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"

With Jeffrey Tambor bowing out of the Amazon series, what does that mean for the show's future?; Zoe Kazan, who comes from a show biz family, says she's been dealing with harassment since her teen years.

Fifty years after his L.A. debut, Plácido Domingo is still an operatic force; Jason Bateman and Laura Linney are a married couple who get caught up with the wrong crowd in the Netflix series, “Ozark”; transgender singer Our Lady J left a music career to join the writing staff on "Transparent."

The Irish actress talks about her role as a California teenager, and about the troublesome male behavior she’s seen in Hollywood; Claes Bang plays an art museum director in the offbeat and unpredictable film, "The Square."

Comedian Hari Kondabolu explores his love-hate relationship with “The Simpsons” in a documentary about the show's portrayal of the South Asian store keeper; with The Weinstein Co. out of the picture, Quentin Tarantino is a free agent with his next film; the L.A. band Quetzal explores its musical roots in Veracruz.

Elvis Costello wrote a new ballad for the movie, "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," about the eccentric actress, Gloria Grahame; after leaving Saturday Night Live, Dana Carvey made a sketch show for ABC that was an epic bust. The tale is told in the documentary, "Too Funny to Fail."

Joe Berlinger's film examines how Hollywood has depicted the Armenian Genocide, and how it has been pressured to ignore that story; a new USC study shows teenage girls are more likely to be sexualized in feature films; the Greenway Court Theatre survives through a partnership with Fairfax High School.

If Mel Gibson can revive his career, could Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K.?; Yuval Sharon turns Orson Welles' radio play into a multi-site opera; it's awards season in Hollywood, but there are some familiar names you won't be hearing, e.g., Harvey Weinstein.

The New York Times confirms the long-standing rumors of sexual misconduct by the writer and comedian Louis C.K.; director Ridley Scott will re-shoot Kevin Spacey's scenes in an already finished film; in “What Haunts Us,” director Paige Tolmach explores why so many male former students at her prep school alma mater had died by suicide.

Music industry veteran Bill Bentley pairs his stories with crowdsourced photos in “Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen”; the Weinstein Company is seeking buyers, but may not avoid bankruptcy; Rockabye Baby turns songs by artists like David Bowie, Rihanna and Coldplay into kid-friendly lullabies.

Meet Hong Chau, the actress from Alexander Payne's movie "Downsizing," who will blow you away; LA Times pop music critic Mikael Wood says that some performers use their music as "guilt laundering" for sexual harassment and abuse; and what power do Hollywood's guilds and unions have to shut down sexual predation?

Actor Sam Rockwell discusses his new movie "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," and his approach to playing George W. Bush in Adam McKay's forthcoming Dick Cheney biopic; Jon Robin Baitz's play "Vicuña,"about a Trumpian presidential candidate, premiered in L.A. before the 2016 election. Now it's on stage in Washington, DC.

The new movie from the director of "Boyhood" is about three Vietnam vets who reunite when one of their sons is killed in the Iraq War; talent agent Tyler Grasham has been accused by eight young male actors and industry workers of sexual misconduct while Grasham worked for the APA agency, which specializes in representing young actors.