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Scott Simon previews this weekend's National Football League playoffs with Weekend Edition Sports Commentator Ron Rapoport. Both Scott and Ron offer their predictions.

In most years, the Oscar nominations help the box office prospects of the movies on the list. But many of the films that could earn nominations Tuesday have already produced big financial returns. NPR's Bob Mondello reports.

Pop singer Cyndi Lauper was huge in the 1980s, starting with "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Then she faded from the public eye. Now she's back with a new CD that emphasizes some of her favorite classic pop tunes. Hear full songs from the CD and samples of her earlier hits.

Gillo Pontecorvo's 1965 film The Battle of Algiers portrays the urban warfare between Algerians and the French troops occupying their country. The film's raw presentation of a ruthless conflict just years after it occurred left audiences enthralled. The film is now being re-released -- and to some, it conveys a new meaning in light of the U.S. involvement in Iraq. David D'Arcy reports.

The latest novel by Chilean writer Arturo Fuguet is called Movies of My Life. It tells the story of one man's youth on two continents, through the memories evoked by popular films. Tom Vitale reports.

Legendary choreographer George Balanchine was born, who died in 1983, left behind hundreds of original ballets inspired by the unique abilities of his dancers. For Intersections, a Morning Edition series on artists and their inspirations, Kim Kokich profiles one of Balanchine's greatest ballerinas.

Film writer Peter Biskind's new book is Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film. It reveals the uglier side of independent films, dishing dirt on Robert Redford of Sundance and the Weinstein Brothers of Miramax Films. But it also credits them with transforming American cinema. Hear Biskind and NPR's Scott Simon.

The Sundance Film Festival kicks off in Park City, Utah. In the past few years, Sundance has become associated with Hollywood sightings, glamorous parties and celebrity skiing. This year, festival organizers are trying to take the event back to its independent roots by featuring more films from unknown directors. David D'Arcy reports.

Music critic Tom Moon says the sale of Warner Music Group brings a definite end to the "artist-first" philosophy that once nurtured talented music acts. In contrast to the fast-moving music trends of today, Warner and like-minded companies were known for allowing musicians to develop, sometimes over several years, rather than demanding a string of hit songs.

Two days after the event was won by the Russian Olympic Committee, none of the athletes have received their medals. Officials cited unspecified legal issues.