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 director presents a gritty version of the city in the movie about a former undercover cop confronted with her past; Producers Guild of America co-president Lucy Fisher on how the organization is operating in the #MeToo era.

The future Supreme Court Justice endured a lot of sexism in her career, and so has the director of the biopic, "On the Basis of Sex"; writer/director Adam McKay takes on Dick Cheney in the darkly comedic "Vice."

The actor has two movies debuting in the coming days, and another that opened earlier this fall, "Beautiful Boy," is still in theaters; the annual so-called "Black List" of exceptional un-produced scripts has been released.

The "Big Bang Theory" actor stars in a radio play production of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Pasadena Playhouse.

The late night host takes aim at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in her version of a holiday special; the top five Latin albums you may have missed in 2018.

New York Times theater critic Jesse Green reviews the year on the major stages; "Caparnaum" is a heart-breaking film from Lebanon about a neglected street urchin; Lindsay Buckingham dissects Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" for Song Exploder.

The prolific producer has created shows for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and, now, PBS Kids; a media expert on the problem with Kidz Bop.

The director follows up the Academy Award Best Picture-winning "Moonlight" with "If Beale Street Could Talk," an adaptation of the Baldwin novel that plays like a tone poem; composer Nicholas Britell collaborates with Jenkins once again.

The virtuoso specializes in Bartók and her recording of his Piano Concerto No. 2 is nominated in the Classical Instrumental Solo category; Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won an Academy Award for their song from "Coco," "Remember Me," and now it's up for a Grammy; “La Bohème” gets a hipster twist in L.A.

The musical revisits the story of the passengers from 38 airplanes who were stranded in Canada on that fateful day; Taylor Mac turns the Christmas pageant on its head with "Holiday Sauce."

Lady Gaga’s song “Shallow,” from the movie “A Star is Born,” earned four Grammy nominations today and it's an Oscar favorite too. Meet Mark Ronson, the man who co-wrote and produced it; Shirley Halperin, executive editor for music at Variety, talks about the other 2019 Grammy nominees; who should host the Oscars?

Alexis Bloom's documentary examines the life and career of the late political operative and TV news executive; how casting agents get pulled into sexual harassment incidents; an ex-pat Iranian composer maintains his musical ties.