Ready, Set, Flake: Is ‘Bake Off’ About To Crumble?

Here is the latest Art News from National Public Radio.

Ready, Set, Flake: Is ‘Bake Off’ About To Crumble?
The future of the smash-hit baking competition is in question after a move from the BBC to independent broadcaster Channel 4 prompted beloved hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins to step down.

Realizing Tupac Wasn’t Cool, 20 Years Later
I was probably 9 years old at the height of my obsession with Tupac’s “Hail Mary.” I didn’t know what I was capable of then, but I was not to be trifled with.

Protesters Rush Stage After Ryan Lochte’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Routine
NPR’s Audie Cornish talks to Slate senior editor Laura Bennett about Dancing with the Stars, which is now in its 23rd season. On Monday night’s show, two protesters rushed the stage following a dance performance by athlete Ryan Lochte.

Having Thick Skin Is A ‘Survival Technique,’ Says Comic Jeff Ross
Ross says he learned to “dish it out and take it” as a kid in Newark, N.J. He says that ideally a celebrity roast is “like a party where everybody goes and has a good time.”

‘Son Of Zorn,’ ‘The Last Man On Earth’ And Ditching Sitcom Normalcy
Both the new Fox comedy Son of Zorn and the returning The Last Man on Earth buck conventional sitcom tropes to build worlds where the humor is broader and the concepts higher.

Most Of This Year’s Emmys Have Already Been Handed Out: Some Highlights
Last Saturday and Sunday, the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys — 91 of them — were handed out in Los Angeles. We review some notable winners.

TIFF Diary, Day 2: ‘Nocturnal Animals,’ ‘Arrival,’ ‘A Monster Calls’ And More
In Linda Holmes’ second dispatch from the Toronto International Film Festival, she covers movies that range from alien encounters and tree-shaped monsters to riffs on Shakespeare.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: HGTV And Cooking Shows
This week, the discussion takes a decidedly domestic turn as Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Kat Chow and Barrie Hardymon talk real estate shows, home renovation shows, and cooking shows.

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: ‘Star Trek’ Turns 50
Star Trek debuted on TV in 1966, and Starship Enterprise is still seeking strange new worlds. Co-star George Takei credits creator Gene Roddenberry’s inclusive vision for Trek‘s enduring popularity.

Comedy Is Old And New Again: ‘Superstore’ And ‘You’re The Worst’
Today, a TV show’s style doesn’t tell you as much as it used to. A traditional network workplace sitcom slyly breaks with tradition, and an edgy cable sitcom hides a beating human heart.

Highly Illogical: Why Every Incarnation Of ‘Star Trek’ Needs A Spock
Star Trek turns 50 tomorrow. Each of the various shows and films that make up the franchise feature a character who offers a third-person view of humanity; they’re what make Star Trek what it is.

Actress Pamela Adlon Says ‘Better Things’ Is Dedicated To Her Daughters
Adlon’s new FX series is based on her own experience raising three girls as a single mom. Her daughters are “very much a part” of the show, she says.

Singular Points Of View: ‘Atlanta,’ ‘One Mississippi’ And ‘Fleabag’
We look at three fall shows that step away from generic, broad-appeal TV concepts and come straight from the specific sensibilities of their creators.

Ava Duvernay And ‘Queen Sugar’: Celebrating Diversity, Inclusivity In TV
Ava Duvernay, director of the acclaimed film Selma, brings her talents to TV in Queen Sugar, an original drama series for Oprah’s OWN network premiering Sept. 6.

It’s ‘Bey Day’: Beyoncé Turns 35
Today is the Queen’s birthday — Queen B, that is. Beyonce’s birthday has become a moment of celebration for people across the country, and last night, many people danced the night away.

Podcast Extra: Juan Gabriel And The Tricky Conversation About Sexual Identity
Many remembrances of Mexican vocalist Juan Gabriel suggest that he overcame homophobia in Mexico to achieve super-stardom. The reality is a bit more complicated.

#NPRreads: A Distraction For Labor Day Weekend, And Thoughts About Work
A fascinating true-crime case and the shame of being well-rested: two of the stories recommended by NPR staff, using the #NPRreads hashtag.

Ray Liotta On ‘Goodfellas,’ Acting And His Return To TV
“My career has been up and down, and I like it much better being up,” Liotta says. He plays a corrupt NYC police lieutenant on the NBC series Shades of Blue. Originally broadcast Jan. 12, 2016.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘You’re The Worst’ And Making Drama Funny
The gang discusses a drama-filled FXX comedy as a jumping-off point for a look at the ways humor and seriousness can collide. Then, as always, we close with What’s Making Us Happy this week.

‘Narcos’ Actor Wagner Moura On Shedding The Weight Of Pablo Escobar
The Brazilian actor gained 40 pounds for his role as the notorious drug kingpin. He says getting back in shape “wasn’t only about losing weight, but getting rid of that character.”

Actress Sarah Paulson Worked To ‘Get It Right’ As O.J. Simpson Prosecutor
Paulson, who has been nominated for an Emmy for her role in the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson, says she set out to portray Marcia Clark in a “truthful way.”Originally broadcast March 10, 2016.

Where Did TV’s Villains Go? Monsters, Anti-Heroes And Alexis Colby Carrington
TV has a bad guy problem. The rise of morally ambiguous anti-heroes like Tony Soprano has pushed chewier, more melodramatic villains aside. What we gained in nuance, we lost in sheer, hiss-worthy fun.

Larry Wilmore On Being Nerdy, Breaking Taboos And ‘The Nightly Show’
The self-deprecating former host of Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show talks about getting his start and finding humor in politics. Originally broadcast Feb. 19, 2015; Aug. 20, 2015 and May 16, 2016.

Can A Canadian Prime Minister Be An Action Hero? Marvel Comics Thinks So
Justin Trudeau has had a varied career — bouncer, snowboard instructor, Canada’s prime minister. Now he’s a Marvel Comics action hero. Only two other world leaders have appeared in Marvel Comics.

In This 2005 Interview, Gene Wilder Explains How He Learned To Get Laughs
When he was 8, Wilder’s mother had a heart attack, and he took it upon himself to cheer her up. We’ll listen back to a Fresh Air interview with the comic actor, who died Monday at age 83.

Ryan Lochte Just Wants To Dance, Apparently — With The Stars!
The casting of Ryan Lochte on Dancing With The Stars is an awfully speedy performance by the Hollywood redemption machine.

At MTV’s Video Music Awards, It’s All About ‘Moments’
This year’s VMAs feature Rihanna, Beyonce, and four minutes of Kanye West doing whatever he wants — all vying for social-media dominance in the hours, days and weeks ahead.

Musicians ‘Let It All Out’ At MTV’s Video Music Awards
Complex magazine writer Alex Gale talks about the more than 30-year history and previews what to expect for Sunday night’s Video Music Awards on MTV.

A Hero For The Arts And Sciences: Upcoming Marvel Covers Promote STEAM Fields
The five covers feature the company’s heroes — including Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Hulk — all engaging in activities educators have been trying to promote.

First-Time Nominations Reveal The Changing Face Of The Emmys
Cuba Gooding Jr., Rami Malek and Constance Zimmer all have one thing in common: this year is the first time each has been nominated for an Emmy. Their nominations hint at deeper changes in television.

Nina McLemore’s Clothes Are A ‘Weapon’ Of Powerful Women
Nina McLemore designs clothes for powerful women: Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Janet Yellen, Elena Kagan and others. She talks about how fashion can help women stand out in political office.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘Pete’s Dragon’ And Kids And Their Monsters
On this week’s show, we visit with Disney’s latest live-action effort and talk about why kids have, and love, their friendly monsters.

Shante, He Stays: RuPaul Reflects On Decades Of Drag — And 2 Emmy Nominations
RuPaul is the most recognizable drag queen in America. His hit show, RuPaul’s Drag Race is up for two Emmy Awards as it begins filming its ninth season. But drag, he says, will never be mainstream.

What To Watch For When Watching ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’
The search for America’s Next Drag Superstar(TM) continues, as the drag competition returns for a second All-Star season on Thursday. We humbly offer a guide for the perplexed.

The Old-Fashioned Romantic Comedy Pops Up On YouTube With ‘Single By 30’
It may be a recent arrival in original TV content, but YouTube has rolled out a pleasantly traditional romcom about friends who may or may not (oh, come on) fall in love.

One Professor’s Quest To Collect Every Video Game Soda Machine
From Sprunk and Grog to Nuka-Cola and Fountain View, soda machines are everywhere in video games. A researcher says they can serve a dose of nostalgia after the apocalypse.

Bonjour, Barbie! An American Icon Packs Her Heels And Heads To France
Some 700 Barbie dolls are visiting Paris this summer. They span almost six decades of pretty, plastic history, including Malibu Barbie, astronaut Barbie, and, of course, Royal Canadian Mountie Barbie.

Actor John Krasinski Takes Stock Of His ‘Lottery-Ticket Life’
Krasinski says he’s thankful for his big break “every single day.” Three years after the wrap of The Office, he continues to branch out — he’s now directing and co-starring in the filmThe Hollars.

Nate Parker’s Past, His Present, And The Future of ‘Birth Of A Nation’: Episode 14
News of a 1999 rape case against Nate Parker raises some age-old questions about culture. Can art be separated from its creator? What moral obligations, if any, do the consumers of culture bear?

Wolverine’s Mutton Chops To Hugh Jackman: ‘This Ain’t Over, Bub’
The Fire Still (Side)Burns: Jackman recently took to social media to shave off the distinctive facial hair he sported for the role of Wolverine. Those mutton chops are not handling the breakup well.

WATCH: Clinton Opens Pickle Jar In Response To Rumors About Her Health
Hillary Clinton dismissed rumors about her health that Donald Trump and his supporters have been raising during an appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Closing Ceremony For The Rio Summer Olympics: Live Blog
Rio 2016 organizers are dropping the curtain on the Summer Games, Sunday after hosting the world’s elite athletes who’ve competed for 306 medals over the past 19 days.

Roundup: Smart Thoughts On Ryan Lochte And White Privilege
As it becomes increasingly clear that Lochte fabricated parts of his story, an interesting thought experiment emerges: What would happen if white athletes were treated like black athletes?

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘The Get Down’ And What’s Coming In TV
Brittany Luse and Kiana Fitzgerald join the roundtable for a chat about Netflix’s The Get Down and what Linda Holmes learned at the annual Television Critics Association press tour.

Why Didn’t ‘Nightly Show’ Connect With More Viewers? Larry Wilmore’s Not Sure
The Nightly Show has had some viral moments, but had a hard time building ratings. It will air for the last time on Thursday; Wilmore says he feels the show was overlooked by Comedy Central.

He’s Not The Palestinian President, But He Played One On TV
A 24-year-old Palestinian who was elected “president” on a TV reality show gets peppered with policy questions by his fans. It’s a sign of how hungry Palestinians are for delayed real elections.

John McLaughlin, TV Pioneer of Raucous Political Punditry, Dies at 89
McLaughlin’s provocative political talk shows anticipated the current TV verbal battleground. He knew he was breaking the traditional mold of political talk shows as forums for polite disagreement.

Snark Aside, Julie Klausner Says ‘Difficult People’ Is Inspired By Love
Klausner plays an unsuccessful comic who quips about celebrities in her Hulu series. She says that she and her co-star Billy Eichner bonded over their shared love of show business and pop culture.

Larry Wilmore’s ‘Nightly Show’ Will Air For The Last Time Thursday
Cancellation of the satirical news show comes a year and a half into its run. It had replaced The Colbert Report. Comedy Central’s president said it wasn’t “resonating” with audiences.

Bill Cosby Loses Another Round In His Legal Battles
A federal appeals court has rejected the entertainer’s bid to reseal his deposition testimony about drugging women he wanted to have sex with.

Simone Manuel Wins Olympic Gold. That’s A Really Big Deal.
When Manuel won gold last night, she wasn’t just an athlete excelling at her sport. She was a symbol for what should have been self-evident all along: swimming is for everyone.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘Steven Universe’ And The Games We Play
Kat Chow and Gene Demby join the show for thoughts on a groundbreaking Cartoon Network series and various card and board games. And, as always, we close with What’s Making Us Happy this week.

In Defense Of Bronze: The True Mettle Of The Metal Of The 3rd-Place Medal
In the Olympics, and in many other areas of life, from comic-book eras to health care plans, “bronze” has come to signify the least of three things. It shouldn’t.

Why Are The Media Obsessed With Trump’s Controversies And Not Clinton’s?
While less than shocking by Washington standards, the latest emails between Clinton Foundation and State Department staff underscore existing concerns about Clinton’s ethics and transparency.

Hacking Is ‘A Bit Of A Super Power,’ Says Creator Of ‘Mr. Robot’
Sam Esmail believes hackers have immense power — the trouble is, superhero psychology isn’t always sound. He says his vigilante hacker is driven by narcissism, paranoia, loneliness and pain.

Water Ice, Philly’s Classic Summer Cooler, Gets Hot Across The Country
Until recently, this classic Philadelphia dessert was hard to find outside the city. Not anymore.

New Lucille Ball Statue Replaces ‘Scary Lucy’
Lucille Ball’s hometown of Celoron, N.Y., honored her with a statue in 2009, 20 years after death. But the statue was terrifying. The story of “Scary Lucy” went viral last year. Last weekend, Celeron unveiled a new, less scary Lucy statue.

‘Doc McStuffins’: The Olivia Pope For Kids?
If you have young children at home, chances are you know Doc McStuffins. If you don’t, comedian W. Kamau Bell will tell you why you should love the 6-year-old cartoon girl with a stethoscope.

How The VCR Began America’s Love Of On-Demand Content
As the last VCR factory in Japan closes down production, we take a look at the rise and fall of the videocassette recorder and the culture it created.

A New Lucille Ball Statue Replaces ‘Scary’ One In Her Hometown
In 2009, legions of Lucy fans were horrified by a sculpture they dubbed “Scary Lucy.” The new one reflects the glamorous TV comedy star of the 1950s. It’s being unveiled Saturday, her 105th birthday.

Rio Throws A Party For The World, Kicking Off The 2016 Olympics
After months of negative news, Rio ushers in the Summer Olympics on Friday night. And the city finally gets to do what its famous for: putting on a grand spectacle.

After A Rough Runup, Rio Aims For An ‘Awesome’ Opening Ceremony
The Friday night spectacle could be “a drug for depression in Brazil,” says the creative director of the show that viewers around the world will see tonight.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Getting Punchy With ‘Jason Bourne’ And ‘Suicide Squad’
This week, a slightly reconstituted panel tackles two big summer movies featuring rogues who do right. Plus: what’s making us happy this week.

The Unsung Heroine Who Helped Shape ‘Suicide Squad’
The late Kim Yale co-wrote the comic book series that inspired the film hitting theaters this weekend. Neda Ulaby talked to several people who are happy to see her contributions recognized.

For James Corden, ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Has Been An Incredible Ride
The Late Late Show host talks about belting out songs with celebrities like Elton John, Steve Wonder and Adele. He tells Fresh Air‘s Terry Gross he doesn’t know what he did to deserve this great gig.

Dispatch From Halfway Through The TV Critics’ Press Tour: Mariah, What’s Good?
Linda Holmes has been to 77 press conferences and counting (including one about a duck documentary); she updates us on what the networks are prepping for fall.

C Is For Contract: Longtime Actors In Grown-Up Dispute With ‘Sesame Street’
Bob McGrath, who has worked on the show since 1969, says he and two other original cast members have been let go. Sesame Workshop is calling it a “misunderstanding.”

At TV Press Tour, Actors And Producers Of Color Speak Of Hollywood Struggles
More faces of color are turning up on TV, but at this year’s Television Critics Association summer press tour, actors and producers spoke out about how hard it still is to get a foot in the door.

TSA Reminds Passengers: No ‘Batarang’ Superhero Weapons On Flights
The TSA has repeatedly reminded air travelers to put sharp Batman and other superhero paraphernalia in checked baggage.

Marriage And Motherhood Are A ‘Source Of Power,’ Says Comic Ali Wong
Wong was 7 1/2 months pregnant when she filmed her first comedy special, Baby Cobra. She says that the birth of her daughter changed her career for the better.

MTV Looks To Capitalize On Nostalgia With New ‘Classic’ Channel
MTV turns 35 years old Monday, and they’re marking the occasion with a channel called MTV Classic. The new channel will air MTV programming from the 1990s and 2000s.

Small Batch: The Return Of ‘Match Game’
ABC recently rebooted the vintage game show with Alec Baldwin as host and celebrity panelists such as Rosie O’Donnell and Tituss Burgess. Here, Glen Weldon and Stephen Thompson offer their thoughts.

The ’60s ‘Batman’ Movie Just Turned 50 And Attention Must Be Paid
The Adam West-Burt Ward film, shot and released between the TV series’ 1st and 2nd seasons, is a thing of gloriously goofy beauty that will make your life better.

Upcoming PBS ‘Hamilton’ Documentary Puts Us In the Room Where It Happens
Linda Holmes’ latest dispatch from the Television Critics Association meeting focuses on Hamilton’s America, which combines history, performance and the making of the Broadway smash.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘Stranger Things’ And Onscreen Weddings
The panel tackles the Netflix horror thriller Stranger Things before discussing favorite weddings from movies and TV. Then, as always, it’s on to What’s Making Us Happy this week.

MTV’s Rewinding The ’90s With A New Channel
The ’90s are back! Pokémon has taken over the world again. A Clinton is running for president. And now, MTV is reviving ’90s favorites like Beavis and Butt-head on a new channel, MTV Classic.

Jack Davis, Cartoonist Who Helped Found ‘Mad’ Magazine, Dies At 91
Money from a job illustrating a Coca-Cola training manual became a springboard for him to move from Georgia to New York.

Stars Hollow Intel: A Few New Beans Are Spilled On The ‘Gilmore Girls’ Return
From the Television Critics Association meeting in Los Angeles, Linda Holmes reports on Netflix’s upcoming Gilmore Girls reunion.

‘It’s Not My Story’: Baz Luhrmann On Collaborating To Make ‘The Get Down’
Linda Holmes offers another update from the Television Critics Association meeting, this time on Luhrmann’s hip-hop Netflix series The Get Down.

Kids On Bikes: The Sci-Fi Nostalgia Of ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Paper Girls’ & ‘Super 8’
Three recent properties – a Netflix series, a comic book and a 2011 Hollywood film – borrow key elements from Steven Spielberg and Stephen King to comment on adolescence in very different ways.

Episode 714: Can a Game Show Lose?
Crafting a TV game show is a balancing act. Producers have to carefully calibrate the rules, the drama and the prizes just right. Sometimes they get it way wrong.

Minicomics May Be Small, But They Pack Big Thrills
Minicomics are kind of a relic — few artists now want to go to the trouble of printing and distributing paper comics. But there are still a few out there that are worth the trouble of hunting down.

Netflix, HBO, PBS And More Bring Their Upcoming Shows To Critics
It’s about time again for the Television Critics Association to meet in California, and we have a preview of the week to come.

No Longer Omar: Actor Michael K. Williams On Lucky Breaks And Letting Go
Over the course of his career, Williams says he’s learned to separate himself from his characters (like The Wire‘s Omar). In HBO’s The Night Of, he plays a powerful prison inmate named Freddy.

The Case Against The Shirley Temple (The Drink)
Author and cocktail enthusiast Wayne Curtis wrote an article called “Shirley Temples Are Destroying America’s Youth.” He talks about why he hates Shirley Temples — the drink, not the person.

At 75, Wonder Woman Lassos In A New Generation With An Ageless Fight
As the launch of the upcoming film coincides with the heroine’s Comic-Con fandom, Wonder Woman appears to be hooking new fans for the same reasons she was birthed in 1941: justice, peace and feminism.

Comic-Con Fans Continue The Epic Battle Between Science And Fiction
Fans of science fiction have long wrestled with the question of just how much science should be in their fiction. Advocates of different approaches met at San Diego’s Comic-Con.

Comic-Con Has Become Poké-Con
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, one of the biggest phenomena isn’t just inside the convention center, it’s all around: Swarms of people staring at their phones as they play Pokémon Go.

What Happens When You Ask Celebrities What They’re Wearing … In Klingon?
Glen Weldon was with NPR’s Nina Gregory when she asked some of the stars of the new film on the red carpet a standard question in a non-standard way.

A Cast With Down Syndrome Brings Fresh Reality To Reality TV
With the Emmy-nominated Born this Way poised to begin its second season July 26, the cast, co-creator and fans explain why the show has become such a hit.

Turns Out, Fighting Fat Shaming And Racist Trolls Is Also A Ghostbuster’s Job
Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones quit Twitter this week after getting her fill of racist and sexist trolls. But, as the saying goes, every goodbye is not gone.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: ‘Ghostbusters’ And ‘Mr. Robot’
On this week’s show, we bust some ghosts — well, we don’t, but we watch those who do — and we address the beginning of the second season of USA’s Emmy-nominated conspiracy thriller.

Scraped, Splattered – But Silent No More. Finally, The Dinner Plate Gets Its Say
Instagram is the Internet’s semi-obsessive, borderline-creepy love letter to food. But behind every great meal is a plate doing a pretty-OK job. So a comedian made an Instagram to celebrate plates.

Astrophysicist, Wine Lover, Foodie: The Neil deGrasse Tyson You Didn’t Know
He’s the man with a seemingly endless stream of science fun facts at his command. He’s also a great gourmet. We talk to the famed scientist about how his two great passions collide in the kitchen.

Republican National Convention Parallels Reality Television
Conflict, betrayal, false words: The Republican National Convention is playing out like a reality TV show.

So Long, VCR. We Hardly Knew You (Were Still Around)
It’s been a long time coming for the VCR. After beating out Betamax and LaserDisc for home viewing dominance in the 1980s, VHS players are going away for good.

Hollywood Legend Garry Marshall Dies At 81
Hollywood legend Garry Marshall died Tuesday at the age of 81. He was responsible for some of the biggest TV hits of the 1970s including The Odd Couple, Laverne & Shirley andHappy Days. He also made Julia Roberts a superstar with Pretty Woman.

Henry Winkler On Garry Marshall: ‘He Was An Unstoppable Creator’
NPR’s Audie Cornish talks to actor Henry Winkler, who starred in Happy Days, about his memories working with writer and director Garry Marshall.

‘Veep’ Showrunner On Politics And The ‘Thankless Task’ Of Being Second In Command
David Mandel, the Emmy-nominated writer, director and executive producer of the HBO series Veep, discusses the current season of the show, his work on SNL and the 2016 presidential election.

Fresh Air Remembers Garry Marshall, Creator Of ‘Happy Days’ And ‘Laverne & Shirley’
Marshall, who died yesterday at the age of 81, was a noted writer and director of both television and film. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1991, shortly after the release of his movie,Frankie and Johnny.