The Frame

What the early Academy Award predictions are telling us about diversity — or the lack thereof — among this year’s potential nominees; the documentary "This Ain't No Mouse Music," about Bay Area recording legend Chris Strachwitz, gives new insight into what drove his musical journey.

“The Simpsons” launched its 26th season Sunday. Vulture.com editor Jesse David Fox joins us to discuss how they chose the 100 Best Simpsons episodes; “The Equalizer” won the box office this weekend, but we also take a look at how some smaller, independent films are doing.

The FAA just approved use of drones for feature films. We talk with the owner of a company that stands to benefit; an Asian-American theater company explores how cultural bias can warp a family’s ability to discuss mental illness; Antoine Fuqua first directed Denzel Washington in "Training Day." Now they're together again for "The Equalizer."

Soloway talks about how Lena Dunham and Louis CK changed the way she writes; pianist and composer Cathlene Pineda discusses her commission for the Angel City Jazz Festival; and Viola Davis on why her casting for "How To Get Away With Murder" is groundbreaking

Kenya Barris, creator of the new ABC series "black-ish," says they had written an episode about spanking before the Adrian Peterson story broke. His challenge: Getting the network to buy in to the controversial topic; Artist Ai Weiwei debuts a new installation at Alcatraz that touches on themes such as freedom and human rights.

The actress founded an institute on gender in media that reports women don't get enough speaking roles in Hollywood; art and science intersect at the AxS Festival; New York's Metropolitan Opera opens its season amid protests, and more.

Colin Farrell will star in the next season of HBO's "True Detective"; Matt Atchity of Rotten Tomatoes chats about this weekend's box office winners and losers, including "The Maze Runner" (pictured). Plus, Jon Stewart discusses his first time on a comedy stage, Fox debuts “Gotham," and more.

How Scott Frank convinced Liam Neeson to star in yet another hostage movie; “Last Days in Vietnam” portrays the U.S. exit from Saigon; and a look at the legendary jazz musician at the heart of “Keep On Keepin’ On.”

The Toronto International Film Festival has a late-night series that brings out devoted horror fans; a group of artists and activists put a spotlight on LA's waterway; the indie band Allah-Las returns to its roots at Amoeba Records; and film director Ned Benson talks about his accidental trilogy, "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby."

In our latest episode, we get a preview of one of the largest and most vital film festivals on the circuit; we sit under a 340-ton boulder to interview Doug Pray about the subject of his documentary, "Levitated Mass: The Story of Michael Heizer's Monolithic Sculpture"; and we chat with Teller (yes, of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner — co-directors of a novel staging of "The Tempest" at South Coast Repertory.

Despite an ongoing dispute between The Recording Academy and its recently-ousted CEO, the show will go on, so we’ll spotlight a wide range of nominees and celebrate the music they make.

The festival's opening night featured a film about a 1970s camp for disabled teens, some of whom became activists in the disability-rights movement; the Grammys' problem du jour; the Academy Award-nominated documentary, "For Sama."

John Horn is off to the film festival, where the schedule includes a documentary about Hillary Clinton and a feature film, "The Assistant," largely inspired by stories of working for Harvey Weinstein; Jonathan Pryce, Academy Award best actor nominee for "The Two Popes," talks about portraying Pope Francis.

The actress and writer heads for the Sundance Film Festival with a TV project that is partially inspired by her Iranian immigrant family; opening arguments take place today in Harvey Weinstein's trial; the controversy shrouding the Grammy Awards continues to evolve.

The former R.E.M. frontman retreated from music after the band split up in 2011, but he's back with two new songs; wrapping up the Television Critics Assn. winter tour, which previewed what's coming up from networks, cable channels and streaming services.

Michael Stipe has two new solo singles; Victoria Mahoney is the first woman and first person of color behind a camera on a "Star Wars" movie, Mary Steenburgen turns a bizarre brain phenomenon into a music career; "American Factory" gets an Oscar nomination; Franklin Leonard makes an alt Oscar ballot.

An exhibition at New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage attempts to fight growing ignorance about the Holocaust; turmoil at the Grammy organization; a new fund aims to improve equity and inclusion in film and TV.

The prolific author examines his craft in “Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different"; J. Clara Chan of The Wrap reports from the Harvey Weinstein trial; the satirical comedy group Culture Clash takes on a Baroque opera;

Justin Levine, music supervisor for the Broadway adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, talks about adapting recent pop songs for the period musical; The Lucas Museum has acquired a prominent collection of ephemera related to African American film history; Mary Steenburgen's sudden and odd songwriting career.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns on how she and director Sam Mendes penned the script knowing the film would be shot as if it was one continuous take; an alternate history of this year's Oscar nominations; multimedia artist Miwa Matreyek takes her environmental activism to the stage.

The Academy Award nominations include only one non-white artist among the 20 nominees in the acting categories. And women are again shut out in the directing category.

Jon Batiste reveals how he and Stephen Colbert first bonded; Zahra Noorbakhsh, a proud "feminist, Muslim, Iranian-American comedian" uses her voice more than ever; Cristela Alonzo reflects on her life in a new memoir; meet the man behind the Daptone sound and more...