How Many Times Can You Watch Something Before It's ... Weird?

Plus: 'The Library Book,' the Oscars in review and what's making us happy [NPR] by Linda Holmes Welcome! It was the week when February finally, improbably ended, after making like it was going to hang around coughing on all of us like a bronchitis-bearing ghost of bad news. It was the week when [Chris Evans helped Regina King up the stairs]( and hurdled what we freely admit was the lowest of low bars. And it was the week when [everyone on The Masked Singer]( turned out to be exactly who people on Twitter thought they were from the start. Let's get to it. Opening Argument You've probably read here and there about people who have seen Star Wars hundreds of times, or Lord of the Rings, or people who have read the Harry Potter books over and over until they can chant along with every page (even the non-chanting parts). It's often discussed as a phenomenon of extreme passion, of a desire to become one with a piece of culture you adore. But what about those Law & Order episodes? [1999 cast of Law and Order] Getty Images You know the ones. The one where Larry Miller kills his wife, and then the other one where Larry Miller kills his wife. The one where Claire Danes wants to be a teen model. The one where Jack McCoy goes after the gun manufacturers and pours out all the bullets on the table. The one with the Mack Rangers. Many of you don't know what these even are, and that's my point: These are not critical pieces of culture, not even in my own life. These are not my favorite anything. They're just on a lot, and I come across them a lot, and somehow I can watch them over and over, like I'm listening to a song, only it's a song about lots and lots of murder. I cannot explain it. There are movies like this, too. I have seen Ocean's Eleven so much. While You Were Sleeping. Apollo 13. The Pelican Brief. (The whole Julia Roberts catalog, really.) Many of them aren't even my favorites; they're just the ones that bear repeating the most comfortably. My friend and former boss Sarah Bunting calls them "poppy fields movies," in honor of the scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy and the Lion drift off in spite of themselves. I'm sure in my own case — in my own apartment, on my own couch — my habit of having the TV on is partly to blame, and that's a habit I'm trying to break by picking up a book or a writing project or a letter I need to write — anything, really, except for TV or my phone. But I haven't quite cracked the comfort of repetition as it applies to viewing. It still has a hypnotic, narcotic, robotic appeal. And if you've never seen the Law & Order with the unethical fertility doctor, well, let me tell you: It's a corker. --------------------------------------------------------------- We Recommend I finally finished the audiobook of Susan Orlean's The Library Book this week. I know that Pop Culture Happy Hour counts many librarians and librarian-adjacent people among its listeners, and if you are a fan of library history, either specific (the L.A. Central Library and its famous fire) or general (how libraries came to be and how they've changed), it's [a fascinating, very deep dive](. There's [a great article in Vanity Fair]( about Selma Blair, who rocked a cane on the red carpet of an Oscars after-party, her first major public appearance since she announced she'd been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She's just a really interesting lady, and her story, while full of pain, is also — and I rarely would take up this word — inspiring. Emma Thompson [withdrew recently]( from an animated film called Luck after the production company Skydance Media hired John Lasseter, who had been one of the most powerful men in animated film until he left Disney/Pixar following allegations of sexual harassment. This week, Thompson allowed the letter she sent explaining [her decision to be published](. In it, she lays out the reasons why she left, what she thinks it would take to ethically rehire someone in this situation and her great regret at having to abandon a project she was excited to do. If you want a little peek at what's coming to PCHH next week, catch up on the Comedy Central show The Other Two, which [Glen Weldon reviewed]( when it premiered. --------------------------------------------------------------- What We Did This Week [Rami Malek at the Oscars] Kevin Winter/Getty Images Sunday night was the Oscars -- you probably know that. [I wrote up the ceremony]( for NPR.org, and we stayed up very late to record [our wrap-up podcast](. The next morning, I crawled out of bed over my sleeping dog [to go on the radio]( with Joshua Johnson and his great team at 1A out of WAMU, and we talked about everything from Green Book's victory to a host-less Oscars. This week brought to the screen my favorite-ever episode of IFC's Documentary Now!, which combines my love of Broadway in general, Sondheim in particular, and John Mulaney's reliably dapper look, even when he's dressed like a cigarette-smoking '70s dweeb. Maybe especially then. [I wrote all about it.]( Our own Stephen Thompson continues to bring you great music as always -- [he wrote about]( Amanda Palmer's latest for NPR Music. Stephen also appears on a new episode of All Songs Considered for New Music Friday to kick off March. Once they post it, you can find that episode [over at their show page](. [Friday's podcast episode]( was about the Netflix series Russian Doll, which we're all very fond of. It's a spoilery conversation, so if you still haven't checked the show out, get on it! --------------------------------------------------------------- What's Making Us Happy Every week on the show, we talk about some other things out in the world that have been giving us joy lately. Here they are: - Stephen is happy that this year as every year, you'll get to hear a handpicked selection of music from artists attending this year's South by Southwest music festival. On Tuesday, it will be available at [npr.org/austin100](. - Glen is happy about the show [Miracle Workers on TBS](. - Barrie is happy about curling up with the family to watch [American Ninja Warrior](. - And I am happy to take the sad occasion of director Stanley Donen's passing to remember [some of his great work]( on some of my favorite musicals. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [pchh@npr.org](mailto:pchh@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Books, Daily News and more! 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