Stephen Thompson
@idislikestephen.bsky.social
NPR Music writer, yakker; Pop Culture Happy Hour and New Music Friday host; long-ago A.V. Club editor and Onion copy editor; snack-eater; dad.
https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson
https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson
If you’d told me 35 years ago — hell, 2 days ago — that a member of Milli Vanilli would someday be nominated for a Grammy against the Dalai Lama, I’m not 100 percent sure I’d believe you
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
If you’d told me 35 years ago — hell, 2 days ago — that a member of Milli Vanilli would someday be nominated for a Grammy against the Dalai Lama, I’m not 100 percent sure I’d believe you
The good news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: Yes, the Cowboys are "one trade away from being Super Bowl contenders."
The bad news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: That trade was for Micah Parsons.
The bad news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: That trade was for Micah Parsons.
October 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The good news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: Yes, the Cowboys are "one trade away from being Super Bowl contenders."
The bad news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: That trade was for Micah Parsons.
The bad news for fans of the Dallas Cowboys: That trade was for Micah Parsons.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where I might find the Romeo Doubs-Os?"
October 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
"Excuse me, could you tell me where I might find the Romeo Doubs-Os?"
Took a lovely little beach vacation with my family last week. Thought I'd revisit my camera roll from the trip, only to discover that I'd taken precisely one (1) photo the entire time. It's of a box of donuts, which I'd documented due to the most egregious misuse of quotation marks I've ever seen.
August 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Took a lovely little beach vacation with my family last week. Thought I'd revisit my camera roll from the trip, only to discover that I'd taken precisely one (1) photo the entire time. It's of a box of donuts, which I'd documented due to the most egregious misuse of quotation marks I've ever seen.
I've decided, with this birthday, that it's time to start obscuring my age behind subtle hints. Here, for example, is a still photo from a movie I loved as a child:
August 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've decided, with this birthday, that it's time to start obscuring my age behind subtle hints. Here, for example, is a still photo from a movie I loved as a child:
When I worked at The Onion in the ’90s and ’00s, we often used photos of family and friends (not to mention ourselves) in stories. Which, thanks to the magic of Internet archives and Instagram feeds, means I *just now* got treated to this photo of my former in-laws:
July 18, 2025 at 10:21 PM
When I worked at The Onion in the ’90s and ’00s, we often used photos of family and friends (not to mention ourselves) in stories. Which, thanks to the magic of Internet archives and Instagram feeds, means I *just now* got treated to this photo of my former in-laws:
Fifteen years ago today, a few of my best pals and I launched a little "audio experiment" without so much as asking our bosses for permission.
More than 2,000 episodes later, here we are. Here's to untold thousands more!
More than 2,000 episodes later, here we are. Here's to untold thousands more!
July 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Fifteen years ago today, a few of my best pals and I launched a little "audio experiment" without so much as asking our bosses for permission.
More than 2,000 episodes later, here we are. Here's to untold thousands more!
More than 2,000 episodes later, here we are. Here's to untold thousands more!
A live look at me winning this contest:
July 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A live look at me winning this contest:
Just learned, a few days late, that comic-book legend Peter David died on May 24. He was dear to my family, so I want to honor him by telling a story about him that still makes me smile 30+ years later. 🧵
May 29, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Just learned, a few days late, that comic-book legend Peter David died on May 24. He was dear to my family, so I want to honor him by telling a story about him that still makes me smile 30+ years later. 🧵
This is why I recommend keeping a whiteboard Enemies List, so people know where they stand. Mine's fallen into disrepair post-pandemic -- really just Bob (emeritus) and Robin at this point -- but here it is in more robustly grievance-filled times. Love to see the CEO enlisting in my enmity...
May 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
This is why I recommend keeping a whiteboard Enemies List, so people know where they stand. Mine's fallen into disrepair post-pandemic -- really just Bob (emeritus) and Robin at this point -- but here it is in more robustly grievance-filled times. Love to see the CEO enlisting in my enmity...
This kind, handsome, faultless gentleman died peacefully at home this morning, surrounded by his immediate family — and swaddled in spirit by a satellite army of well-wishers who’d fallen in love with him along the way. Feeling too bereft to say much more than this: Bashi was the absolute greatest.
April 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This kind, handsome, faultless gentleman died peacefully at home this morning, surrounded by his immediate family — and swaddled in spirit by a satellite army of well-wishers who’d fallen in love with him along the way. Feeling too bereft to say much more than this: Bashi was the absolute greatest.
A fascinating, byzantine prose history of The Onion comes out tomorrow -- it's called Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire -- and I can't recommend it highly enough. (Full disclosure: I’m interviewed in it quite a bit!)
March 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A fascinating, byzantine prose history of The Onion comes out tomorrow -- it's called Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire -- and I can't recommend it highly enough. (Full disclosure: I’m interviewed in it quite a bit!)
BREAKING NEWS:
January 18, 2025 at 3:14 AM
BREAKING NEWS:
The NFL playoffs are here! If your team has been eliminated from contention, can I interest in you in this ranking of playoff teams based on how many former Wisconsin Badgers occupy their rosters?
1. Green Bay Packers (no Badgers on the team, but they’re the Packers, which is like being ALL Badgers)
1. Green Bay Packers (no Badgers on the team, but they’re the Packers, which is like being ALL Badgers)
January 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
The NFL playoffs are here! If your team has been eliminated from contention, can I interest in you in this ranking of playoff teams based on how many former Wisconsin Badgers occupy their rosters?
1. Green Bay Packers (no Badgers on the team, but they’re the Packers, which is like being ALL Badgers)
1. Green Bay Packers (no Badgers on the team, but they’re the Packers, which is like being ALL Badgers)
Bashi wishes a Merry Blepsmas to all who celebrate.
December 10, 2024 at 10:30 PM
Bashi wishes a Merry Blepsmas to all who celebrate.
Celebrating Thanksgiving with family the way the pilgrims intended: by helping my sister set up her Bluesky account. (Putting "show Valerie how to change her bio" on my to-do list for Thanksgiving 2025.)
November 28, 2024 at 6:45 PM
Celebrating Thanksgiving with family the way the pilgrims intended: by helping my sister set up her Bluesky account. (Putting "show Valerie how to change her bio" on my to-do list for Thanksgiving 2025.)
He's just showing off at this point.
November 19, 2024 at 10:12 PM
He's just showing off at this point.
ME: life is too short, I'm gonna shed petty grievances and embrace the best life has to offer
ALSO ME: [remembers taking a screen shot of this ESPN headline back in May]
ALSO ME: [remembers taking a screen shot of this ESPN headline back in May]
November 19, 2024 at 9:41 PM
ME: life is too short, I'm gonna shed petty grievances and embrace the best life has to offer
ALSO ME: [remembers taking a screen shot of this ESPN headline back in May]
ALSO ME: [remembers taking a screen shot of this ESPN headline back in May]
Important update:
November 19, 2024 at 9:41 PM
Important update: