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The Frame Tile

The Frame

A daily chronicle of creativity in film, TV, music, arts, and entertainment, produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from November 2014 – March 2020. Host John Horn leads the conversation, accompanied by the nation's most plugged-in cultural journalists.

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  • Listen 25:52
    The comedian talks about his new stand-up special, which is aptly titled "End Times Fun"; for animators, the show must go on; comedian John Thomas insists “Everything's Gonna Be Okay.”
    The comedian talks about his new stand-up special, which is aptly titled "End Times Fun"; for animators, the show must go on; comedian John Thomas insists “Everything's Gonna Be Okay.”
  • Listen 25:42
    The co-hosts of the New York Times culture podcast, "Still Processing," talk about their new season of episodes; podcast expert Nick Quah on what he's recommending these days.
    The co-hosts of the New York Times culture podcast, "Still Processing," talk about their new season of episodes; podcast expert Nick Quah on what he's recommending these days.
  • Listen 25:51
    We devote our entire show today to pop music, asking creators how they’re coping in the Age of Covid. We’ll hear from singer/songwriter Bhi Bhiman, country musician Jessi Alexander, and A.J. Jackson, the lead singer from the band Saint Motel, which had to cancel its world tour.
    We devote our entire show today to pop music, asking creators how they’re coping in the Age of Covid. We’ll hear from singer/songwriter Bhi Bhiman, country musician Jessi Alexander, and A.J. Jackson, the lead singer from the band Saint Motel, which had to cancel its world tour.
  • Listen 24:51
    Bob Thiele leads The Forest Rangers, a band that was spawned by the "Sons of Anarchy" TV series; comedian Andy Kindler takes no prisoners when he gives his annual State of the Industry speech; a filmmaker is challenging the copyright claim to "Happy Birthday to You," which keeps the song out of many TV shows and movies.
    Bob Thiele leads The Forest Rangers, a band that was spawned by the "Sons of Anarchy" TV series; comedian Andy Kindler takes no prisoners when he gives his annual State of the Industry speech; a filmmaker is challenging the copyright claim to "Happy Birthday to You," which keeps the song out of many TV shows and movies.
  • Listen 23:57
    When Marlon Brando died, he left hundreds of hours of himself on tape, which were culled for the documentary, "Listen to Me Marlon"; a 1965 gospel concert at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium was special not only for its stars, but also because it was recorded — a rarity for its day; NBC Universal will reportedly invest $250 million in BuzzFeed's growing digital empire.
    When Marlon Brando died, he left hundreds of hours of himself on tape, which were culled for the documentary, "Listen to Me Marlon"; a 1965 gospel concert at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium was special not only for its stars, but also because it was recorded — a rarity for its day; NBC Universal will reportedly invest $250 million in BuzzFeed's growing digital empire.
  • Listen 24:00
    Five finalists were chosen to develop pilot scripts for a TV series that calls for a female engineer protagonist; Summer can be a great time to watch TV, if you know where to look; the singer Little Boots was once signed to Atlantic Records, but she decided having her own label is a better fit.
    Five finalists were chosen to develop pilot scripts for a TV series that calls for a female engineer protagonist; Summer can be a great time to watch TV, if you know where to look; the singer Little Boots was once signed to Atlantic Records, but she decided having her own label is a better fit.
  • Listen 24:07
    A comedy writer has sued Conan O'Brien, claiming his show stole jokes that were first posted on Twitter; on "Song Exploder," Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie dissects "El Dorado"; director James Ponsoldt was initially skeptical that a book about being on tour with writer David Foster Wallace could be a movie.
    A comedy writer has sued Conan O'Brien, claiming his show stole jokes that were first posted on Twitter; on "Song Exploder," Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie dissects "El Dorado"; director James Ponsoldt was initially skeptical that a book about being on tour with writer David Foster Wallace could be a movie.
  • Listen 24:06
    The Beijing-based Wanda Group financed "Southpaw," just the latest example of Chinese investments in Hollywood; The Next MacGyver contest hopes to encourage women engineers with the promise of a TV pilot; Juilliard-trained Brad Segal has become the go-to composer for reality shows.
    The Beijing-based Wanda Group financed "Southpaw," just the latest example of Chinese investments in Hollywood; The Next MacGyver contest hopes to encourage women engineers with the promise of a TV pilot; Juilliard-trained Brad Segal has become the go-to composer for reality shows.
  • Listen 24:02
    The British actor reunites with director Bill Condon to play a 93-year-old version of Sherlock Holmes in "Mr. Holmes" (pictured); Chinese authorities have returned the passport of dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who had been unable to leave the country since 2011; the makers of the documentary about crowd-funding, "Capital C," financed their film through a crowd-funding campaign.
    The British actor reunites with director Bill Condon to play a 93-year-old version of Sherlock Holmes in "Mr. Holmes" (pictured); Chinese authorities have returned the passport of dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who had been unable to leave the country since 2011; the makers of the documentary about crowd-funding, "Capital C," financed their film through a crowd-funding campaign.
  • Listen 24:17
    Noted muralist Kent Twitchell (pictured) has created a new work for the Special Olympics; playwright Todd Almond was inspired by Matthew Sweet's 1991 album, "Girlfriend," for his musical about growing up gay; the Teragram Ballroom tries to carve out a niche on the local live music landscape.
    Noted muralist Kent Twitchell (pictured) has created a new work for the Special Olympics; playwright Todd Almond was inspired by Matthew Sweet's 1991 album, "Girlfriend," for his musical about growing up gay; the Teragram Ballroom tries to carve out a niche on the local live music landscape.
  • Listen 24:28
    Kurt Sutter has been writing film scripts while working on demanding TV shows, and now his first feature, "Southpaw" (pictured), is being released; the singer Miguel talks about growing up mixed-race in his beloved L.A.; the box office for "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" and "Dope" hasn't measured up to their indie darling hype.
    Kurt Sutter has been writing film scripts while working on demanding TV shows, and now his first feature, "Southpaw" (pictured), is being released; the singer Miguel talks about growing up mixed-race in his beloved L.A.; the box office for "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" and "Dope" hasn't measured up to their indie darling hype.
  • Listen 24:29
    A landmark album from 1966 (pictured) pairing the singer and bandleader is revisited as part of a Sinatra tribute at the Hollywood Bowl; YouTube is betting that audiences will pay for a commercial-free service; Camp Reel Stories is a summer camp designed to introduce teenaged girls to filmmaking.
    A landmark album from 1966 (pictured) pairing the singer and bandleader is revisited as part of a Sinatra tribute at the Hollywood Bowl; YouTube is betting that audiences will pay for a commercial-free service; Camp Reel Stories is a summer camp designed to introduce teenaged girls to filmmaking.
  • Listen 24:00
    Lisa Hanawalt's lifelong equine obsession pays off in her role as production designer for the animated series, "BoJack Horseman" (pictured); with embassies re-opening in Washington and Havana, cultural exchange could be on the upswing; costume designers for superhero movies take comic book drawings and turn them into flashy but practical outfits.
    Lisa Hanawalt's lifelong equine obsession pays off in her role as production designer for the animated series, "BoJack Horseman" (pictured); with embassies re-opening in Washington and Havana, cultural exchange could be on the upswing; costume designers for superhero movies take comic book drawings and turn them into flashy but practical outfits.
Episodes
  • Listen 25:34
    The director's new film continues his focus on characters struggling to come to terms with themselves; why are 1930s-era murals in San Francisco causing a fuss today?; revisiting our chat with Emmy-nominee Samantha Bee.
    The director's new film continues his focus on characters struggling to come to terms with themselves; why are 1930s-era murals in San Francisco causing a fuss today?; revisiting our chat with Emmy-nominee Samantha Bee.
  • Listen 25:37
    His father is Bobby McFerrin and he has a brother and sister who also are singers. Taylor has been making music for some time now, but he's never sung on an album — until now; gay characters are featured on a telenovela for the first time; the story behind "Blinded by the Light."
    His father is Bobby McFerrin and he has a brother and sister who also are singers. Taylor has been making music for some time now, but he's never sung on an album — until now; gay characters are featured on a telenovela for the first time; the story behind "Blinded by the Light."
  • Listen 25:40
    An Associated Press exposé details decades of alleged sexual harassment by the renown opera singer and conductor; the documentary “Cold Case Hammarskjöld” turned into a whodunnit; how did a little-known L.A. band end up opening for The Rolling Stones?
    An Associated Press exposé details decades of alleged sexual harassment by the renown opera singer and conductor; the documentary “Cold Case Hammarskjöld” turned into a whodunnit; how did a little-known L.A. band end up opening for The Rolling Stones?
  • Listen 25:42
    One of the few major music festivals in the U.S. that is not organized by a giant company, Outside Lands took over Golden Gate Park this weekend; Universal Pictures scraps "The Hunt," an R-rated satire in which elites hunt "deplorables" for sport.
    One of the few major music festivals in the U.S. that is not organized by a giant company, Outside Lands took over Golden Gate Park this weekend; Universal Pictures scraps "The Hunt," an R-rated satire in which elites hunt "deplorables" for sport.
  • Listen 51:00
    In "Escape At Dannemora," director Ben Stiller goes inside a prison to tell the story of the inmates who broke out; comedian and SNL writer Julio Torres prefers humor about ordinary objects to politics; Geena Davis hopes her research institute and a new documentary will convince Hollywood the value of creating film and TV with a diverse cast of women and girls.
    In "Escape At Dannemora," director Ben Stiller goes inside a prison to tell the story of the inmates who broke out; comedian and SNL writer Julio Torres prefers humor about ordinary objects to politics; Geena Davis hopes her research institute and a new documentary will convince Hollywood the value of creating film and TV with a diverse cast of women and girls.
  • Listen 25:34
    The offbeat comedian talks about his path from immigrant to "SNL" writer to star of an HBO stand-up special; Rolling Stone writer Elias Leight on the continuing practice of payola in the radio industry; an episode of Song Exploder with Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney.
    The offbeat comedian talks about his path from immigrant to "SNL" writer to star of an HBO stand-up special; Rolling Stone writer Elias Leight on the continuing practice of payola in the radio industry; an episode of Song Exploder with Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney.
  • Listen 25:41
    Geena Davis is executive producer of the new documentary that explores the status of women in the film industry; David Rubin, the newly-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; rock musician Ty Segall.
    Geena Davis is executive producer of the new documentary that explores the status of women in the film industry; David Rubin, the newly-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; rock musician Ty Segall.
  • Listen 25:23
    Nanfu Wang's documentary is a personal look at China’s former one child policy, which continues to reverberate there; The Emmy Awards will go without a host; on the 20th anniversary of "Eyes Wide Shut," a look at how its composer was chosen.
    Nanfu Wang's documentary is a personal look at China’s former one child policy, which continues to reverberate there; The Emmy Awards will go without a host; on the 20th anniversary of "Eyes Wide Shut," a look at how its composer was chosen.
  • Listen 25:40
    The wrongly-convicted former athlete and director Tom Shadyac discuss the path to making the movie; we revisit the documentary, "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am," following her death; Bruce Lee's family is unhappy about his depiction in "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood."
    The wrongly-convicted former athlete and director Tom Shadyac discuss the path to making the movie; we revisit the documentary, "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am," following her death; Bruce Lee's family is unhappy about his depiction in "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood."
  • Listen 25:40
    Barak Goodman's documentary, “Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation,” asks: Why did 400,000 young people trek across the country for a festival in the middle of nowhere?; music historian Andy Zax helped restore every Woodstock performance for a 38-disc boxed set; filmmaker Sam Jones on the influence of documentary director D.A. Pennebaker.
    Barak Goodman's documentary, “Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation,” asks: Why did 400,000 young people trek across the country for a festival in the middle of nowhere?; music historian Andy Zax helped restore every Woodstock performance for a 38-disc boxed set; filmmaker Sam Jones on the influence of documentary director D.A. Pennebaker.
  • Listen 50:59
    Today's show: The creators of "Sherman's Showcase" discuss the comedy and music in their sketch show. We discuss the portrayal of Bruce Lee in Tarantino's new film. Why Patricia Arquette wanted to co-star in "Otherhood." Then Indie duo The Bird and The Bee make a tribute album of Van Halen covers.
    Today's show: The creators of "Sherman's Showcase" discuss the comedy and music in their sketch show. We discuss the portrayal of Bruce Lee in Tarantino's new film. Why Patricia Arquette wanted to co-star in "Otherhood." Then Indie duo The Bird and The Bee make a tribute album of Van Halen covers.
  • Listen 25:39
    Actress Patricia Arquette, writer/director Cindy Chupack and producer Cathy Schulman talk about their new film and how middle-aged women are portrayed in Hollywood; has hip-hop reached a turning point in its inclusivity of black, gay artists?
    Actress Patricia Arquette, writer/director Cindy Chupack and producer Cathy Schulman talk about their new film and how middle-aged women are portrayed in Hollywood; has hip-hop reached a turning point in its inclusivity of black, gay artists?