MEMETERIA by Thomas May

Arts & Culture Stories from NPR

• How 6 Problem-Solvers Tackled Pandemic Challenges In Their Neighborhoods
  From a generous urban farmer to a roving mariachi band, people are using their talents to help others. Read their stories — then nominate a problem-solver in your community.
• Take 'The Unadoptables' Home For A Rollicking Adventure
  Hana Tooke creates a memorable villain, Matron Gassbeek, who menaces the feisty orphans of The Unadoptables in the grand tradition of awful authority figures like Miss Trunchbull and Viola Swamp.
• Thomas Chatterton Williams On Debate, Criticism And The Letter In 'Harper's Magazine'
  A letter on the importance of open debate was published by Harper's Magazine this week and was signed by more than 150 prominent writers and thinkers, fueling a controversy over debate and privilege.
• 'Utopia Avenue,' The Greatest Sixties Band That Never Was
  David Mitchell's new novel chronicles the rise and fall of fictional 1960s psychedelic rock band. He says he was drawn to both the music and the "dark magic that was in the air" in that era.
• Not My Job: Jameela Jamil Of 'The Good Place' Gets Quizzed On 'The Wood Place'
  Jameela Jamil arrived in Los Angeles, went on one audition, booked the job and became a star on the sit-com The Good Place — a totally typical, not at all out of the ordinary Hollywood story!
• Kick Back With 'Palm Springs,' A Witty Romcom About Fighting Despair
  The romantic comedy starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti finds two people connecting at a wedding and getting a lot more than they bargained for.
• You Know How 'Survivor Song' Will End. It's Still Horrifying.
  Paul Tremblay's new novel, about a viral outbreak that locks down New England, hits close to home. Taking place over just a few hours, it's both a zombie horror tale and a focused, personal drama.
• Bob the Drag Queen
  Bob the Drag Queen discusses his wig-filled basement drag closet and his HBO docuseries We're Here. Then, Bob takes on a quiz tailored specifically to his interests, from Kesha to Whoopi Goldberg.
• Funky Stuff, Part 2
  Cristin Milioti and Camila Mendes join house musician Jonathan Coulton for a game where funky songs are rewritten to be about things that smell funky.
• Hallmark Holidays
  Cristin Milioti and Camila Mendes (Palm Springs) compete to see who can identify holidays based on the text of Hallmark cards.