Arts

A scene from 76 Days, a new documentary about frontline health workers and patients during Wuhan's lockdown.

A Doc About Wuhan's Lockdown Was 'Too Real' For My Wuhan-Born Dad. I'm Glad I Watched

7:00am December 19, 2020

by Laura Gao

The reviewer's father, who was born in Wuhan and lived there until he was 28, couldn't bear to keep watching. But she did — and was deeply moved by this new documentary film.

Arts

After A Swarm Of Bugs, Microsoft And Sony Offer Refunds On 'Cyberpunk 2077'

4:33pm December 18, 2020

by Andrew Limbong

Sony also pulled the game from its online store. Developer CD Projekt Red delayed Cyberpunk several times for tweaks, but players on consoles, particularly older models, reported bugs and glitches.

Arts

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Is A Parting Gift From Actor Chadwick Boseman

1:46pm December 18, 2020

by Justin Chang

Boseman died of cancer in 2020, not long after he finished shooting this adaptation of August Wilson's play. His final screen performance — as a troubled trumpet player — ranks among his best.

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August Wilson at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., in 2004.

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Shines A Light On August Wilson's Vision

1:39pm December 18, 2020

by Tom Vitale

The late August Wilson's first Broadway hit, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, has been adapted for the screen, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in his final film role.

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A Sugar & Spice Holiday, starring Jacky Lai and Tony Giroux, is Lifetime's first Chinese American Christmas romantic comedy.

Arts

Holiday Rom-Coms Go Beyond Diversity To Center New Christmas Stars

1:03pm December 18, 2020

by Neda Ulaby

2020 has given us an unprecedented number of new Christmas movies centering on characters who used to be, at most, sidekicks in holiday fare.

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Arts

Check-In: Office Holiday Parties

10:51am December 18, 2020

Host Ophira Eisenberg and house musician Jonathan Coulton discuss office holiday parties, and regret they can't raid the NPR supply closet this year.

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Arts

Real Or Fake Holiday Album

10:51am December 18, 2020

Composers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez try to spot fake holiday album titles in this speed round. Hold onto your novelty elf hats because William Shatner's Shatner Claus... is real!

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Arts

Three out of six women who work at NPR named Carol make their Ask Me Another debut as they lend their vocals in a music parody game that changes the lyrics to Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime.

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Arts

Slang Game

10:51am December 18, 2020

Jonathan Coulton's kids Theo and Eleanor help their dad and Ophira Eisenberg translate and navigate the latest teen slang. It's "lit!" Are the kids still saying that?

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Arts

Andrew Bird: Hark!

10:51am December 18, 2020

Musician Andrew Bird shares how composer Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Christmas inspired his new holiday album Hark! Then he performs a song off the album called Christmas in April.

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