The Frame

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are on a roll: they wrote song lyrics for "La La Land" and the music and lyrics for the Broadway hit, "Dear Evan Hansen"; more than 3,500 companies are debuting their futuristic products at the annual, massive technology trade show.

Actor and documentary filmmaker Fisher Stevens jumped at the chance to make a documentary about the iconic showbiz mother-and-daughter, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher; Sorting through the Jan/Feb TV premieres and comebacks to watch for in 2017 with TV critic Whitney Friedlander.

"Hidden Figures" writer Allison Schroeder (who was just nominated for a Writer's Guild award) tells us why she was the right person to co-write the film “Hidden Figures”; In the film “A Monster Calls,” director J.A. Bayona talks about how families might view his dark and personal coming-of-age story; Elliott Smith’s landmark 1997 album, “Either/Or,” gets a 20th anniversary re-issue.

Clay Tarver is a writer and co-executive producer for HBO’s “Silicon Valley," but he recently reunited with his bandmates in the group Chavez to record their first new music in 20 years; there may be a more diverse roster of actor and actress nominees for the Academy Awards this year, but that doesn’t mean #OscarsSoWhite is a thing of the past, says April Reign, the writer and activist who coined the hashtag.

It's our last Frame episode of 2016! From Beyonce's "Lemonade" to Chance The Rapper's "Coloring Book," we look back at the year in music with MTV Executive Editor Alex Pappademas; Also, we revisit one of our favorite musician interviews of the year, soul singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc, who describes himself as an "artivist," someone who blends art with activism.

The singing voice of Debbie Reynolds echoes throughout the show today as we honor the actress who died yesterday; Los Angeles Times culture writer Carolina Miranda picks some of 2016's most impactful moments in culture; playwright Jon Robin Baitz challenged himself in 2016 to write a play responding to Donald Trump's candidacy and get it up before the election. He did that. Now what?

For our wrap up of the best in TV, Margaret Lyons of the New York Times talks with us about the most overrated, underrated and heavily debated shows of 2016; Among the most lauded performances on TV this year was Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark in the FX mini-series "The People v. O.J. Simpson." Paulson discusses how Clark had been scrutinized by the media and much of America during the trial.

Carrie Fisher imbued the role of Princess Leia with an assertiveness that set the tone for the future Star Wars heroines; Fisher was also the columnist of "Advice from the Dark Side" which ran in The Guardian; New York Times co-chief film critic Manohla Dargis joins John Horn to talk about some of the top film stories of the year.

The popular British singer-songwriter died from heart failure at the age of 53; Kristen Anderson-Lopez is working on a stage musical version of "Frozen," but for now she has another show on Broadway, "In Transit."

David Oyelowo is extremely selective about the roles he chooses to play, and also the kinds of parts he wants to avoid; the Presidential Inauguration Committee has gotten more nays than ayes from singers and bands.

The glitzy film festival has no insurance coverage to cover a cancellation; "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" is a timely film about access to abortion; The Moth en español.

Co-writers Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse talk about overcoming inaccurate press reports to finally have their film released; "Onward" director Dan Scanlon on how his film began with the loss of his own father.

Hillary Clinton on why she agreed to go deep with for a new doc; H.G. Wells reimagined as a metaphor for abuse; actor Steve Coogan uses comedy to highlight extreme gaps in wealth around the world.

Haley Bennett talks about playing a woman with a dangerous psychological disorder; more musical fallout from the coronavirus; keeping L.A.'s Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra alive.

The avant-garde opera director's new work is about colonialism and displacement; where is Pete Buttigieg's and Elizabeth Warren's Hollywood support going now that they've exited the nomination race?; theater artist Geoff Sobelle explores the notion of "Home" onstage.

The British actor talks about how his latest comedy is a comment on income inequality; will the massive SxSW conference be canceled?; an emotional connection to the band KISS.

The four-part Hulu series includes the former First Lady and Secretary of State talking about the Democratic primaries and the presidential election; the coronavirus could be a disaster for the movie industry, but a boon for streaming services.

Director and screenwriter Leigh Whannel talks about his update of the H.G. Wells story; comedians who are feeling the Bern; the singer Vagabon breaks down her song, "Water Me Down."

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" teams makes an Apple TV+ show; Comedian Maria Bamford masters the impersonation; Alex Newell brings his unique voice to "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist"; After Weinstein's conviction, what's left to do?

Tamar-kali is a film composer with unique musical roots; Linas Phillips is a rideshare driver/spiritual coach in "The Ride"; what comes next for Hollywood after the Weinstein verdict?

Alex Newell plays a nonbinary character and Mary Steenburgen is Zoey's mother on the new NBC show; Hollywood is bracing for fallout from the coronavirus.

Filmmaker Benh Zeitlin returns to directing for the first time since "Beasts of the Southern Wild" with "Wendy"; Dr. Shari Fink, executive producer of "Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak"; Gabriel Roth, the man behind The Daptone Sound.