Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley celebrates the 65th anniversary of the iconic movie musical “West Side Story" by flashing back to his convo with the legendary Rita Moreno from her “Profiles in Creativity” event at the Kennedy Center in 2017. They chronicle her journey from Puerto Rico to New York to eventually star in Hollywood classics like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The King & I” and “West Side Story,” becom...

Jason Fraley chats with the original cast of the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" as Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teavee) and Rusty Goffe (Oompa Loompa) reunite for The Chocolate Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland on Oct. 24-25. They preview the event and reflect on working with Gene Wilder to...

Jason Fraley celebrates the 80th birthday of The Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward, who was born on this date in 1946. The progressive rock genius Calle din to promote his show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia in 2018, just months after band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. You'll hear Jason tag team this interview with WTOP colleague Dave Preston. (Theme Music: Sco...

Jason Fraley welcomes Chuck Todd to predict the midterm elections where a potential “blue wave” might be fueled by a “red undertow.” They also riff on the state of journalism, the history of the news business, and Todd's own career highlights, culminating with hosting NBC’s “Meet the Press" and now embracing the future with “The Chuck Toddcast." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's &quo...

Jason Fraley celebrates the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” which made its world premiere on the West End in London on this date in 1986 before setting the record as the longest-running show in Broadway history with nearly 14,000 performances. Jason spoke with lead actress Julia Udine backstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2016 -- in between her...

Jason Fraley interviews comedian Lewis Black, who cracks up the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland this Saturday, Oct. 10. They spoke when Black previously performed at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2018. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews comedian Margaret Cho, who cracks up the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia this Saturday. She reflects on her career and current events, explaining how she would run her own country under a system she calls “The Choligarchy.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 5th anniversary of "Only Murders in the Building" airing its Season 1 episode "The Boy from 6B," which earned Nathan Lane an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series as murder suspect Teddy Dimas, swapping sign-language clues with deaf son Theo, played by James Caverly. You'll hear Lane's praise of Caverly when he visited Virginia's Signature Theatre in 2024,...

Jason Fraley wishes a happy 10th birthday to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, which opened on this date in 2016. He spoke that week with two-time Oscar-winning sound mixer Russell Williams about donating the Academy Awards that he won for “Glory” and “Dances with Wolves," and why it was important to give back to the city he calls home. (Theme Music: S...

Jason Fraley interviews Colin Mochrie, who reunites with Brad Sherwood of “Whose Line is it Anyway” at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on Oct. 4. They spoke when Colin visited the Kennedy Center in 2016, reflecting on his favorite improv games from "Scenes from a Hat" to "Greatest Hits" and dishing on co-stars Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady, as well as his favor...

Jason Fraley interviews Demián Bichir about Angelina Jolie's new movie "Without Blood," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today. He praises co-star Salma Hayek and breaks down Angelina's directing techniques. He also chronicles his own journey from growing up in Mexico to becoming an Oscar nominee for “A Better Life.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lol Tolhurst, founding drummer of The Cure, visits the Crossroads Music Festival at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia this Saturday. He called in to reflect on his life and career, from growing up in England with his future bandmates to attending a life-changing concert by The Clash. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley salutes the Emmy dominance of “L.A. Law,” which celebrates its 40th anniversary tomorrow and remains one of only 5 shows to win the top prize 4 times. He spoke about the show's legacy with star Corbin Bernsen when he called in to promote his political rom-com “First Lady” in 2020. They also reflect on his hilarious role as ballplayer Roger Dorn in "Major League." (Theme...

Jason Fraley celebrates the 60th birthday of “Star Trek" by revisiting his chat with William Shatner when he visited the Washington Convention Center for Awesome Con in 2015, just months after the death of his co-star Leonard Nimoy a.k.a. Mr. Spock. They discuss the franchise from its humble beginnings to its explosion into a pop-culture phenomenon on film and television. (Theme Music: Scott...

Jason Fraley interviews Nate Smith, the reigning Grammy champion of Best Alternative Jazz Album, who headlines the D.C. Jazz Festival (Sept. 2-6). They preview the event and reflect on his journey from Chesapeake, Virginia to worldwide music greatness. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield who visits the Frederick Keys game today at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, Maryland. Bradshaw also reflects on his career, famously joining Ron Simmons as the tag team The Acolytes, which evolved into the A-P-A, before reinventing himself as the heel JBL with memorable matches against Eddie Guerrero and John Cena....

Jason Fraley celebrates the 45th anniversary of the neo-noir classic “Body Heat" by flashing back to his convo with Kathleen Turner for the 2019 Arena Stage Gala in Washington D.C. Turner shares what it was like to work with director Lawrence Kasdan on “Body Heat,” John Huston on “Prizzi’s Honor,” Francis Ford Coppola on “Peggy Sue Got Married,” and Robert Zemeckis on “Romancing the Stone” an...

20 years ago today, Disney Channel’s original “High School Musical” won three Teen Choice Awards, including Best Comedy/Musical Show, so we're flashing back to the time Corbin Bleu stopped by to promote "Anything Goes" at Arena Stage with the high-energy Soara-Joye Ross in 2016. It might just be the most unhinged laugh fest of any interview on this podcast. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews R&B/soul icon Musiq Soulchild, who performs tonight at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. He called in to preview the show and reflect on his journey to land over a dozen Grammy nominations. Stay tuned until the end to hear all about his love of "Star Wars." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy-winning R&B star Ledisi, who salutes blues legend Dinah Washington at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland this Friday and Saturday. She called in to preview the shows, discuss Dinah's legacy, and reflect on her own career hits like "Pieces of Me” and “Anything for You.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley chats with sports talk radio legend Andy Pollin, who left the D.C. airwaves this week after nearly 5 decades. Andy generously called in for THREE HOURS to reflect on his career, from pioneering the 24-7 sports talk radio format at WFAN in New York., to chronicling the Dan Snyder era on WTEM 570/980 in Washington D.C. Stick around until the end for rapid-fire quips on his beloved colle...

Jason Fraley interviews horror filmmaker Eli Roth, who delivers his newest scary movie “Ice Cream Man" in theaters nationwide today. He called in to preview the film, discuss some of his inspirations, and explain why it’s even scarier now that he’s become a father. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 30th anniversary of Lewis Black hosting his very first “Back in Black” segment on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” on July 3, 1996. They spoke when Black brought his “Let Freedom Laugh” tour to Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2015 on a triple bill with the legendary Dick Gregory and Tom Smothers of The Smothers Brothers. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion&...

Jason Fraley marks the 20th anniversary of Jeffrey Epstein's first mugshot by revisiting this chat with “X-Files” star Gillian Anderson about her sex-trafficking film “Sold” when it made its D.C. premiere at the Angelika Pop Up at Union Market in 2016. Stay tuned after the interview to hear a true-crime timeline of the Epstein scandal. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

The classic soul, funk and R&B group Rose Royce rocks Bethesda Theater in Bethesda, Maryland this Friday. Founding members Kenny Copeland & Michael Nash join Jason to break down their biggest hits, including “Car Wash,” ”I Wanna Get Next to You,” “I’m Going Down,” “Wishing on a Star” and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")