Sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
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.

Show your support for The Frame

LAist relies on your listener support to power the shows you love. Your donation today enables us to create more great programming for you.
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
  • 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 24:00
    Fede Alvarez directed the thriller "Don't Breathe" with a $10 million budget and it grossed $26 million in its opening weekend; Kamala Lopez's documentary explains why women in the U.S. don't have equal protection under the law; Mexican singer Juan Gabriel died suddenly in L.A. at the age of 66.
    Fede Alvarez directed the thriller "Don't Breathe" with a $10 million budget and it grossed $26 million in its opening weekend; Kamala Lopez's documentary explains why women in the U.S. don't have equal protection under the law; Mexican singer Juan Gabriel died suddenly in L.A. at the age of 66.
  • Listen 23:59
    Sam Esmail originally wrote "Mr. Robot" as a screenplay, but he realized it would work better as a TV series. The first season nabbed six Emmy nominations, including for Best Drama; Julia Holter's music is a blend of experimental compositions and indie pop.
    Sam Esmail originally wrote "Mr. Robot" as a screenplay, but he realized it would work better as a TV series. The first season nabbed six Emmy nominations, including for Best Drama; Julia Holter's music is a blend of experimental compositions and indie pop.
  • Listen 24:17
    "BoJack Horseman" creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg reveals how Hollywood awards culture led to the story arc for his show's third season; how Markees Christmas got his unexpected break as the lead in "Morris from America" after making a web series with his Big Brother mentor; are there too many mega music festivals?
    "BoJack Horseman" creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg reveals how Hollywood awards culture led to the story arc for his show's third season; how Markees Christmas got his unexpected break as the lead in "Morris from America" after making a web series with his Big Brother mentor; are there too many mega music festivals?
  • Listen 24:00
    Richard Tanne's film, "Southside with You," imagines the first date between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson; "South Park" turns 20 with an interactive exhibit at the Paley Center for Media; Spanish-language TV powerhouse Univision has been buying popular English-language websites.
    Richard Tanne's film, "Southside with You," imagines the first date between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson; "South Park" turns 20 with an interactive exhibit at the Paley Center for Media; Spanish-language TV powerhouse Univision has been buying popular English-language websites.
  • Listen 24:00
    Jazz great Herbie Hancock has been a boundless musical explorer and now he's working with L.A. producer Flying Lotus; a U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of the Norton Simon Museum in a case involving ownership of 16th Century paintings of Adam and Eve; the Pokemon Go! craze seems to be waning.
    Jazz great Herbie Hancock has been a boundless musical explorer and now he's working with L.A. producer Flying Lotus; a U.S. District Court has ruled in favor of the Norton Simon Museum in a case involving ownership of 16th Century paintings of Adam and Eve; the Pokemon Go! craze seems to be waning.
  • Listen 24:00
    As a fledgling screenwriter, Stephen Chin traveled to war-torn Iraq and lived to tell some of his stories in "War Dogs"; Cubans get current TV programming from the U.S. and other countries illicitly, but openly, through a home-delivery service; Paramount's woes continue with its big budget remake of a famous period film.
    As a fledgling screenwriter, Stephen Chin traveled to war-torn Iraq and lived to tell some of his stories in "War Dogs"; Cubans get current TV programming from the U.S. and other countries illicitly, but openly, through a home-delivery service; Paramount's woes continue with its big budget remake of a famous period film.
  • Listen 24:37
    The filmmaker's new documentary is a look at how almost all aspects of our lives are somehow intertwined with the Internet; NBC's TV ratings for the Olympics are down, but online streaming is way up; indie director So Yong Kim's latest is "Lovesong."
    The filmmaker's new documentary is a look at how almost all aspects of our lives are somehow intertwined with the Internet; NBC's TV ratings for the Olympics are down, but online streaming is way up; indie director So Yong Kim's latest is "Lovesong."
  • Listen 24:00
    The actress is both in front of and behind the camera for “A Tale of Love and Darkness”; author James Andrew Miller goes behind the scenes in “Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency”; a guerrilla arts group erected nude statues of Donald Trump in several cities.
    The actress is both in front of and behind the camera for “A Tale of Love and Darkness”; author James Andrew Miller goes behind the scenes in “Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency”; a guerrilla arts group erected nude statues of Donald Trump in several cities.
  • Listen 24:00
    Fox Searchlight invested a lot in "The Birth of a Nation," but now an old rape case against filmmaker Nate Parker has re-surfaced; Laika Studios CEO Travis Knight makes his directing debut with "Kubo"; pianist and composer Manuel Lima is spending 10 days inside a cube on the Sunset Strip.
    Fox Searchlight invested a lot in "The Birth of a Nation," but now an old rape case against filmmaker Nate Parker has re-surfaced; Laika Studios CEO Travis Knight makes his directing debut with "Kubo"; pianist and composer Manuel Lima is spending 10 days inside a cube on the Sunset Strip.
  • Listen 24:00
    The acclaimed cellist's interests in world music and education cross paths in The Silk Road Ensemble; a former policeman who's appeared multiple times on "COPS" says scripted TV has created unreasonable expectations for officers.
    The acclaimed cellist's interests in world music and education cross paths in The Silk Road Ensemble; a former policeman who's appeared multiple times on "COPS" says scripted TV has created unreasonable expectations for officers.
Episodes
  • Listen 24:00
    The legendary R&B singer has a new album and an HBO documentary coming up, but don't expect this to be her swan song; a film about Nat Turner's slave rebellion has set a sales record at the Sundance Film Festival; actresses Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas launched Broad Street to counter gender inequity in Hollywood.
    The legendary R&B singer has a new album and an HBO documentary coming up, but don't expect this to be her swan song; a film about Nat Turner's slave rebellion has set a sales record at the Sundance Film Festival; actresses Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas launched Broad Street to counter gender inequity in Hollywood.
  • Listen 24:00
    With the top award from the Producers Guild, "The Big Short" is now frontrunner for the best picture Oscar. We chat with producers Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner; a Motion Picture Academy officer admits that the organization has been too slow to change; the band Foals has gone from playing house parties to arenas.
    With the top award from the Producers Guild, "The Big Short" is now frontrunner for the best picture Oscar. We chat with producers Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner; a Motion Picture Academy officer admits that the organization has been too slow to change; the band Foals has gone from playing house parties to arenas.
  • Listen 24:00
    Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale has re-imagined an album from his long solo career, "Music For a New Society"; as the "X-Files" returns, we get the story behind its iconic theme music; even at the Sundance Film Festival, the talk of the town is #OscarsSoWhite.
    Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale has re-imagined an album from his long solo career, "Music For a New Society"; as the "X-Files" returns, we get the story behind its iconic theme music; even at the Sundance Film Festival, the talk of the town is #OscarsSoWhite.
  • Listen 24:00
    Actor Matthew Spencer, who plays the lead in a new adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian novel, says the story has new resonance today; TV networks are casting doubt about the popularity of original programming on streaming services; Andrew Ahn passed up med school for a film career, and now his directing debut is at Sundance.
    Actor Matthew Spencer, who plays the lead in a new adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian novel, says the story has new resonance today; TV networks are casting doubt about the popularity of original programming on streaming services; Andrew Ahn passed up med school for a film career, and now his directing debut is at Sundance.
  • Listen 24:43
    Carrie Brownstein, "Portlandia" co-creator and Sleater-Kinney co-founder, pulls back the curtain on her creative process; members of the U.K. punk band Savages reveal how they remain unpredictable on stage and in the recording studio; what's in store at this year's Sundance Film Festival?
    Carrie Brownstein, "Portlandia" co-creator and Sleater-Kinney co-founder, pulls back the curtain on her creative process; members of the U.K. punk band Savages reveal how they remain unpredictable on stage and in the recording studio; what's in store at this year's Sundance Film Festival?
  • Listen 23:59
    In the two years since Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for "12 Years a Slave," no actor of color has been nominated for an Academy Award. Academy member Stephanie Allain says the Oscars reflect bigger problems in the industry; James Lecesne continues his advocacy for LGBTQ youth with "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey."
    In the two years since Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for "12 Years a Slave," no actor of color has been nominated for an Academy Award. Academy member Stephanie Allain says the Oscars reflect bigger problems in the industry; James Lecesne continues his advocacy for LGBTQ youth with "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey."
  • Listen 24:43
    Alicia Vikander's breakout year now includes an Oscar nomination for "The Danish Girl"; singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett deconstructs her song, "Depreston"; and we find out which new TV shows are on the must-watch list for the new year.
    Alicia Vikander's breakout year now includes an Oscar nomination for "The Danish Girl"; singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett deconstructs her song, "Depreston"; and we find out which new TV shows are on the must-watch list for the new year.
  • Listen 24:43
    John Horn and Kyle Buchanan of Vulture.com dig into the snubs and surprises in the Oscar nominations, and the return of #OscarsSoWhite. And we hear from the directors nominated for "Room" and "The Revenant."
    John Horn and Kyle Buchanan of Vulture.com dig into the snubs and surprises in the Oscar nominations, and the return of #OscarsSoWhite. And we hear from the directors nominated for "Room" and "The Revenant."
  • Listen 24:15
    Actress Judith Light has been passionate about LGBT issues for decades, which makes her a natural fit for Amazon's "Transparent"; Spotify has partnered with Genius to augment music with a feature called "Fact Track"; Contra-Tiempo is a dance company with a social conscience.
    Actress Judith Light has been passionate about LGBT issues for decades, which makes her a natural fit for Amazon's "Transparent"; Spotify has partnered with Genius to augment music with a feature called "Fact Track"; Contra-Tiempo is a dance company with a social conscience.
  • Listen 24:43
    "Making a Murderer" continues to spark debate about the intersection between art, journalism, public reaction and the law; the Directors Guild Award nominees are announced; "Star Wars" opens in China, but the world's second largest movie market is a challenge for the franchise.
    "Making a Murderer" continues to spark debate about the intersection between art, journalism, public reaction and the law; the Directors Guild Award nominees are announced; "Star Wars" opens in China, but the world's second largest movie market is a challenge for the franchise.
  • Listen 23:57
    We pay tribute to David Bowie's life and career with Los Angeles Times critic-at-large Sasha Frere-Jones, Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, poet Tracy K. Smith, singer/actress Lea DeLaria, and New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley.
    We pay tribute to David Bowie's life and career with Los Angeles Times critic-at-large Sasha Frere-Jones, Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, poet Tracy K. Smith, singer/actress Lea DeLaria, and New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley.
  • Listen 24:42
    In our continuing series of conversations with TV network chiefs, ABC's Paul Lee talks about how diversity has become a cornerstone for the company; the Palm Springs Film Festival is a showcase for foreign films from around the world.
    In our continuing series of conversations with TV network chiefs, ABC's Paul Lee talks about how diversity has become a cornerstone for the company; the Palm Springs Film Festival is a showcase for foreign films from around the world.