Television

Jonathan Van Ness embraces a participant on Season 4 of Queer Eye. Following the success of the reboot, Netflix has made kindness a key element of its unscripted and competition programming.

Arts

A Kinder, Gentler Wave Of Reality TV Tries A Little Tenderness, For A Change

5:13pm July 26, 2019

by Neda Ulaby

It's a genre historically known for screaming matches and backstabbing competition. But lately, the shows at its forefront — say, Queer Eye or Marie Kondo — feature a lot more generosity of spirit.

From left: Butcher (Karl Urban), Frenchie (Tomer Capon), Mother's Milk (Laz Alonso) and Hughie (Jack Quaid) conduct some supersurveillance in The Boys.

Arts

Superhero Satire 'The Boys' Doesn't Have Much New To Say, But Says It Loudly

10:49am July 26, 2019

by Glen Weldon

"What if superheroes were evil?" isn't the rich fodder for storytelling the series thinks it is, but some compelling performances keep the show from descending into depressing nihilism.

Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell as Logan and Veronica in the new season of Veronica Mars on Hulu.

Arts

The Crowd Fundeth, And The Crowd Taketh Away: The 'Veronica Mars' Problem

10:29am July 23, 2019

by Linda Holmes

A 2013 crowdfunding campaign brought the beloved detective series back from the dead for a movie. But it also boxed in the show, and the fourth season shows some of the risks of fan-driven work.

Democratic Presidential Candidates Participate In First Debate Of 2020 Election Over Two Nights

Politics & Government

The Democratic Debates...Or The NFL Draft? Political Theater And The Primary Debates

5:21pm July 22, 2019

What purpose do presidential debates serve?

Kristen Bell is back as the wry title detective in Hulu's new season of Veronica Mars.

Arts

'Veronica Mars' Offers More Than Nostalgia; She's Always Been A Survivor

2:22pm July 22, 2019

by David Bianculli

Fifteen years after its debut, Veronica Mars has outlived the UPN and has aired on the CW, HBO and now Hulu. Chances are this new, excellent season won't be the last we hear of the wry detective.

Queue Listen Now

With Alaskan Native Lead, 'Molly Of Denali' Breaks New Ground

6:04pm July 21, 2019

NPR's Sarah McCammon speaks with Executive Producer Dorothea Gillim and Creative Producer Princess Johnson about the first PBS children's series featuring an Alaskan Native lead.

Queue Listen Now

Tia Mowry-Hardrict plays a mother of four moving to Georgia to be closer to her in-laws in Family Reunion.

Arts

Inside 'Family Reunion,' A Sitcom With An All-Black Writers Room

8:00am July 21, 2019

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

Creator Meg DeLoatch conceived her new streaming series, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, around her own family reunion in Georgia. Then Netflix encouraged her to staff up with African Americans.

Arts

Once A Juggernaut, WWE Sees Its Ratings Tank

8:00am July 20, 2019

Fans of World Wrestling Entertainment say the story plots and matches are boring. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Forbes sportswriter Alfred Konuwa about the drop in viewership.

In the PBS program Molly of Denali, Alaska Native Molly Mabray helps her mom run a trading post in an Alaskan village.

Arts

Now Starring In Children's Cartoons: Authentic Indigenous Characters

12:01pm July 17, 2019

by Mandalit del Barco

An Alaska Native girl (Molly of Denali), an Andean boy (Pachamama), two half-brothers in Mesoamerica (Victor and Valentino): Three new animations feature Native people without bygone-era baggage.

Arts

2019 Emmy Award Nominations Announced

5:16pm July 16, 2019

by Eric Deggans

2019 Emmy nominations were announced Tuesday. There are some expected nominations — Game of Thrones, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, some surprises such as Fleabag, and some snubs.