The Frame

We continue our series on how police are depicted on TV with the creators of “COPS,” the longest-running reality show in TV history. Creator John Langley tells us about the show’s genesis and why it continues to be so popular; the Latino Comics Expo is unofficially known as the “Latino Comic-Con"; Comedy Central says Larry Wilmore's show failed to gain traction with viewers.

From refugee athletes to individual profiles, Olympics mini-docs are a big part of the broadcast and have been since the 1970s. NBC Sports' Jimmy Roberts joins us from Rio where he's reporting on his 16th Olympics; Part 2 of our look inside the Sundance Directors Lab, where eight budding filmmakers are encouraged to take risks and seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

We visit the Sundance Director's Lab where Robert Redford and a group of industry pros mentor up and coming filmmakers. Variety's chief TV critic Maureen Ryan breaks down the CBS news coming out of the Television Critics Association press tour; Colburn Conservatory of Music graduates endure stressful mock auditions to prepare for the real thing.

Actress Taraji P. Henson opens up about the career path that led her to her Emmy-nominated role of Cookie Lyon on the hit Fox show, "Empire"; amid the bad reviews for "Suicide Squad," we look at the unsustainable — but enduring — Hollywood business model of taking big swings at expensive movies in hopes of finding a franchise.

In our #CopsOnTV series, writer-producer Cheo Hodari Coker reveals what he learned about the LAPD while producing the police drama, "Southland," and how that connected with his experiences as a black man; the bad news/good news of NBC's Olympic ecosystem: broadcast viewership is down, but online streaming is booming.

In the first of a continuing series of conversations, former "Law & Order: SVU" executive producer Neal Baer says studios and networks want police to be depicted as heroes; how soon will virtual reality become a big thing in entertainment?

Stuntwoman and "American Ninja Warrior" contestant Jessie Graff teaches host John Horn some tricks of her trade; the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics has become a job for film directors; Aubrey Plaza's amateur basketball team, the Pistol Shrimps, has quite the following.

The comic actress' star-turn in "Ghostbusters" and another Emmy nod for "SNL" have her primed for bigger things; fans of the kids' show 'Doc McStuffins' are worried about the future of one of the few kids' shows with a black lead character; DanceSafe provides education and and even drug-testing at raves, but its hands are tied by a federal law.

Artist and animator Jorge Gutiérrez discusses the creative inspirations of the U.S.-Mexico border and the painting spree that led to his gallery show; HBO, Netflix and NBC face the press at the Television Critics Association; screenwriter, producer and former studio chief James Schamus makes his directorial debut with "Indignation."

Director Marc Osborne didn't want to make a straight-ahead adaptation of "The Little Prince," so he came up with a novel approach; "Equity" is the rare movie about Wall Street that stars and is made by women; Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, dissects her song, “Kill V. Maim.”

Series creator Damon Lindelof and director Stephen Williams walk us through the pivotal sixth episode; Kanye West's "opera" at the Hollywood Bowl; The Grammy Museum adds a gallery for Latin music.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea writes about his violent step-father who also inspired his love of music; Elizabeth Banks wants to up-end Hollywood’s outdated ideas of what kinds of movies women can direct; and Comedian Gabriel Iglesias reunites with the high school teacher who helped him find his voice.

The actor plays a corporate attorney who switches sides to go after an environmental polluter; Hollywood Reporter TV critic Daniel Feinberg on the glut of TV programming.

Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse examines cultural pitfalls of the holiday; late-night TV hosts are having a field day with the impeachment hearings; singer Dorian Wood channels Chavela Vargas.

The bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers has a new memoir that recounts his days before he met his bandmates in high school; the Grammy nominations make history, but could still use some improvement.

The 19-year-old filmmaker shot the movie while he was still in high school, and it won him awards at the Tribeca Film Festival; the U.S. Justice Dept. may allow studios to once again own movie theaters; the comedians who warm up TV studio audiences.

The writer/director strives for a sense of sisterhood in all her projects; Louie C.K.'s return to the stage; comedian Gabriel Iglesias reunites with an influential high school teacher of his.

Lena Waithe and Melina Matsoukas want “Queen & Slim" to make an impact on the culture as a form of protest art; Congressman Julian Castro questions in Hollywood is engaged in "systemic exclusion" of Latinos; "Ford v Ferrari" director James Mangold; "Scandalous" doc tell story of National Enquirer

Director Trey Edward Shults and actress Taylor Russell talk about their drama focused on an African-American family; Taylor Swift's ongoing battle for her early music; Josh Homme's "Desert Sessions."

The actor takes on a new challenge for Lauren Yee's play at The Pasadena Playhouse; the Country Music Association Awards and a dichotomy in country music; the composers of "Dickinson" use modern music for the classic tale.

Mark Landsman's documentary looks at the roots and the modern history of the notorious tabloid; Anna Waronker and the revival of the band That Dog; Song Exploder with Raphael Saadiq.

Daniel J. Jones, the Senate investigator who uncovered the CIA's use of torture in the wake of 9/11, talks about the movie based on his work, in which he's played by Adam Driver; Disney's new streaming service got off to a shaky start because of tech issues; Sam Beam of Iron & Wine and Joey Burns from Calexico have teamed up for another album.