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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 23:02
    Anna Bass and Monica Bill Barnes (pictured) imbue their choreography with humor; how the creator of 'Doc McStuffins' made her hit show that counts Michelle Obama among its fans; and two Sundance documentaries show the power of movies to liberate people’s minds.
    Anna Bass and Monica Bill Barnes (pictured) imbue their choreography with humor; how the creator of 'Doc McStuffins' made her hit show that counts Michelle Obama among its fans; and two Sundance documentaries show the power of movies to liberate people’s minds.
  • Listen 23:59
    Rick Famuyiwa, the writer-director of the 2015 Sundance favorite, "Dope," describes being at the center of one of the buzziest films at the fest; “Dear White People” filmmaker Justin Simien looks back at Sundance a year after his breakout; composer Bear McCreary rocks out on his hurdy-gurdy.
    Rick Famuyiwa, the writer-director of the 2015 Sundance favorite, "Dope," describes being at the center of one of the buzziest films at the fest; “Dear White People” filmmaker Justin Simien looks back at Sundance a year after his breakout; composer Bear McCreary rocks out on his hurdy-gurdy.
  • Listen 24:44
    Venues for Bill Cosby's live shows sometimes can't cancel a show on their own; Alfonso Gómez-Rejón, director of Sundance favorite "Me & Earl ..." (pictured), on why the film is so personal to him; can Pivot TV's $40 million series, "Fortitude," be a hit for the fledgling network?; "Schoolhouse Rock" creators explain its origins.
    Venues for Bill Cosby's live shows sometimes can't cancel a show on their own; Alfonso Gómez-Rejón, director of Sundance favorite "Me & Earl ..." (pictured), on why the film is so personal to him; can Pivot TV's $40 million series, "Fortitude," be a hit for the fledgling network?; "Schoolhouse Rock" creators explain its origins.
  • Listen 23:56
    Noted documentary director Alex Gibney debuts his HBO film, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”; no sales record after all for Sundance darling “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”; Jamie Cullum puts his stamp on jazz standards on his new album, "Interlude."
    Noted documentary director Alex Gibney debuts his HBO film, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”; no sales record after all for Sundance darling “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”; Jamie Cullum puts his stamp on jazz standards on his new album, "Interlude."
  • Listen 24:00
    Awards from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds put "Birdman" (pictured) in the driver's seat for Oscars; watchdog group says "American Sniper" has inspired threats against Arab-Americans and Muslims; sex is a common theme at this year's Sundance festival; actor Tony Hale's children's book.
    Awards from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds put "Birdman" (pictured) in the driver's seat for Oscars; watchdog group says "American Sniper" has inspired threats against Arab-Americans and Muslims; sex is a common theme at this year's Sundance festival; actor Tony Hale's children's book.
  • Listen 24:00
    Karina Canellakis (pictured) is a conductor who does double duty as a violinist, often at the same time; The Frame host John Horn reports from the Sundance Film Festival, where filmmaker Benson Lee returns with a new movie, "Seoul Searching."
    Karina Canellakis (pictured) is a conductor who does double duty as a violinist, often at the same time; The Frame host John Horn reports from the Sundance Film Festival, where filmmaker Benson Lee returns with a new movie, "Seoul Searching."
  • Listen 23:42
    Previewing the most anticipated features and documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival (pictured); Bill Robles has drawn the trials of everyone from Charles Manson to Lindsay Lohan; 'Mommy' is the fifth feature from 25-year-old Xavier Dolan.
    Previewing the most anticipated features and documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival (pictured); Bill Robles has drawn the trials of everyone from Charles Manson to Lindsay Lohan; 'Mommy' is the fifth feature from 25-year-old Xavier Dolan.
  • Listen 24:00
    Journalist Ben Fritz and former Navy officer-turned-actor Ricky Ryba on the marketing and accuracy of "American Sniper" (pictured); Frances McDormand and Suzzy Roche discuss "Early Shaker Spirituals"; the documentary "Red Army" looks at how the former Soviet Union built a hockey dynasty.
    Journalist Ben Fritz and former Navy officer-turned-actor Ricky Ryba on the marketing and accuracy of "American Sniper" (pictured); Frances McDormand and Suzzy Roche discuss "Early Shaker Spirituals"; the documentary "Red Army" looks at how the former Soviet Union built a hockey dynasty.
  • Listen 23:59
    Former Disney exec-turned-producer Nina Jacobson discusses how an actor’s pay is determined in the industry; composer Hans Zimmer (pictured) discusses the making of his Oscar-nominated score for Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar"; Michael Chabon is the most recent novelist trying his hand at writing pop song lyrics.
    Former Disney exec-turned-producer Nina Jacobson discusses how an actor’s pay is determined in the industry; composer Hans Zimmer (pictured) discusses the making of his Oscar-nominated score for Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar"; Michael Chabon is the most recent novelist trying his hand at writing pop song lyrics.
  • Listen 23:47
    Classical music legend Neville Marriner (pictured) is in L.A. to conduct the Colburn School student orchestra; Stephanie Allain, an executive producer of "Dear White People" and director of the L.A. Film Festival, on why Hollywood isn't diverse enough; Doug Lussenhop, aka DJ Douggpound, brings his sound-rich act to Riot LA.
    Classical music legend Neville Marriner (pictured) is in L.A. to conduct the Colburn School student orchestra; Stephanie Allain, an executive producer of "Dear White People" and director of the L.A. Film Festival, on why Hollywood isn't diverse enough; Doug Lussenhop, aka DJ Douggpound, brings his sound-rich act to Riot LA.
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 24:31
    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.