Culture Gabfest

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dan Kois discuss Masterpiece Theater's sumptuous version of Wolf Hall, Bruce Jenner's interview with Diane Sawyer about his decision to become a woman, and whether the much loved avocado should become extinct. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Mike Pesca discuss the Iranian film About Elly, Gwyneth Paltrow's Goopy SNAP challenge, and movie trailers. Our sponsor this week is The Honest Company, featuring responsible and safe household products you can trust. Get a free gift worth $20 when you purchase your first bundle before Mother's Day. Go to Honest.com and use the promo code CULTURE. Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, ad-free versions, exclusive podcasts and more. Start your 2-week free trial at slate.com/cultureplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Noah Baumbach's latest film "While We're Young," the annotation website Genius with Slate's Katy Waldman, and the post-Civil War paths of Grant and Lee with Slate's Jamelle Bouie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Fast and Furious movie franchise, casting director Allison Jones, and the culture of public shaming on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the film White God, fading charm with Simon Doonan, and go on a karaoke crawl with Slate's Dan Kois. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the HBO documentary It's Me, Hilary, Jacob Rubin's Slate piece on the art of celebrity impressions, and Laura Kipnis' essay about teacher-student relationships, "Sexual Paranoia Strikes Academe." Join Julia and other Slatesters for a Mad Men premiere party, April 5 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Doors at 9 p.m. RSVP here, with special benefits for Slate Plus members.  Our sponsors this week: RetailMeNot, the digital coupon app that offers thousands of coupons from 55,000 stores. To get an invite to download the invite, text "CULTURE" to 42767. And, PBS, presenting Wolf Hall on Masterpiece. Starring Mark Rylance, this historical drama for a modern audience revolves around Thomas Cromwell, the brilliant power broker who served England's King Henry VIII. Wolf Hall airs Sunday, April 5 at 10/9 central.  Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, ad-free versions, exclusive podcasts and more. Start your 2-week free trial a

Julia Turner, Dana Stevens, Jessica Winter discuss the "Blurred Lines" jury verdict with Slate contributor Chris Molanphy, Snapchat Discover with Slate's Will Oremus, and alternative titles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Stevens, June Thomas, and Dan Kois discuss Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, television opening credits, and whether it's stupid decision to get an MFA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss FOX's new TV show The Last Man on Earth, Knausgaard's travel writing, and the fuss about the dress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens along with Carl Wilson review the Oscars, Bjork's latest album, and weigh in on the audiophile debate. Our sponsors today: Netflix, presenting season three of House of Cards. Starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. All episodes available on Friday, Feb. 27. And by the new ABC drama American Crime, from the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave. Catch the series premiere on Thursday, March 5 on ABC.  Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, ad-free versions, exclusive podcasts and more. Start your 2-week free trial at slate.com/cultureplus     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss 50 Shades of Grey, the legacy of Jon Stewart with Slate's Jamelle Bouie, and misogny on the red carpet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss Breaking Bad's much anticipated spinoff Better Call Saul, Damien Chazelle’s film Whiplash, and the ethics surrounding the release of Harper Lee’s new book, Go Set a Watchman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the film Foxcatcher and its Best Picture Oscar snub, Sleater-Kinney's latest album with music writer Jack Hamilton, and the best of the worst Super Bowl ads with Seth Stevenson. Help us make our podcasts even better! Take Slate's listener survey at to slate.com/survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the film American Sniper, Jonathan Chait's article "Not a Very P.C. Thing to Say," and get a report from Sundance from Slate's Forrest Wickman and Aisha Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In which Julia explains that we were delayed by this week's storm, and we'll post the show a little later on Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the film The Imitation Game, HBO's Togetherness, and Celine's new It Girl, Joan Didion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic Selma, the culture of protest in today's internet world, and Merriam Webster's updated online edition with Slate writer Stefan Fatsis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the biopic of the great Victorian painter J.M.W. Turner, the TV show Empire, and D'Angelo's Black Messiah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens visit the studio of composer Nicholas Britell to hear his musical interpretations of their theme song desires and then choose a new theme song for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Metcalf, Julia Turner, and Dana Stevens discuss the Sony Pictures hack, Hollywood film franchises, and favorite Christmas movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices