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Let's celebrate the mistakes the Oscars didn't make

Directors Daniel Kwan (left) and Daniel Scheinert pose with their best director trophies for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Let's celebrate the mistakes the Oscars didn't make

Just one last word about the 2023 Academy Awards, which wrapped Sunday in a manner largely free of catastrophic embarrassment: Here's an unsexy-but-crucial rundown of the mistakes that were avoided.

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' is a near myth

"Forget Pat's, forget Geno's. Jim's. Jim's in the best cheesesteak in Philly." Shazam (Zachary Levi) and Hespera (Helen Mirren) have a sit-down. Warner Bros. hide caption

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Warner Bros.

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' is a near myth

The sequel to the 2019 film that starred Zachary Levi as the adult superhero persona of a lonely teen goes bigger. And goofier. But the fuel mixture's off and Levi's one-note performance grates.

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' is a near myth

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'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' has lost some magic

Zachary Levi, with (l-r) Adam Brody, Meagan Good, and D.J. Cotrona in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods. Warner Bros. hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' has lost some magic

Four years ago, Shazam! was a surprise hit and a lighthearted entry in the DC Extended Universe. It follows teenager Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who's bestowed with magical powers and turns in an adult superhero, played by Zachary Levi. In the new sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, Levi returns with a big cast that includes newcomers Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler.

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' has lost some magic

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How the slam dunk became this director's metaphor for the Asian American experience

Director Jingyi Shao arrives for the launch event of Disney's Chang Can Dunk. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Main Character of the Day

How the slam dunk became this director's metaphor for the Asian American experience

When is a dunk more than a dunk? When it's wrapped up in proving yourself to your entire high school.

How the slam dunk became this director's metaphor for the Asian American experience

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Do we, in fact, all scream for 'Scream 6'?

Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter and Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter in Scream 6. Philippe Bossé/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Philippe Bossé/Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Do we, in fact, all scream for 'Scream 6'?

The Ghostface killer is taking yet another stab at the box office as Scream 6 has arrived in theatres. It's a sequel to last year's reboot – or requel – of everyone's favorite deeply meta slasher franchise. Starring Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barerra, Scream 6 takes the characters who managed to survive the last Scream movie out of bucolic Woodsboro and into the urban jungle of New York City.

Do we, in fact, all scream for 'Scream 6'?

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Whose Nightmares Are We Telling? How Horror Has Evolved for People of Color

Jasmin Savoy Brown stars in Scream 6 and Yellowjackets. photo by Robb Klassen/design by NPR hide caption

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photo by Robb Klassen/design by NPR

Code Switch

Whose Nightmares Are We Telling? How Horror Has Evolved for People of Color

Host B.A. Parker talks to Jasmin Savoy Brown, of the recently-released Scream 6, about playing a queer Black girl who lives. And film critics Richard Newby and Mallory Yu discuss how horror movies can actually help us empathize with each other

Whose Nightmares Are We Telling? How Horror Has Evolved for People of Color

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Michelle Yeoh called out sexism in Hollywood. Will it help close the gender gap?

Michelle Yeoh, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress on Sunday, delivered a rallying cry for Hollywood's older actresses during her acceptance speech. Evan Agostini/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/AP

Michelle Yeoh called out sexism in Hollywood. Will it help close the gender gap?

The 60-year-old best actress winner addressed the timing of her historic win, which comes decades into her spectacular career. But is the industry ready for more complicated, older female characters?

'Sextortion' Documentary May Leave Viewers With Exaggerated Sense Of Risk To Children

Law enforcement organizations are promoting a new film about children being exploited into sharing sexual images and videos. But many of the film's key claims lack context. Nicole Xu for NPR hide caption

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Nicole Xu for NPR

Consider This from NPR

'Sextortion' Documentary May Leave Viewers With Exaggerated Sense Of Risk To Children

A new documentary called Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic has gained attention at screenings hosted by universities, police departments and even the Pentagon. But many of the claims made in the film are poorly supported and overhyped.

'Sextortion' Documentary May Leave Viewers With Exaggerated Sense Of Risk To Children

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A major South Korean broadcaster omitted 'ladies' from Michelle Yeoh's Oscars speech

Michelle Yeoh, winner of the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Everything Everywhere All at Once, attends the Governors Ball during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Sunday in Hollywood, Calif. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Asia

A major South Korean broadcaster omitted 'ladies' from Michelle Yeoh's Oscars speech

The broadcaster said it removed the word because of the connotation surrounding "ladies," offering a glimpse into the tense atmosphere surrounding gender discourse in South Korea.

The Oscar for 'Naatu Naatu' fans the impossible dreams of India's musicians

Art school students in Mumbai finish up a painting of Indian actors N.T. Rama Rao Jr. (left) and Ram Charan of the movie RRR, whose dance song "Naatu Naatu" became the first song from an Indian film to win an Oscar. Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

The Oscar for 'Naatu Naatu' fans the impossible dreams of India's musicians

A song from the blockbuster Indian film RRR won the Oscar for best song and is now the talk of India's music biz. But will it lift other musicians to — well, not fame but at least financial security?

Our 2023 Oscars Recap

Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for lead actress. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2023 Oscars Recap

At this year's Oscars, Everything Everywhere All At Once won seven awards, including best picture and best director. The film's actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, and Michelle Yeoh also won Oscars. Yeoh's win was historic — she's the first Asian woman to win a lead actress Oscar. Brendan Fraser and All Quiet On The Western Front also won awards.

Our 2023 Oscars Recap

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Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win best actress Oscar

Michelle Yeoh accepts the best actress award for Everything Everywhere All at Once onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, Calif. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win best actress Oscar

The Malaysian-born actor made history by winning the Academy Award for best actress in a leading role for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Ke Huy Quan wins Oscar for best supporting actor for 'Everything Everywhere'

Ke Huy Quan accepts the Academy Award for best supporting actor for Everything Everywhere All at Once at the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, Calif. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Ke Huy Quan wins Oscar for best supporting actor for 'Everything Everywhere'

The former child star capped off a successful awards season with an unsurprising win. Quan is only the second Asian performer to receive this award after Haing S. Ngor for The Killing Fields in 1985.

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