Glen Weldon
Glen Weldon is a host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He reviews books, movies, comics and more for the NPR Arts Desk.
Over the course of his career, he has spent time as a theater critic, a science writer, an oral historian, a writing teacher, a bookstore clerk, a PR flack, a completely inept marine biologist and a slightly better-ept competitive swimmer.
Weldon is the author of two cultural histories: Superman: The Unauthorized Biography and The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, The Atlantic, Slate, McSweeney's and more; his fiction has appeared in several anthologies and other publications. He is the recipient of an NEA Arts Journalism Fellowship, an Amtrak Writers' Residency, a Ragdale Writing Fellowship and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Fiction. [Copyright 2025 NPR]
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Every era gets the Superman it needs. James Gunn's version — sincere, inspiring and idealistic — will make you want to cheer. -
Filmmakers stuff the killer-robot sequel with extraneous plot threads, but preserve the B-movie appeal of the original. -
Brad Pitt is in the driver's seat this week in F1, while M3GAN 2.0 follows up on the surprise 2022 hit about a killer robot. After something referred to as the "bad thing" occurs, an English professor confronts the emotional fallout in Sorry, Baby. -
Until recently, the long-running British show was too often content with iteration. Actor Ncuti Gatwa brought an unapologetic queerness to the character of the Doctor. -
The Apple TV+ show takes what might be the oldest sci-fi premise there is — what does it mean to be human? — and mines it for comedy gold. -
The grand final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest takes place on Saturday, May 17, in Basel, Switzerland. It's an annual celebration of melody, rhythm, fabulousness and glitter. -
Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: A Dolly Parton memoir, the show Reacher, the game Dredge, and the song "Bittersweet" by Semma. -
Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: The film Flow, a Pete Seeger album, Deal or No Deal Island, and the documentary Sly Lives! -
If you're having friends over to watch Hollywood's biggest night, we've got 10 recipes that will at least work on a conceptual level. -
There are 10 movies in the running for best picture. Our critics are split over whether Anora or Nickel Boys should take home the prize.
