The best depictions of the American dream

Minions & Monsters and What’s Making Us Happy

Minions & Monsters is the newest addition to the Despicable Me franchise, but this prequel set the minions loose in 1920s Hollywood. They naturally become superstars in the age of silent film. But, as talkies take over, they struggle to stay relevant — until one of them ends up conjuring some cute but deadly monsters using a dead wizard’s old spell book. After many films featuring the hijinks of the yellow pill-shaped oddballs, does this minions feature give off any old Hollywood charm?  If you need more animated hijinks, check out these episodes:  In 'Toy Story 5,' playtime's over and screentime's in [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5862016/in-toy-story-5-playtimes-over-and-screentimes-in] 'The Wild Robot' is grand and gorgeous, with big feelings [https://www.npr.org/2024/10/02/1202966840/the-wild-robot-is-grand-and-gorgeous-with-big-feelings] Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise? [https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1197962941/is-kung-fu-panda-4-a-worthy-entry-in-the-fun-and-thoughtful-franchise] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

The Bear

Did the final season of FX’s The Bear serve up the perfect last bite or are diners and viewers alike left wishing for more? Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Syd (Ayo Edebiri), and the rest of the kitchen staff are back in action as they face down their final day of service. It’s now streaming on Hulu. If you like seriously funny dramas, check out these episodes:   ‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/16/nx-s1-5855729/widows-bay-is-an-island-in-the-scream] We are united in our love of ‘Pluribus’ [https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/nx-s1-5604271/we-are-united-in-our-love-of-pluribus] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

The best depictions of the American dream

America turns 250 this year. So for this special birthday, we discuss our picks for what pieces of pop culture best depict the American dream, including The Wire, Apollo 13, Grey Gardens, and the spiritual successor to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” If you like want more episodes like this one, check out: How we handle spoilers [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5776802/how-we-handle-spoilers] Our 15th anniversary time capsule [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506094/our-15th-anniversary-time-capsule] We rewatch the movies we loved as teens [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/1255376152/we-rewatch-the-movies-we-loved-as-teens] Pop culture that changed our minds [https://www.npr.org/2025/04/10/1243870140/pop-culture-that-changed-our-minds] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Jackass: Best and Last

In Jackass: Best and Last, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the rest of the crew are back for a final round of stunts, pranks, and laughs. The film features new laugh-out-loud bits as well as footage from the franchise’s best clips over its long history. But did Jackass: Best and Last stick the landing or fall just short of a big bang? Need more gut-busting laughs? Check out these episodes:  ‘Stop! That! Train!’ goes off the rails in a good way [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/15/nx-s1-5855439/stop-that-train-goes-off-the-rails-in-a-good-way] In 'Dicks: The Musical', broad jokes, narrow audience [https://www.npr.org/2023/10/11/1197954660/in-dicks-the-musical-broad-jokes-narrow-audience] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Supergirl and What’s Making Us Happy

Hollywood’s newest Supergirl is kind of a dirtbag — in the good way. Fearless and grumpy, Supergirl (Milly Alcock) sets out on a quest to support a new pal’s revenge journey and to make a point that should be clear by now: Never mess with a lady’s dog. Also featuring David Corenswet and Jason Momoa, is Supergirl a worthy follow up to Superman? If you want more DC superhero action, check out these episodes:  'Superman' takes off and nails the landing [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1255526967/superman-takes-off-and-nails-the-landing] 'The Batman' puts the emo in emote [https://www.npr.org/2022/02/17/1081475035/the-batman-puts-the-emo-in-emote] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]