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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 23:57
    Rock star Courtney Love has acted in films and TV, but now she's hitting the boards in Todd Almond's "Kansas City Choir Boy"; the "Steve Jobs" biopic got good reviews from critics, but audiences are staying away in droves; Upright Citizens Brigade is taking its comedy franchise online.
    Rock star Courtney Love has acted in films and TV, but now she's hitting the boards in Todd Almond's "Kansas City Choir Boy"; the "Steve Jobs" biopic got good reviews from critics, but audiences are staying away in droves; Upright Citizens Brigade is taking its comedy franchise online.
  • Listen 15:57
    Sean Rameswaram of WNYC and Soraya Nadia McDonald of the Washington Post talk about the week's top stories from the wide world of culture; the new music ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars performs Brian Eno's "Music for Airports" for the first time in an American airport.
    Sean Rameswaram of WNYC and Soraya Nadia McDonald of the Washington Post talk about the week's top stories from the wide world of culture; the new music ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars performs Brian Eno's "Music for Airports" for the first time in an American airport.
  • Listen 16:00
    Mark Mothersbaugh, a founding member of the new wave band Devo, is also a film and TV composer with a long list of credits that includes "The Last Man on Earth"; an exhibition of Cuban art arrives as the island nation develops a new relationship with the United States.
    Mark Mothersbaugh, a founding member of the new wave band Devo, is also a film and TV composer with a long list of credits that includes "The Last Man on Earth"; an exhibition of Cuban art arrives as the island nation develops a new relationship with the United States.
  • Listen 23:58
    "Suffragette" screenwriter Abi Morgan and director Sarah Gavron made a period film that has current-day resonance; Disney is going all out to sell "Star Wars" in the world's second-biggest film market; Pakistani and L.A. musicians collaborated to create a new East-meets-West sound.
    "Suffragette" screenwriter Abi Morgan and director Sarah Gavron made a period film that has current-day resonance; Disney is going all out to sell "Star Wars" in the world's second-biggest film market; Pakistani and L.A. musicians collaborated to create a new East-meets-West sound.
  • Listen 25:09
    Filmmaker James Vanderbilt revisits the story that led to Dan Rather and a "60 Minutes" producer losing their jobs at CBS; producer Noah Hawley says the key to making "Fargo" a TV series was to not be bound by the Coen brothers movie.
    Filmmaker James Vanderbilt revisits the story that led to Dan Rather and a "60 Minutes" producer losing their jobs at CBS; producer Noah Hawley says the key to making "Fargo" a TV series was to not be bound by the Coen brothers movie.
  • Listen 16:00
    As the most prominent woman on HBO's "Project Greenlight," film producer Effie Brown has had to address race and gender issues; Lenny Abrahamson wrote a long letter to "Room" novelist Emma Donoghue to convince her that he was the right director for the film version.
    As the most prominent woman on HBO's "Project Greenlight," film producer Effie Brown has had to address race and gender issues; Lenny Abrahamson wrote a long letter to "Room" novelist Emma Donoghue to convince her that he was the right director for the film version.
  • Listen 16:00
    FX chief John Landgraf says his warning of there being too much TV for the industry to bear -- and the consumer to watch -- struck a chord with other network heads; How composer Jóhann Jóhannsson created the haunting score for 'Sicario'
    FX chief John Landgraf says his warning of there being too much TV for the industry to bear -- and the consumer to watch -- struck a chord with other network heads; How composer Jóhann Jóhannsson created the haunting score for 'Sicario'
  • Listen 24:00
    The actor has directed a documentary about the rise and fall of the once powerful record store chain; the first-ever Politicon was a sort of Comic-Con for political junkies, journalists and jokesters; Fox is developing more TV shows with comic book heroes, including "X-Men" characters.
    The actor has directed a documentary about the rise and fall of the once powerful record store chain; the first-ever Politicon was a sort of Comic-Con for political junkies, journalists and jokesters; Fox is developing more TV shows with comic book heroes, including "X-Men" characters.
  • Listen 16:55
    Kelly Sue DeConnick describes her feminist sci-fi series, "Bitch Planet," as "Margaret Atwood meets Inglourious Basterds”; Cary Fukunaga encountered severe challenges while shooting "Beasts of No Nation" in Ghana.
    Kelly Sue DeConnick describes her feminist sci-fi series, "Bitch Planet," as "Margaret Atwood meets Inglourious Basterds”; Cary Fukunaga encountered severe challenges while shooting "Beasts of No Nation" in Ghana.
  • Listen 23:50
    Producer Aline Brosh McKenna wants to upend genre stereotypes on her new CW network comedy. (Cue the band!) ; several films hitting theaters this fall are tackling stories of women striving for equality; Kurt Vile has a new album of chilled-out folk music.
    Producer Aline Brosh McKenna wants to upend genre stereotypes on her new CW network comedy. (Cue the band!) ; several films hitting theaters this fall are tackling stories of women striving for equality; Kurt Vile has a new album of chilled-out folk music.
  • Listen 24:00
    The actress is getting raves for her role in "Room" as a kidnap victim raising a son in captivity; Jeff Russo has gone from rock band guitarist to Emmy-nominated composer; Warner Bros.' big budget "Pan" opened badly, but the company's other divisions are performing well.
    The actress is getting raves for her role in "Room" as a kidnap victim raising a son in captivity; Jeff Russo has gone from rock band guitarist to Emmy-nominated composer; Warner Bros.' big budget "Pan" opened badly, but the company's other divisions are performing well.
  • Listen 24:38
    The actor/comedian is also a noted art collector and now he's curating a show of work by Canadian painter Lawren Harris; El Teatro Campesino collaborates with Center Theatre Group and Boyle Heights residents for a show at Grand Park; Jafar Panahi is banned from making films in his homeland, but that hasn't stopped him.
    The actor/comedian is also a noted art collector and now he's curating a show of work by Canadian painter Lawren Harris; El Teatro Campesino collaborates with Center Theatre Group and Boyle Heights residents for a show at Grand Park; Jafar Panahi is banned from making films in his homeland, but that hasn't stopped him.