The Frame

In the 1973 movie "Westworld," Michael Crichton created a fantasy world that now doesn't seem so far-fetched in the new HBO series; Desert Days may be jokingly called "Oldchella," but the promoters are laughing all the way to the bank; Get Lit was founded with the goal of using poetry to increase teen literacy ... and it’s working.

“Delusion: His Crimson Queen” is a haunt for people who will pay for the privilege of being scared, while "Hollywood Premiere Party: The Show" lets movie fans have the red carpet treatment; as rumors swirl about Netflix being sold, the streaming service continues to throw its weight around.

Between "Portlandia," "Documentary Now" and "Seth Meyers: Late Night," Fred Armisen may be the hardest working man in show business; since its release in May, Ezra Edelman's "O.J.: Made in America" continues to resonate as a chronicle of the relationship between African-Americans and law enforcement.

Google announced a slew of new products today, including the Pixel phone, Chromecast Ultra and the Daydream VR headset; Willie Bobo was a Latin music legend from the '60s-'80s. His son, Eric, has assembled an album of his father's previously unreleased music; for 40 years, filmmaker Terrence Malick has been working on a documentary about the origins of the universe. We talk to the producers who shepherded the project into existence.

We debate the issues surrounding the film, "The Birth of a Nation," and its writer-director-star, Nate Parker; remembering two L.A. cultural icons: Gordon Davidson of the Center Theatre Group and conductor Sir Neville Marriner, the first music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

The creators of “For the Record” build cabaret-like stage shows around classic pop songs used by top filmmakers; "Saturday Night Live" returns in the heat of the presidential campaign; L.A. singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart uses the city as inspiration on his latest album.

Bell says the title of his new comedy album refers to his being called on as a news show commentator only after more prominent people are unavailable; Kirsten Johnson is an award-winning documentary cinematographer who has woven footage from her 25-year career into a documentary memoir called “Cameraperson."

Filmmaker Andrea Arnold cast “American Honey” with amateur actors, including Sasha Lane, who was discovered on a beach in Florida; the Wanda Group's purchase of American movie theaters and production companies has some members of Congress worried; there's an effort to make vinyl copies of a recording of life on earth that was sent into outer space.

The success of "Between Two Ferns" with Hillary Clinton explains why Funny or Die opened a bureau in the nation's capitol; a new state bill aims to prevent websites like IMDb from publishing the age of actors and actresses; Grammy nominee Austin Wintory composed the music for the new video game, "Abzu."

Director Mira Nair's new movie, "Queen of Katwe," tells an inspirational story that's set in Uganda, showing a side of Africa not often seen in big studio movies; TV producers are high on reboots and remakes, with no sign of slowing; photographer Phil Toledano's bizarre attempt to deal with his death anxiety is documented in the film, "The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano"

The writer and actor is the son of Eugene Levy, and they are the co-creators and co-stars of the series, "Schitt's Creek"; John Horn reports from the Sundance Film Festival; a new dance performance inspired by horticulture.

Could Linda Perry be the first woman to win a Grammy for Producer of the Year?; a preview of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival; the host and executive producer of KPCC's podcast "The Big One."

Film critic Claudia Puig talks about the odds for Alfonso Cuarón's biopic about his childhood in Mexico City; the actresses from "Roma" — Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira; Hannah Beachler ("Black Panther") is the first African-American to be nominated for production design.

The pianist and composer talks about and performs music from the movie about Don Shirley; what were the most streamed songs and albums of 2018?

"The Apprentice" creator Mark Burnett is the subject of a riveting, comprehensive story in The New Yorker; Sony Music is reportedly dropping R. Kelly; Isabella Rossellini is the ringleader of an animal circus!

The playwright talks about his latest production, which revolves around a man going through a divorce and an epic mid-life crisis; the band Los Texmaniacs has a timely remake of a Woody Guthrie song about farmworkers.

The much-hyped Fyre Festival seemed to good to be true —and, as a new Netflix documentary shows, that was sadly the case; YouTube's struggles to police user-generated content; the influential artist and critic Manny Farber.

The 21-year-old singer who prefers to remain anonymous is nominated for Album of the Year and Best New Artist; NBC Universal joins the crowded field of streaming services; the Spanish singer Rosalía is putting a fresh spin on flamenco.

The company led by Benjamin Millepied is presenting its first full season in its new home in L.A.'s Arts District; a former Weinstein Company film, "The Upside," won the box office this weekend. What has become of all the former Weinstein properties?; generations of African-American harpists bond over their connection to a pioneer of the genre.

The remake with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is the only movie nominated in all 11 guild and film society award competitions; Merrill Markoe and Megan Koester chat about their audiobook, "The Indignities of Being a Woman"; the venerable country-swing band Asleep at the Wheel is still rollin' along.

Series creator Michael Schur and one of the show's key writers, Jen Statsky, talk about the ways that the cast and crew take their own research and turn it into a hit show; John Lasseter was ousted from Pixar over inappropriate behavior, and his hiring at another studio has created a furor.

In 2018, for the first time in the 90-year history of the Academy Awards, a woman was nominated for cinematography. Why did this recognition take so long?; L.A.-based singer/songwriters recently gathered in Topanga Canyon to share their works; on Song Exploder, Yo-Yo Ma deconstructs one of his signature Bach performances.