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It's one of the most common words in English, and one of the most maligned. But it has been doing useful work for centuries, and lately it's acquired a new, hip meaning. Fresh Air linguist Geoff Nunberg gives us his thoughts on the little word, "um."

For more than 20 years, American Girl dolls and books have been big sellers. Now the series is going to the movies. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl opens this week in selected cities — and nationwide on July 2.

Hawaiians consume more Spam than any other people in the United States. Cookbook author Muriel Miura explains why and shares one of her favorite Spam recipes.

An ancient fraternity of assassins, a timid accountant, and Angelina Jolie — in a summer-movie mishmash from the director of the head-trippy vampire opus Night Watch.

Pixar has always focused on loss, decay, and the dark side of materialism. Here that theme extends to the ruination of the planet — and Wall-E ranks among the most sublime feature-length works of animation ever made in this country.

Renowned graphic artist Art Spiegelman knows a thing or two about controversial New Yorker covers. Speaking with Farai Chideya, Spiegelman defended the latest cover, which the magazine says satirizes misconceptions about Barack and Michelle Obama.

Norman Mailer's work combined sweeping cultural criticism, erudition and obscenity. He was deliberately provocative, says book critic Maureen Corrigan, and he wanted to be remembered as a novelist, though he made a strong impact as an essayist and journalist. Mailer's 60-year career was full of depth and controversy.

In a special pre-Thanksgiving special, hear recipes from diverse cultural traditions. NPR producer Argin Hutchins tells how he prepares his delicious deep fried turkey and how it has become a symbol of unity for his family.

In a special pre-Thanksgiving special, hear recipes from diverse cultural traditions. Lynne Char Bennett of the San Francisco Chronicle infuses her holiday stuffing with flavors of her Chinese-American heritage.

Writer and producer Ed Burns draws on his experience as a former Baltimore detective to create the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, now in its fifth and final season. It's a crime drama with a central theme of surveillance technology used to capture drug dealers.