This week on FFR, we gear up for this weekend’s Oscars with a focus on the Academy Awards: why they matter, how they’ve worked to promote a notion of cinematic excellence that centers and glorifies whiteness, and how they’ve historically tended to celebrate films about people of color only when those films send comforting messages about race and racism. Also, the latest terrible thing Bill Maher has said, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Anita’s Slack habits.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

2:45 Entertainment News (Bill Maher says something awful, Activision Blizzard layoffs, Don Cheadle’s t-shirt)

14:10 The Academy Awards

43:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Trump and body-shaming humor, Burning and Steven Yeun, James Blake’s new album, and Tom Gun LIVE in Los Angeles

52:20 wrap-up

RELEVANT LINKS:

Marlow Stern for The Daily Beast on Bill Maher's comments on Peter Farrelly

Patrick Klepek for Waypoint on the Activision Blizzard layoffs

Video: Kim Basinger calls out the Academy for not nominating Do the Right Thing at the 1990 Oscars

Angelica Bastien on Jared Leto and our masculine notions of what constitutes great method acting

The Trailer for Burning starring Steven Yeun