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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 23:55
    Yuja Wang is an internationally recognized piano genius who is in L.A. for the next two weeks to perform Bartók's piano concertos with the L.A. Phil; David Michod talks about how he’d been looking to make a film about America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for about a decade before he came across Michael Hastings’ book.
    Yuja Wang is an internationally recognized piano genius who is in L.A. for the next two weeks to perform Bartók's piano concertos with the L.A. Phil; David Michod talks about how he’d been looking to make a film about America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for about a decade before he came across Michael Hastings’ book.
  • Listen 23:59
    Luhrmann's love of hip-hop history brought him on to the series 'The Get Down' which Netflix has just decided not to renew for a second season. He discusses his first foray into television– an ambitious project that Luhrmann says was like producing a Broadway show in every episode. And The Frame visits writer-director Robin Swicord on the set of her Bryan Cranston-Jennifer Garner movie 'Wakefield.'
    Luhrmann's love of hip-hop history brought him on to the series 'The Get Down' which Netflix has just decided not to renew for a second season. He discusses his first foray into television– an ambitious project that Luhrmann says was like producing a Broadway show in every episode. And The Frame visits writer-director Robin Swicord on the set of her Bryan Cranston-Jennifer Garner movie 'Wakefield.'
  • Listen 23:58
    "Long Strange Trip" documents how The Grateful Dead found its sound and made Jerry Garcia a reluctant leader. "Wait Wait Don't Kill Me" is a podcast musical that satirizes the podcast "Serial," but it's also about our fascination with true crime and murder. Can Snapchat build an audience for short form shows by well-known TV celebs like Conan O'Brien?
    "Long Strange Trip" documents how The Grateful Dead found its sound and made Jerry Garcia a reluctant leader. "Wait Wait Don't Kill Me" is a podcast musical that satirizes the podcast "Serial," but it's also about our fascination with true crime and murder. Can Snapchat build an audience for short form shows by well-known TV celebs like Conan O'Brien?
  • Listen 23:58
    Documentary filmmaker Ryan White's investigation of a nun's murder led to uncovering a sex abuse scandal in Baltimore; music critic Ann Powers on the connection between young girls and live music.
    Documentary filmmaker Ryan White's investigation of a nun's murder led to uncovering a sex abuse scandal in Baltimore; music critic Ann Powers on the connection between young girls and live music.
  • Listen 23:58
    "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker and co-executive producer Annabel Jones on their sci-fi show that has become a touchstone for certain moments in real life; promoters of the ill-fated Fyre Festival are reportedly facing a federal fraud investigation.
    "Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker and co-executive producer Annabel Jones on their sci-fi show that has become a touchstone for certain moments in real life; promoters of the ill-fated Fyre Festival are reportedly facing a federal fraud investigation.
  • Listen 23:58
    'Guardians of the Galaxy' director James Gunn opens up about how Marvel Comics and Alice Cooper made him realize he wasn't alone in the world. He explains the importance of score and music to the success of the 'Guardians' franchise; Daniel Fienberg, TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter, and Jeanine Poggi, media reporter at AdAge, recap Upfronts 2017.
    'Guardians of the Galaxy' director James Gunn opens up about how Marvel Comics and Alice Cooper made him realize he wasn't alone in the world. He explains the importance of score and music to the success of the 'Guardians' franchise; Daniel Fienberg, TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter, and Jeanine Poggi, media reporter at AdAge, recap Upfronts 2017.
  • Listen 24:20
    In "The Handmaid's Tale" Yvonne Strahovski plays Serena Joy. Her cruelty and coldness toward Offred (Elisabeth Moss) — who is essentially a sex slave — made her easy to hate. But as the Hulu series unfolds so do the layers of her character. Dwain Worrell was living an expat's life in China when he submitted his script for "The Wall" to an online Amazon contest. Quickly it got greenlit and now it's a film, starring John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
    In "The Handmaid's Tale" Yvonne Strahovski plays Serena Joy. Her cruelty and coldness toward Offred (Elisabeth Moss) — who is essentially a sex slave — made her easy to hate. But as the Hulu series unfolds so do the layers of her character. Dwain Worrell was living an expat's life in China when he submitted his script for "The Wall" to an online Amazon contest. Quickly it got greenlit and now it's a film, starring John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
  • Listen 23:58
    Sam Hodges and Michael Killen are commercial directors turned TV showrunners whose debut series “Downward Dog" premieres tonight on ABC; Playwright Anna Ziegler puts a microscope on the issue of consent and sexual assault on college campuses in her provocative new play, "Actually."
    Sam Hodges and Michael Killen are commercial directors turned TV showrunners whose debut series “Downward Dog" premieres tonight on ABC; Playwright Anna Ziegler puts a microscope on the issue of consent and sexual assault on college campuses in her provocative new play, "Actually."
  • Listen 23:58
    Did Conan O'Brien steal jokes from another comedian? A jury may soon deliberate over that very question. Actor and playwright Wallace Shawn wrote "The Designated Mourner" in 1996. Now the play, which is about totalitarianism and anti-intellectualism, is being remounted by director André Gregory. And the artist known as Perfume Genius breaks down a song off his new album in an episode of Song Exploder.
    Did Conan O'Brien steal jokes from another comedian? A jury may soon deliberate over that very question. Actor and playwright Wallace Shawn wrote "The Designated Mourner" in 1996. Now the play, which is about totalitarianism and anti-intellectualism, is being remounted by director André Gregory. And the artist known as Perfume Genius breaks down a song off his new album in an episode of Song Exploder.
  • Listen 23:58
    Bryan Fuller and Michael Green open up about turning the Neil Gaiman book 'American Gods' into the new television series for Starz. They discuss how they approached issues of religion, race, immigration, sex and violence in the show. And Brad Grey, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, passed away last night. In the wake of his death we discuss his legacy and the fact that he was the sort of movie mogul that Hollywood studios don't hire anymore.
    Bryan Fuller and Michael Green open up about turning the Neil Gaiman book 'American Gods' into the new television series for Starz. They discuss how they approached issues of religion, race, immigration, sex and violence in the show. And Brad Grey, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, passed away last night. In the wake of his death we discuss his legacy and the fact that he was the sort of movie mogul that Hollywood studios don't hire anymore.
Episodes
  • Listen 25:55
    Gigi Saul Guerrero, who was born in Mexico, directed the episode that's part of the Hulu horror anthology series, “Into the Dark”; Variety's Todd Spangler on Netflix losing subscribers in the U.S.; composer Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak) on writing the score for “Midsommar.”
    Gigi Saul Guerrero, who was born in Mexico, directed the episode that's part of the Hulu horror anthology series, “Into the Dark”; Variety's Todd Spangler on Netflix losing subscribers in the U.S.; composer Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak) on writing the score for “Midsommar.”
  • Listen 25:56
    Writer/director Riley Stearns and stunt coordinator Mindy Kelly talk about their film that's set in a sexist karate school; is Disney having buyer’s remorse over its purchase of Fox's film studio?; behind the appeal of the band Durand Jones & The Indications.
    Writer/director Riley Stearns and stunt coordinator Mindy Kelly talk about their film that's set in a sexist karate school; is Disney having buyer’s remorse over its purchase of Fox's film studio?; behind the appeal of the band Durand Jones & The Indications.
  • Listen 25:40
    The acclaimed visual artist and musician walks through his retrospective with his wife and frequent collaborator, Jo Harvey Allen; breaking down the Emmy nominations; in the studio with singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara.
    The acclaimed visual artist and musician walks through his retrospective with his wife and frequent collaborator, Jo Harvey Allen; breaking down the Emmy nominations; in the studio with singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara.
  • Listen 25:41
    The singer is the subject of a warts-and-all documentary, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"; The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Johnson talks about his story on the so-called "Con Queen of Hollywood"; catching up with Linda Ronstadt.
    The singer is the subject of a warts-and-all documentary, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"; The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Johnson talks about his story on the so-called "Con Queen of Hollywood"; catching up with Linda Ronstadt.
  • Listen 50:54
    Kumail Nanjiani's "Stuber" and writer/director Lulu Wang's "The Farewell" just opened in theaters, as did the documentary "Sea of Shadows," about drug cartels invading a fishing village in Baja California. Morgan Neville's four-part documentary about music producer Rick Rubin debuts on Showtime. And we also visit with the French piano duo Katia and Marielle Lebeque.
    Kumail Nanjiani's "Stuber" and writer/director Lulu Wang's "The Farewell" just opened in theaters, as did the documentary "Sea of Shadows," about drug cartels invading a fishing village in Baja California. Morgan Neville's four-part documentary about music producer Rick Rubin debuts on Showtime. And we also visit with the French piano duo Katia and Marielle Lebeque.
  • Listen 25:40
    The director and actor talk about their new film, "Sword of Trust"; The Hollywood Reporter's Eriq Gardner on so-called "deep fakes" in Hollywood — ultra-realistic manipulation of digital imagery; a profile of the singer and pianist Rhye.
    The director and actor talk about their new film, "Sword of Trust"; The Hollywood Reporter's Eriq Gardner on so-called "deep fakes" in Hollywood — ultra-realistic manipulation of digital imagery; a profile of the singer and pianist Rhye.
  • Listen 25:53
    Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville examines the career of the idiosyncratic record producer; the dilemma faced by cultural instititutions when they have received donations from alleged sexual predators; Black artists make a statement in "Soul of a Nation."
    Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville examines the career of the idiosyncratic record producer; the dilemma faced by cultural instititutions when they have received donations from alleged sexual predators; Black artists make a statement in "Soul of a Nation."
  • Listen 25:39
    The comedian and actor wanted to go in a different direction after "The Big Sick," so he signed on for an atypical buddy-cop comedy; the latest battle in the video streaming wars; "Sea of Shadows" chronicles a marine life disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
    The comedian and actor wanted to go in a different direction after "The Big Sick," so he signed on for an atypical buddy-cop comedy; the latest battle in the video streaming wars; "Sea of Shadows" chronicles a marine life disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Listen 25:42
    The piano-playing sisters perform everything from the classics to contemporary works by the likes of Thom Yorke and Bryce Dessner; will Jeffrey Katzenberg's big idea for short content fly?; the long-running Tuesday Night Café in Little Tokyo.
    The piano-playing sisters perform everything from the classics to contemporary works by the likes of Thom Yorke and Bryce Dessner; will Jeffrey Katzenberg's big idea for short content fly?; the long-running Tuesday Night Café in Little Tokyo.
  • Listen 25:42
    The film is based on a true story from the writer/director's own family about refusing to tell their grandmother that she is gravely ill; an appreciation of Brazilian songwriter João Gilberto, who has died at the age of 88.
    The film is based on a true story from the writer/director's own family about refusing to tell their grandmother that she is gravely ill; an appreciation of Brazilian songwriter João Gilberto, who has died at the age of 88.
  • Listen 50:57
    "Midsommar" filmmaker says it's a horror film about co-dependency and the showrunner of the new ABC comedy "Mixed-ish" wants to inspire nuanced conversations about race. Given the massive TV audience for the World Cup why hasn't Hollywood tapped soccer fever for a great movie? All that and more on The Frame Weekend.
    "Midsommar" filmmaker says it's a horror film about co-dependency and the showrunner of the new ABC comedy "Mixed-ish" wants to inspire nuanced conversations about race. Given the massive TV audience for the World Cup why hasn't Hollywood tapped soccer fever for a great movie? All that and more on The Frame Weekend.
  • Listen 25:40
    The play "Good Boys," written by "Riverdale" creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, is updated in light of the Kavanaugh hearings; LA's Rogue Machine Theatre company tackles racism and gun violence with "Gunshot Medley: Part 1"; why are there so few movies about soccer?
    The play "Good Boys," written by "Riverdale" creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, is updated in light of the Kavanaugh hearings; LA's Rogue Machine Theatre company tackles racism and gun violence with "Gunshot Medley: Part 1"; why are there so few movies about soccer?