Dropping Names ...and other things

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Rick Berman says there were three strikes against the job: it was science fiction at a time when nobody made science fiction for television, it was a sequel, and it was going out in syndication instead of on a network. He and his wife Liz talked it over and, by his own count, it took about six minutes to decide to go for it. That decision gave us Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Vo...

Colin Hanks sits down with Brent Spiner and Jonny Frakes on Dropping Names and starts where it started, on a sidewalk on the Fox lot in the late nineties, terrified before his Roswell screen test, when a passing Jonathan Frakes told him to do well and somehow made the whole day survivable. From there he opens up the parts of that story nobody knows: getting asked to test for two roles at once to d...

When Terry Matalas first walked into Alex Kurtzman's company, the show about bringing Jean Luc Picard back was already spoken for, and he was politely told to go away, kid. He ended up running Star Trek Picard season three anyway, and on Dropping Names he tells Brent and Jonny how it came together in about eight weeks, why the character we know as Data was very nearly called Datum until somebody w...

William Shatner sits down with Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names and opens with the moment he still cannot let go of, the time Neil deGrasse Tyson answered him on camera by putting a hand in his face and pushing, hard enough that Shatner went backwards. From there he gets into the kidney stone a Canadian gambling company called him about a week after it was removed, the doctor who...

Leonard Maltin once walked Red Buttons over to say hello to Paramount's goodwill ambassador AC Lyles at Spago, and Red looked up and asked if he hadn't just been wondering whether AC was still alive. That is the register of this whole conversation, which finds Leonard and his daughter and podcast partner Jessie Maltin on Dropping Names with Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes, trading stories that on...

Steven Weber joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names to tell the story of taking over Leo Bloom from Matthew Broderick in The Producers on Broadway, opposite the acclaimed British actor Henry Goodman, who was abruptly fired about two weeks into the run for wanting to do something other than what Nathan Lane had done. Steven admits he was probably on the bubble himself, that he was...

Wil Wheaton joins Brent Spiner and Jonny Frakes on Dropping Names and starts with the movie everyone knows him for, Stand By Me, then keeps going to the part nobody talks about. He explains how a memo from David Gerrold about the kid from Stand By Me is the reason Wesley Crusher exists at all, and how narrating the Stephen King novella The Body four decades later triggered a full five senses flash...

A few minutes in, Brent Spiner stops the interview cold to tell Noah Wyle, as a friend rather than a host, that The Pitt is the best thing on television and that Noah is the reason. The room changes right there, and what follows is two hours of shop talk between people who actually know each other. Noah is on Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny, and he takes them inside the ER of the mid nineties,...

Michelle Hurd sits down with Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names and the first thing she gives them is her father. Hugh Hurd was 18 when he shipped out with a Black battalion in World War II, and he was one of the soldiers who walked through the gates of Dachau, where the prisoners who crawled out of hiding called the men who freed them black angels. Ten years later a hand reached o...

In this exclusive episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the legendary Tim Matheson to explore his incredible journey through Hollywood. From his iconic role in 'Animal House' to his unforgettable appearances in 'West Wing', Tim shares behind-the-scenes stories and insights that reveal the heart and humor behind his storied career. Discover the secrets of working with comedy giants like John...

In this episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the incredibly talented Sam Witwer, known for his roles in Star Wars and Star Trek. Sam shares his unique approach to choosing roles, his experiences in the industry, and some behind-the-scenes stories that will blow your mind. From his time on Battlestar Galactica to his iconic role as Darth Maul, Sam opens up about the highs and lows of his car...

In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the legendary Michael Dorn, best known for his iconic role as Worf in Star Trek. Join us as we delve into his fascinating career, from his early days on 'Chips' to his memorable moments with Glenn Close and beyond. Michael shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, including a near-miss flight adventure and his experiences working wi...

What happens when one of your biggest heroes completely crushes your dreams? In this episode of Dropping Names, Bill Prady shares the unbelievable story of how a disappointing meeting with legendary science fiction author Isaac Asimov unexpectedly launched his writing career. Along the way, Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes swap incredible stories about Jim Henson, The Muppets, Big Bang Theory, Jer...

In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, Tom Bergeron takes us on a journey through his illustrious career, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood Squares, Dancing with the Stars, and more. From unexpected encounters with celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Bob Dylan to hilarious anecdotes about his time on set, Tom's tales are both entertaining and insightful. Join us for a deep...

In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the delightful Jane Leeves, known for her iconic role as Daphne on "Frasier." Jane opens up about her experiences working with legendary stars, including the incomparable Betty White. Discover behind-the-scenes stories from her time on "Hot in Cleveland" and other fascinating anecdotes from her illustrious career. From her unexpected...

In this captivating episode of "Dropping Names," Ron Perlman takes us on a wild ride through Hollywood's golden stories and his bold vision for the future of the film industry. From crashing Linda Hamilton's wedding for tacos to working with legendary figures like Marlon Brando, Ron shares candid anecdotes and insights that are as entertaining as they are enlightening. Dive deep into the heart of...

Jessie Usher joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names ...and other things, for a hilarious and wide-ranging conversation covering Hollywood, superheroes, growing up in the industry, unexpected career moments, fandom, and what it’s really like being part of one of television’s biggest shows. From behind-the-scenes stories and awkward auditions to navigating fame, working on massive...

Joel McHale joins Dropping Names for an epic conversation covering everything from the highly anticipated Community movie to his unforgettable experience hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner for President Obama. Joel opens up about being baptized at the Vatican, his uncanny resemblance to Kevin Kline, working with Steve Martin, and why he says yes to everything in Hollywood. Plus, get th...

Join us for an exhilarating episode of Dropping Names as we dive deep into the world of filmmaking with the legendary Dean Devlin. Known for his work on iconic films like Independence Day and Stargate, Dean shares behind-the-scenes stories, his journey from acting to producing, and his insights into the evolving entertainment industry. From directing David Tennant to the challenges of shooting in...

Felicia Day joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes for a wildly fun, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about building a career by making your own lane, long before that was the norm. They talk about Firefly, The Guild, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, The Librarians, Leverage, Critical Role, awkward auditions, Hollywood burnout, fantasy worlds, redheads, and the projects that change...

Phil Rosenthal joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes for a funny, insightful, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about sitcoms, Hollywood, creative control, travel, food, and the stories behind Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil. Phil shares how he fought to cast the right people on Everybody Loves Raymond, why he quit twice before the show even launched, how Hollywood decision m...

Seth MacFarlane joins Dropping Names for a wildly funny, sharp and unexpectedly heartfelt conversation about a career that spans animation, orchestras, sci-fi, and hosting the Oscars… from Family Guy and The Orville to singing at the Hollywood Bowl, working with John Williams, and growing up a Star Trek fan who somehow became a starship captain. They talk about early jobs, breaking into television...

Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk join Dropping Names for a wildly funny, nostalgic and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about decades in the business… from Firefly and Star Trek conventions to Saving Private Ryan, Disney villains, Shakespeare with Patrick Stewart, and the night Nathan may or may not have saved the crew in Dallas. They talk about early acting jobs, being fired as waiters, soap oper...

In this episode, John Logan sits down to reflect on a career shaped by bold choices and stories that have defined modern film, television, and theater... from Gladiator and Skyfall to Star Trek, Broadway, and beyond. It’s a candid, wide-ranging look at the moments and relationships that shaped his path as a writer, dramatist, and creative force. We talk about storytelling at scale, protecting the...