The Frame

Author, religion scholar and TV consultant Reza Aslan adds talk show host to his credits with "Rough Draft"; Oscar nominee Lon Burden breaks down the sound design for a crucial scene in "The Revenant"; the toughest Oscars trivia contest happens at a pub in Santa Monica.

The Black Version is a group of improv performers who put an Afro-centric spin on mainstream movies; Leonardo DiCaprio sees environmental parallels between the 1820s when "The Revenant" is set and modern-day America; eligibility rules for the Oscars raise questions for the original score nominees.

Will this year’s Academy Awards be the tipping point for racial representation in Hollywood? Marc Bernardin of The Hollywood Reporter weighs in; The Song Exploder podcast takes apart a song with the band Clipping; "Inside Out" writer Meg LeFauve gets a Pixar education and now takes on Ms. Marvel.

USC's Institute for Diversity and Empowerment at Annenberg tracked the representation of women, people of color, and the LGBT community in film and television and found Hollywood is still "a straight, white boys club." Then co-star and co-creator of the HBO show 'Togetherness', Steve Zissis, mines his life-- failures and all-- for the show. And comedian Kamau Bell is excited to see Chris Rock turn #OscarsSoWhite into comic gold at the Academy Awards.

Comedian Paul Rust went from Iowa to working with his childhood heroes Judd Apatow and Paul Rubens, and now he's landed the Netflix series "Love," which comes out today. The Coen Brothers bring water ballet back to the big screen in "Hail, Caesar!" with the L.A. aquatic dance troupe Aqualillies. Also, we deconstruct the Oscar race for Best Picture with John Horn and Kyle Buchanan from The Awards Show Show.

Writer-director Robert Eggers' impressive feature debut is about witches in colonial New England; after camera assistant Sarah Jones was killed on a film set, her parents became advocates for production safety; the play 'Placas' tells the story of a man who escapes one of the world's most brutal gangs.

David Javerbaum created @TheTweetOfGod, which led to the hit Broadway play, "An Act of God," currently starring Sean Hayes; faced with low ratings, ABC fires network chief Paul Lee; singer-songwriter M. Ward revisits his early years in the Conejo Valley on his new album.

The producer of the Record of the Year Grammy talks about what went into making the dance hit, "Uptown Funk"; France's Academy Awards entry for Foreign Language Film was actually shot in Turkey by a Turkish-born filmmaker; Edward Gero played Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in a show at Arena Stage.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Alejandro G. Iñárritu of "The Revenant" are among the filmmakers and actors on The Frame's annual Academy Awards preview. You'll also hear from Sylvester Stallone, Brie Larson, Bryan Cranston and many others.

Sylvester Stallone turned down the part of an ailing Rocky Balboa in "Creed" twice before agreeing to do it-- with the help of an acting coach. Now he's nominated for an Oscar. Grammy nominated musician Lianne La Havas finds inspiration in Jamaica. How only Kanye West could pack Madison Square Garden while playing an album off his laptop.

Adam Driver went from the Marines to Julliard where he tapped into his emotions, now he's one of the best actors of his generation. Indie rocker Liz Phair reconsiders how singing about sex got her pigeon-holed. And why is China mad at "South Park"? Plus, "Parasite" filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho tackles class dynamics and economic inequality inside a funny film.

The singer, who has roots in both Mexico and the U.S., takes on issues of the day in her latest album; what we know about the re-named Michael Jackson musical; R&B singer Michael Marshall transforms a '60s hippie anthem for "The Last Black Man in San Francisco."

An exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography depicts barriers all over the world — from prisons to refugee camps to fences at the U.S./Mexico border; studio musicians are seeking streaming revenue; singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya.

The South Korean director blends horror, comedy and sci-fi into an entertaining story about class struggle; "South Park" is banned in China; Nellie McKay moves her quirky music to the stage.

The actor's solo show examines the dark and often funny work of absurdist playwright, Samuel Beckett; how is "cancel culture" affecting pop culture?; Janet Jackson's “Rhythm Nation 1814” turns 30.

Antonio Banderas talks about reuniting with Pedro Almodóvar for "Pain and Glory"; how is "Cancel Culture" affecting what we see and hear?; the documentary "Diego Maradona"; the creators of Amazon's "Undone"; and the latest from singers Lupita Infante, Jay Som and Gaby Moreno.

The veteran R&B singer has had a long stop-and-start career, but she's still demonstrating her sense of adventure and musical curiosity; James Franco faces a lawsuit that alleges sexual harassment at his former acting school; "Joker" composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Forty years after its release, Alexandre Philippe's documentary looks back at Ridley Scott's landmark film; how is Warner Bros. marketing "Joker"?; “Variedades: Little Central America, 1984” is a theatrical performance that puts today’s migration crisis in conversation with the past.

The actor plays a film director in Pedro Almodóvar's autobiographical film; Plácido Domingo resigns as general director of L.A. Opera.

The new HBO documentary by Asif Kapadia examines the life and career of the talented and troubled soccer legend; living in the era of Big Podcast; Gaby Moreno's new album; Jessye Norman, RIP.

The documentary, shot entirely on cell phones, follows an Afghani family's efforts to flee the Taliban and seek asylum; the Endeavor talent agency's growth plan hits a snag; singer/songwriter Jay Som.

Jill Soloway closes out "Transparent" with a massive musical finale; Robbie Roberston and Rhiannon Giddens each reflect on their lives in music, we hear the remarkable story of "Unbelievable" and look back at Janet Jackson's 1989 album Rhythm Nation.