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The origin story of Steve from 'Blue's Clues' is even more wholesome than you think

Nickelodeon television show Blue's Clues host Steve Burns rides a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City in November 2021. Ted Shaffrey/AP hide caption

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Ted Shaffrey/AP

Pop Culture

The origin story of Steve from 'Blue's Clues' is even more wholesome than you think

The heartfelt enthusiasm from a toddler in a dress with yellow flowers landed Steve Burns the iconic hosting gig, bringing joy to generations of tots. Earlier this spring, they met for the first time.

Sink your teeth into 'Interview with the Vampire'

Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson in the second season of AMC's Interview With the Vampire. Larry Horricks/AMC hide caption

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Larry Horricks/AMC

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Sink your teeth into 'Interview with the Vampire'

If you're familiar with Interview with the Vampire — because you read the Anne Rice novel or you saw the 1994 movie — the AMC series has some surprises. It revolves around a young man named Louis, his handsome vampire lover, and the creepy vampire child they adopt — but it's funnier, sexier and queerer than you remember. But this Louis isn't a white plantation owner — he's an ambitious and closeted Black man. The show just returned for a new season, so we're revisiting our conversation about the series.

Sink your teeth into 'Interview with the Vampire'

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Switzerland's Nemo wins Eurovision 2024 in a year of protests

Nemo of Switzerland, who performed the song "The Code," celebrates after winning the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, on Saturday. Martin Meissner/AP hide caption

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Martin Meissner/AP

Switzerland's Nemo wins Eurovision 2024 in a year of protests

The Swiss singer and rapper was one of two nonbinary artists in the finals at this year's event held in Malmo, Sweden. Meanwhile, protesters called for Israel's disqualification from the contest.

Can Netflix build a factory for appointment TV?

Jon Stewart and John Mulaney. Ryan West/Netflix hide caption

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Ryan West/Netflix

Can Netflix build a factory for appointment TV?

The streamer has tried to create an avalanche of appointment television this week. We analyze whether it succeeded.

Can Netflix build a factory for appointment TV?

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New 'Doctor Who' star Ncuti Gatwa feels 'sad' for critics of show's diversity

"It warms my heart to know that little Black kids out there will be like, 'Oh, I can be The Doctor,'" Ncuti Gatwa says. "It feels like a huge, lovely responsibility." Disney hide caption

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Disney

New 'Doctor Who' star Ncuti Gatwa feels 'sad' for critics of show's diversity

Gatwa is the first Black man and the first person born outside the U.K. to play The Doctor. He's candid about how his own life has influenced his take on the role — and about his critics.

New 'Doctor Who' star Ncuti Gatwa feels 'sad' for critics of show's diversity

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Eurovision 2024: Here are the songs with the best shot at glory

Switzerland's Nemo rehearses "The Code" before the second semifinal. Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty hide caption

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Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Eurovision 2024: Here are the songs with the best shot at glory

Another year, another glitter-filled spectacle known as the Eurovision Song Contest. The Grand Final airs Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET on Peacock in the United States.

Eurovision 2024: Here are the songs with the best shot at glory

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Beautifully acted 'Shardlake' brings 500-year-old Tudor intrigue into the present day

Arthur Hughes plays the title character in Hulu's four-part series, Shardlake. Martin Mlaka/Hulu hide caption

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Martin Mlaka/Hulu

Review

TV Reviews

Beautifully acted 'Shardlake' brings 500-year-old Tudor intrigue into the present day

Fresh Air

A London barrister in Henry VIII's England finds himself investigating a murder in a monastery. Hulu's new four-part series, based on C.J. Sansom's 2003 novel, feels strikingly contemporary.

Beautifully acted 'Shardlake' brings 500-year-old Tudor intrigue into the present day

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Pioneering stuntwoman Jeannie Epper, of 'Wonder Woman' and 'Charlie's Angels' dies

Jeannie Epper accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Taurus World Stunt Awards in 2007. M. Phillips/WireImage/Getty hide caption

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M. Phillips/WireImage/Getty

Obituaries

Pioneering stuntwoman Jeannie Epper, of 'Wonder Woman' and 'Charlie's Angels' dies

"We were united in the way that women had to be in order to thrive in a man's world, through mutual respect, intellect and collaboration," Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter posted in a tribute.

Pioneering stuntwoman Jeannie Epper, of 'Wonder Woman' and 'Charlie's Angels' dies

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Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

Melissa McCarthy, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jim Gaffigan in Unfrosted. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

The new Netflix film Unfrosted tells a fanciful invented version of the Pop-Tart's origin. The film was directed and co-written by Jerry Seinfeld, who also stars as a Kellogg's executive who's in a race to release a new breakfast idea before their rival beats them to it. Seinfeld is joined by a big cast of funny people including Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, and Hugh Grant. But is the movie as satisfying as the Pop-Tart itself?

Is Jerry Seinfeld's 'Unfrosted' a tasty treat, or just a stale old standby?

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'Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show' exploits pain for good

Jerrod Carmichael in his new HBO series. HBO Max hide caption

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HBO Max

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show' exploits pain for good

In Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, the comedian doubles down on the uncomfortable intimacy of his stand up special Rothaniel, where he came out publicly as gay for the first time. Jerrod Carmichael gets a film crew to follow him around as he bares his soul to the camera as he cheats on his boyfriend and forces his parents into deeply uncomfortable conversations. The HBO series is funny and poignant. But it isn't a spotless, media-managed facade. It's a portrait of a man who absolutely delights in letting us know just how flawed and selfish he is.

'Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show' exploits pain for good

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'Zillow Gone Wild' brings wacky real estate listings to HGTV

The Golden Saxophone House, featured on HGTV's new series Zillow Gone Wild. HGTV hide caption

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HGTV

'Zillow Gone Wild' brings wacky real estate listings to HGTV

Zillow Gone Wild started in 2020 as an Instagram account devoted to eccentric property listings. The show focuses on homes that defy everyday expectations in some way.

'Zillow Gone Wild' brings wacky real estate listings to HGTV

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Elisabeth Moss embraces her best role yet as a secret agent in 'The Veil'

Elisabeth Moss plays British spy Imogen Salter in The Veil. Christine Tamalet/FX hide caption

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Christine Tamalet/FX

Review

TV Reviews

Elisabeth Moss embraces her best role yet as a secret agent in 'The Veil'

Fresh Air

Moss plays a British spy on the trail of a woman who may or may not be a terrorist. As the two begin working together, suspicions swirl on both sides.

Elisabeth Moss embraces her best role yet as a secret agent in 'The Veil'

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The iconic SpongeBob SquarePants made his TV debut 25 years ago

Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants made its TV debut 25 years ago on May 1, 1999 before the official series launch in July 1999. Nickelodeon hide caption

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Nickelodeon

Moments in history

The iconic SpongeBob SquarePants made his TV debut 25 years ago

Nickelodeon's megahit show SpongeBob SquarePants made its TV debut on May 1, 1999. Fans of the cartoon span generations and the animated series has become a multibillion-dollar franchise.

The iconic SpongeBob SquarePants made his TV debut 25 years ago

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'Baby Reindeer' has got everyone talking, including us

Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning in Baby Reindeer. Ed Miller/Netflix hide caption

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Ed Miller/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Baby Reindeer' has got everyone talking, including us

The new Netflix series Baby Reindeer has a lot of people talking, including us. It tells the haunting semi-autobiographical story of a man (Richard Gadd) who becomes the romantic obsession of a mentally ill woman (Jessica Gunning) who proceeds to stalk him. Eventually, her threatening actions force him to address a past trauma in his own life that leaves him shaken and confused.

'Baby Reindeer' has got everyone talking, including us

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The movies, TV and music we're excited about this summer

Glen Powell stars in the new movie Hit Man. Brian Roedel /Netflix hide caption

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Brian Roedel /Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The movies, TV and music we're excited about this summer

Today, we're offering up a guide to spotlight some of the movies, TV, and music we are most excited about this summer.

The movies, TV and music we're excited about this summer

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In 'Dead Boy Detectives,' two best mates reject their deadly fates

George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne in Dead Boy Detectives. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Dead Boy Detectives,' two best mates reject their deadly fates

The new show Dead Boy Detectives is a spinoff of Neil Gaiman's beloved series The Sandman – both the comic and the Netflix series. It's about a pair of detective ghosts (played by George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri) who refuse to move on to the afterlife. Aided by a young psychic (Kassius Nelson), they stick around and solve mysteries that will resolve the unfinished business of other ghosts.

In 'Dead Boy Detectives,' two best mates reject their deadly fates

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Bon Jovi docuseries 'Thank You, Goodnight' is an argument for respect

Jon Bon Jovi at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., in 2013. David Bergman/Hulu hide caption

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David Bergman/Hulu

Review

Music

Bon Jovi docuseries 'Thank You, Goodnight' is an argument for respect

The new Hulu show takes a close look at the struggle by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi to overcome vocal problems which nearly led him to quit the band.

Bon Jovi docuseries 'Thank You, Goodnight' is an argument for respect

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'Mary & George' is full of schemes, schisms, corsets, and collars

Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine in Starz series Mary & George. Rory Mulvey/Starz hide caption

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Rory Mulvey/Starz

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Mary & George' is full of schemes, schisms, corsets, and collars

In the new Starz series Mary & George, Julianne Moore plays a low-born, scheming woman who recognizes that her handsome son George (Nicolas Galitztine) could seduce the king and become his favorite. Inspired by the true story of King James I, the series is packed with seduction, vicious dialogue, and ruthless political intrigue.

'Mary & George' is full of schemes, schisms, corsets, and collars

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