Wilco. Plus, the PCHH gang talks about stuff, and they’re great, so take a listen.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: On Bojack Horseman, The Royals And More

Bojack Horseman. (Courtesy of Netflix)
Bojack Horseman. (Courtesy of Netflix)

This week, I got the thrill and honor to return to Pop Culture Happy Hour, the NPR podcast I helped create and produce for a few years. This show has always been one of my proudest achievements, so it was cool to be added back to the mix or rotating guest “fourth chairs” after three years away.

In this episode, we discuss the amazing and surprisingly moving Netflix series Bojack Horseman; then an old favorite segment People We’re Pulling For — where I make a case for this little team called the Kansas City Royals, who inexplicably are, like, good now. And then, what’s making me happy. Oh, yeah, and the whole PCHH gang talks, too. Take a listen:

Reblogging: NPR Links Update

Been awhile since I’ve dumped some links. This time I seem to have a whole boatload…So let’s get to it then.

All the Links after the jump…

Reblogging: Another NPR Link Update

It’s been awhile since I had my last link dump of articles and videos and projects posted over at NPR Music and NPR.org. So here goes.

Reviews and Blog Posts:

— First Listen: Superchunk, ‘Majesty Shredding’

— First Listen: Blonde Redhead, ‘Penny Sparkle’

— First Listen: Jesca Hoop, ‘Hunting My Dress’

— All Songs Considered blog: How ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Rocks Out On Both Page And Screen

— Song of the Day: Lower Dens: A Blissful Swarm Of Feedback

Video work:

Ana Tijoux: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed and edited)

Brian Courtney Wilson: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed and edited)

Lawrence Arabia: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed)

Peter Wolf Crier: Tiny Desk Concert (edited)

Frazey Ford: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed)

Mavis Staples: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed)

The Holmes Brothers: Tiny Desk Concert (edited)

Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed)

Villagers: Tiny Desk Concert (filmed and edited)

Oh yeah, and be sure to check out the new podcast I’m producing alongside NPR’s arts and entertainment blog Monkey See. It’s called Pop Culture Happy Hour and features Linda Holmes, Trey Graham, Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon discussing all things television, movies, comics, books.

Here’s the most recent one:

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Emmys, ‘Runway,’ And General Misanthropy