The Frame

Writer/director John Ridley (far right, with actor Timothy Hutton) talks about his edgy new TV series, “American Crime"; We crash a viewing party for the breakout TV hit, “Empire"; Musician and attorney Joe Escalante on the fallout from the “Blurred Lines” verdict.

A jury ruled that Robin Thicke (pictured) and Pharrell Williams violated the copyright to Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up"; an assistant director on the film "Midnight Rider" was found guilty of charges relating to the death of a camera assistant; producer David Shore revived a TV project created a dozen years ago by Vince Gilligan, before his "Breaking Bad" success.

"Midnight Rider" director Randall Miller was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges resulting from the death of a crew member on the set; Clint Eastwood talks about "American Sniper" (pictured) becoming the biggest-grossing film released in 2014; actress Gillian Jacobs has added director to her resumé with a documentary about computer pioneer Grace Hopper.

A fan laments that legendary radio DJ Art Laboe (pictured) can't be heard in L.A., at least for now; Robert Christgau, the Dean of American Rock Critics, has a memoir covering his 40-plus years on the music beat; Claire Keane is a third-generation artist who left a cushy job to write and illustrate children's books.

The trial for the lawsuit brought by Marvin Gaye's children against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams is nearing an end; how "Dead Man Walking" was transformed from a movie to an opera (pictured); comedian Wayne Federman rounds up his hilarious friends to host a film festival where they chose the lineup; comic book writer Scott Snyder put his anxieties into his version of "Batman."

Ed Piskor’s "Hip Hop Family Tree” (pictured) takes a look at the music's history in a comic book series; young comedians test their chops in roast battles; the Writer's Guild examines the lack of racial and gender diversity among TV writers.

Late night host Conan O'Brien tells us about his trip to Cuba and his thoughts on the late night TV shuffle; Vulture.com's Margaret Lyons recommends some TV shows that have an air of optimism; comic book writer Ed Brubaker goes from Captain America and Batman to a Hollywood noir graphic novel.

Will Smith's "Focus" (pictured) did middling business in its opening weekend, so where does this leave his career?; filmmaker Ed Burns on the highs and lows of his career since bursting on the scene with "The Brothers McMullen" in 1995; Valiant Entertainment has a simple goal: make comic books like they used to be made.

Leonard Nimoy (pictured) died today. We discuss his artistic journey as an actor, writer and photographer; the copyright trial pitting Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. against Marvin Gaye's children is underway; Will Forte is "The Last Man on Earth," a new Fox comedy.

Singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane (pictured) wrote "The Ambassador," a song cycle inspired by architectural landmarks around L.A.; Yann Demange's new film is set amidst the violent Northern Ireland conflict known as The Troubles; a new study concludes that watching even just one film can change minds about a topic as charged as politics.

Writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas talk about their provocative film about a tragic incident involving a black couple and a white policeman; five years later, what has Hollywood learned from the Sony hack?

L.A.'s Marachi Arcoiris bills itself as the first LGBTQ group that plays traditional Mexican music; what should we make of the Golden Globes?; the Huntington Museum turns 100 with a centennial exhibition.

After her longtime stint in Sonic Youth, followed by a two-person band called Body/Head, the singer and bassist has her first solo album, "No Home Record"; writer Nell Scovell mends fences (sort of) with David Letterman; Mati Diop's Senegalese film, "Atlantics," is on the shortlist for best international feature film at the Academy Awards.

Greta Gerwig shares her passion for "Little Women"; one TV journalist surveys how Jewish women are portrayed on TV; Jonathan Pryce dons the robes of Pope Francis for "The Two Popes"; a photographer turns objects confiscated from detainees at the border into art; The Black List turns 15; the ambitious filming of "1917".

The actress not only stars in the movie about the downfall of Roger Ailes at Fox News, she is also credited as a producer; assistants in Hollywood want better pay and treatment; "Not at the Dinner Table" is a release valve for uncomfortable holiday gatherings.

Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins collaborated to film the movie in a single, continuous shot; will "Cats" snuggle up to moviegoers?; songwriter Kathryn Bostic is on the shortlist of nominees for the Academy Awards best original song.

Jonathan Pryce talks about playing the reluctant Pope Francis and screenwriter Anthony McCarten talks about mixing fact and fiction; top screenplays in The Black List.

The director willed her way onto the project to tell the 1868 Louisa May Alcott story in a new way; a photographer turns items confiscated at the U.S.-Mexico border into subjects for an exhibition.

Abby McEnany stars in and co-created the series, which tells the tragi-comic story of a gender non-conforming woman struggling with her lot in life. She and executive producer Lilly Wachowski talk about the series; Kyle Buchanan, who writes The Carpetbagger blog for The New York Times, on awards season in Hollywood.

Charlize Theron produces and stars in "Bombshell"; Lilly Wachowski and Abby McEnany find comedy and connection on their series "Work In Progress"; Matthew Bourne brings "Swan Lake" back to LA; Jad Abumrad argues that Dolly Parton is the great unifier in our fractured country with his new podcast.

The podcast from Radiolab host Jad Abumrad explores the amazing career of "The Backwoods Barbie"; Netflix is accused of breaching awards etiquette and journalism ethics in its courting of Critics Choice Association members; the Australian band Good Morning has a surprising following in the U.S.

Choreographer Matthew Bourne, who shocked the dance world with his staging of the classic ballet, brings the production back to L.A.; why are insurance companies willing to offer policies that protect behavior of figures like Harvey Weinstein?; the podcast, “Prince the Story of 1999,” takes us inside the making of the landmark album.