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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 24:31
    The film's director, Peyton Reed, says Marvel's smallest superhero (pictured) has always had a bit of an inferiority complex; Disney chief Bob Iger gave a preview this week of the long-in-the-works resort and theme park; Kristina Wong is out to destroy stereotypes of Asian women.
    The film's director, Peyton Reed, says Marvel's smallest superhero (pictured) has always had a bit of an inferiority complex; Disney chief Bob Iger gave a preview this week of the long-in-the-works resort and theme park; Kristina Wong is out to destroy stereotypes of Asian women.
  • Listen 23:59
    The host of "Comedy Bang! Bang!" (pictured) didn't get an Emmy nomination for the show, but he and his staff will write jokes for Emmy host Andy Samberg; Grantland's Andy Greenwald on the Emmy nods; Kyle Patrick Alvarez revisits an infamous episode in "The Stanford Prison Experiment."
    The host of "Comedy Bang! Bang!" (pictured) didn't get an Emmy nomination for the show, but he and his staff will write jokes for Emmy host Andy Samberg; Grantland's Andy Greenwald on the Emmy nods; Kyle Patrick Alvarez revisits an infamous episode in "The Stanford Prison Experiment."
  • Listen 24:00
    The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 16, but have the awards lost their luster?; Inara George and Greg Kurstin, aka The Bird and the Bee (pictured), are back with a new album after a five-year gap; writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh's new stage show draws, as usual, on just about anything she sees and hears.
    The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 16, but have the awards lost their luster?; Inara George and Greg Kurstin, aka The Bird and the Bee (pictured), are back with a new album after a five-year gap; writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh's new stage show draws, as usual, on just about anything she sees and hears.
  • Listen 24:15
    The feature film "Tangerine" (pictured), directed by Sean Baker, was ingeniously shot on an iPhone; a report from the Berklee College of Music calls for transparency in the record business; Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim turn their twisted humor into a parody of a self-help book.
    The feature film "Tangerine" (pictured), directed by Sean Baker, was ingeniously shot on an iPhone; a report from the Berklee College of Music calls for transparency in the record business; Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim turn their twisted humor into a parody of a self-help book.
  • Listen 24:00
    A new documentary follows comedian Tig Notaro (pictured) after her cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy; 'True Detective' is shot in Southern California, but avoids the usual postcard locales; Comic-Con teased audiences with some of the most anticipated films in nerd culture.
    A new documentary follows comedian Tig Notaro (pictured) after her cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy; 'True Detective' is shot in Southern California, but avoids the usual postcard locales; Comic-Con teased audiences with some of the most anticipated films in nerd culture.
  • Listen 23:59
    “The Gospel at Colonus,” the 1980s musical that blends gospel and greek tragedy still resonates with people today; Why comic-con and comic books appeal to people with disabilities; We get the highlights from the first days of Comic-Con and how thousands of fake weapons get real inspections at the Con.
    “The Gospel at Colonus,” the 1980s musical that blends gospel and greek tragedy still resonates with people today; Why comic-con and comic books appeal to people with disabilities; We get the highlights from the first days of Comic-Con and how thousands of fake weapons get real inspections at the Con.
  • Listen 24:00
    Taking the train to Comic-Con (pictured) means avoiding traffic and mingling with fans, comic book artists and even studio execs; The Hero Initiative is a charity that helps pioneer comic book artists who didn't have salaries or benefits; “10,000 Km," a film by Carlos Marques-Marcet, is about negotiating a long-distance relationship.
    Taking the train to Comic-Con (pictured) means avoiding traffic and mingling with fans, comic book artists and even studio execs; The Hero Initiative is a charity that helps pioneer comic book artists who didn't have salaries or benefits; “10,000 Km," a film by Carlos Marques-Marcet, is about negotiating a long-distance relationship.
  • Listen 23:59
    Alison Faulk worked with Channing Tatum to design the sexy dance moves in “Magic Mike XXL” (pictured); Nerdstrong Gym is where pop culture geeks are changing the image of flabby, couch-bound obsessives; Paramount Pictures and Hulu make the latest moves in the streaming world.
    Alison Faulk worked with Channing Tatum to design the sexy dance moves in “Magic Mike XXL” (pictured); Nerdstrong Gym is where pop culture geeks are changing the image of flabby, couch-bound obsessives; Paramount Pictures and Hulu make the latest moves in the streaming world.
  • Listen 24:50
    Comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick previews Comic-Con; "Cartel Land" director Matthew Heineman embedded himself with vigilante groups to document their fight against drug cartels in Mexico and Arizona (pictured); composer J. Ralph on writing music for "Shark Week"
    Comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick previews Comic-Con; "Cartel Land" director Matthew Heineman embedded himself with vigilante groups to document their fight against drug cartels in Mexico and Arizona (pictured); composer J. Ralph on writing music for "Shark Week"
  • Listen 24:00
    Leon Russell (pictured) was unhappy with a documentary he financed in the early '70s. The film by Les Blank is finally getting released; the Getty Conservation Institute is preserving original animation cels from classic Disney movies; the music industry has agreed to move the release day for new music from Tuesdays to Fridays.
    Leon Russell (pictured) was unhappy with a documentary he financed in the early '70s. The film by Les Blank is finally getting released; the Getty Conservation Institute is preserving original animation cels from classic Disney movies; the music industry has agreed to move the release day for new music from Tuesdays to Fridays.
Episodes
  • 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.
  • Listen 24:00
    “Orange is the New Black” actress Lea DeLaria (pictured) has a jazzy side career; The Grateful Dead play three final shows in Chicago this weekend to overwhelming demand; a classical music composer takes inspiration from California’s drought; Amy Winehouse’s record producer on the new documentary about the late singer.
    “Orange is the New Black” actress Lea DeLaria (pictured) has a jazzy side career; The Grateful Dead play three final shows in Chicago this weekend to overwhelming demand; a classical music composer takes inspiration from California’s drought; Amy Winehouse’s record producer on the new documentary about the late singer.
  • Listen 23:59
    Fox's big bet on the women's World Cup is paying off with record-setting ratings; when a new dinosaur was created for "Jurassic World" (pictured), the film's sound designers had to come up with new terrifying sounds; on "Song Exploder," Bono dissects U2's "Cedarwood Road"
    Fox's big bet on the women's World Cup is paying off with record-setting ratings; when a new dinosaur was created for "Jurassic World" (pictured), the film's sound designers had to come up with new terrifying sounds; on "Song Exploder," Bono dissects U2's "Cedarwood Road"
  • Listen 16:00
    The international terminal at the L.A. airport has debuted three permanent art installations, including one by Mark Bradford (pictured); Apple Music's streaming service debuted today without the Beatles, but with Taylor Swift.
    The international terminal at the L.A. airport has debuted three permanent art installations, including one by Mark Bradford (pictured); Apple Music's streaming service debuted today without the Beatles, but with Taylor Swift.
  • Listen 17:02
    After Donald Trump's controversial comments about Mexicans, NBC is dumping the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants (pictured); the 30th anniversary of "Back to the Future" is being marked with a screening and live orchestral performance; comedian and actress Julie Brister says she's tired of being seen as fat first and as a performer second.
    After Donald Trump's controversial comments about Mexicans, NBC is dumping the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants (pictured); the 30th anniversary of "Back to the Future" is being marked with a screening and live orchestral performance; comedian and actress Julie Brister says she's tired of being seen as fat first and as a performer second.
  • Listen 16:00
    The brilliant but troubled singer and pianist Nina Simone (pictured) is the subject of a new documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone?"; after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, we examine whether TV has swayed American attitudes on the matter.
    The brilliant but troubled singer and pianist Nina Simone (pictured) is the subject of a new documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone?"; after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, we examine whether TV has swayed American attitudes on the matter.
  • Listen 16:00
    Jazz saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington (pictured) is adding a new chapter to L.A.'s storied jazz history with his 3-disc album, "The Epic"; veteran TV director Lesli Linka Glatter's career has ranged from "Twin Peaks" to her current show, "Homeland."
    Jazz saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington (pictured) is adding a new chapter to L.A.'s storied jazz history with his 3-disc album, "The Epic"; veteran TV director Lesli Linka Glatter's career has ranged from "Twin Peaks" to her current show, "Homeland."
  • Listen 24:30
    Writer and performer Tim Minchin talks about creating songs for the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" (pictured); director Patricia Riggen recalls working with composer James Horner on one of his last films, "The 33"; songs by the '70s gay, glam rock act, Smokey, have been re-issued.
    Writer and performer Tim Minchin talks about creating songs for the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" (pictured); director Patricia Riggen recalls working with composer James Horner on one of his last films, "The 33"; songs by the '70s gay, glam rock act, Smokey, have been re-issued.
  • Listen 17:00
    The stage musical "Recorded in Hollywood" (pictured) tells the story of John Dolphin and his landmark record stores in Los Angeles; a song from the solo album by Will Butler (Arcade Fire) is taken apart in a new installment of Song Exploder.
    The stage musical "Recorded in Hollywood" (pictured) tells the story of John Dolphin and his landmark record stores in Los Angeles; a song from the solo album by Will Butler (Arcade Fire) is taken apart in a new installment of Song Exploder.