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.”

Don Randi recalls his days as a pianist with the legendary studio band The Wrecking Crew in his memoir, "You've Heard These Hands"; the documentary "Song of Lahore" tells the unlikely story of how a group of Pakistani musicians found worldwide acclaim; YouTube enters the streaming biz with an app.

The actor goes behind the camera to direct his first feature, "Shelter," starring his wife, Jennifer Connelly; Katie Theroux is the sole L.A. semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition; the Hollywood Reporter will still name the industry's 100 most powerful women, but they won't be ranked.

Director Patricia Riggen and cinematographer Checco Varese — her husband — were partners above and below ground on the mining disaster film, "The 33"; Boston Globe reporter Mike Rezendes is played by Mark Ruffalo in "Spotlight"; Song Exploder dissects a song by Dan Auerbach's side project, The Arcs.

One year out from the 2016 Presidential election, we hear from Beau Willimon, an executive producer of "House of Cards," and Jay Roach, director of an HBO film about Lyndon Johnson.

Ewan McGregor and filmmaker Rodrigo Garcia share stories of making their movie about Jesus wandering the desert; Leon Bridges' quick rise to soul stardom; Do box office results impact Oscar voting?

Michael Keaton leads the cast in "Spotlight," about the Boston archdiocese cover-up of sexual abuse cases; NBC and "Saturday Night Live" have resisted calls to remove Donald Trump as host of the show; Performance artist and composer Laurie Anderson examines love and loss in the documentary, "Heart of a Dog."

Director Catherine Hardwicke's new movie is written by and about women. As an advocate for women in Hollywood she practices what she preaches; Flailing TV shows remain on the air in this new era; Two Chicago institutions bring dance and sketch comedy together.

The actor says the experience of Dalton Trumbo and other blacklist victims still resonates today; Quentin Tarantino is facing a boycott of his films because of comments he made at a protest against police brutality; the German classic film, "M," was remade for American audiences but never released.

Disney is delaying publication of a companion book to "The Force Awakens" in hopes of keeping the story line under wraps; Jason Segel's performance as David Foster Wallace is another example of a cult figure on the big screen; Women wrote just 22 percent of the plays produced last year in the U.S.

The Irish actress plays a young immigrant in a story that mirrors what her own parents experienced; Kyle Buchanan of Vulture.com assembled a list of women directors who Hollywood studios should be hiring; "Songs from Suicide Bridge" is another excavation project from Light In the Attic records.

The Walking Dead's Greg Nicotero's zombie lesson; LACMA brings rain to a drought-riddled city with The Rain Room; 'Saw' composer and former Nine Inch Nails keyboardist Charlie Clouser on how to score a scary movie.

LA-based opera company “The Industry” has created an experimental opera that takes place in 24 cars around the city. Starz CEO Chris Albrecht wants his channel to reach a diverse audience. LA taco place partners with bands.