Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews "Saturday Night Live" alum Chris Kattan, who brings his standup comedy tour to Magooby’s Joke House in Timonium, Maryland this Friday and Saturday. They also discuss his journey from The Groundlings in L.A. to creating hilarious “SNL” characters like Mr. Peepers and Mango, as well as iconic sketches from “A Night at the Roxbury” to “More Cowbell.” (Theme Music: Scott...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Jimmy Brown, founding drummer of UB40, which rocks the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Saturday. They discuss the band's biggest hits, from originals like “King” and “Food For Thought,” to smash covers of “Red Red Wine,” “I Got You Babe” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choi...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Alfonso Ribeiro, who returns to host "A Capitol Fourth" in Washington D.C. on July 4th live on PBS. He called in to preview this year’s show and reflect on his career from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to “America’s Funniest Home Videos” to “Dancing with the Stars.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews comedian Donnell Rawlings, who comes home to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday night. They discuss his journey from attending T.C. Williams High School in Virginia to starring in some of TV’s most iconic series from the drama of “The Wire” to the comedy of “Chappelle’s Show.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. V...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Tony winner John Cameron Mitchell, creator of “Hedwig And The Angry Inch,” who joins the National Symphony Orchestra for “Blackstar: The Music of David Bowie” this Friday and Saturday at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. He called in from the airport before catching a flight here to Dulles International Airport near the nation’s capital. (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews actor Burt Ward, who famously played Batman's sidekick Robin in the classic 1960s TV series “Batman." They discuss his recent honor of receiving the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for rescuing more than 15,500 pets over the last 30 years, as well as his charity brand Gentle Giants Natural Non-GMO Ingredients Pet Foods to help our pets live longer. (Theme Musi...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews country music legend Clint Black, who performs live at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on July 3. They discuss the 35th anniversary of his breakthrough album “Killin’ Time,” as well as his other hits, including “Like the Rain,” “Nothing But the Tail Lights” and “When I Said I Do.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews five-time Grammy-winning opera legend Renée Fleming, who just published her new book “Music & Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health & Wellness." They discuss the intersection between the arts, health and neuroscience, as well as memories from her prolific career, including being honored at the most recent Kennedy Center Honors. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Sasha DiGiulian of the new rock-climbing documentary "Here to Climb," which premiered this week on HBO and Max. They discuss her journey from growing up in Alexandria, Virginia to becoming a world-champion indoor rock climber and then shifting outdoors to break vertical ground with historic climbs. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad cho...

WTOP's Jason Fraley marks the 30th anniversary of NBC's "Today" show moving into its iconic Studio 1A on June 20, 1994. You'll first hear from legendary anchor Katie Couric, who co-hosted “Today” from 1991-2006, when she appeared on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center for a Washington D.C. event in 2017. You'll then hear from current “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie when she and co-author Allis...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews stand-up comedian Kathleen Madigan, who brings her "Boxed Wine and Tiny Banjos Tour" to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia this Saturday. They discuss her prolific standup career, including some hilarious insight on her golfing buddies Ron White and Lewis Black, who grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, but never told her the origin of Stevie Nicks...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Tower of Power saxophonist and songwriter Emilio Castillo as the classic R&B band plays Bethesda Theater in Bethesda, Maryland this Friday night. They discuss the band’s biggest hits from “What is Hip?” to “So Very Hard to Go." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley explores the National Geographic documentary "Clotilda: The Return Home," which premieres today on Hulu and Disney+. He chats with Nat Geo explorer Tara Roberts about this amazing true story of the last-known American slave ship, The Clotilda, which was recently discovered in Mobile, Alabama in 2019 — and whose descendants now make the trip back to Africa to symbolically bring...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Wiley Brown, the son of "The Godfather of Go-Go" Chuck Brown, as the Chuck Brown Band rings in both Father’s Day and Juneteenth with a special concert tomorrow at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He discusses his dad's iconic journey and biggest go-go hits, from "Bustin' Loose" to "We Need Some Money," as well as his own responsibility to carry on h...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Peter Grosz, who co-hosts "Don't Tell Seth! An Evening with the Seth Meyers Writers" at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this Friday and Saturday. He describes meeting Meyers in college and asking him to be the best man at his wedding, as well as the difference between writing for "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and "The Colbert Report," not to mention starring in...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Eddie Montgomery of the beloved country-music duo Montgomery Gentry, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Nashville ceremony announcing the platinum-record certification of "Something to Be Proud Of" and gold-record certification of "My Town" and "Hell Yeah." He also describes growing up with brother John Michael Montgomery and his duty to keep s...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews five-time Grammy winner and world-music icon Angélique Kidjo, who joins the National Symphony Orchestra for "African Symphony" this Wednesday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. They discuss her journey from West Africa to Paris to become an international music sensation, including five Grammy-winning albums. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Roger Daltrey of The Who before he rocks Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Wednesday. They discuss the band’s legacy and go behind the scenes of their biggest hits, including “My Generation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Who Are You?” and “You Better You Bet.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Cla...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews two-time Tony winner Christian Borle, who stars in "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. from June 7-15. He discusses stepping into Dick Van Dyke’s iconic shoes, as well as memories of his Broadway roles from “Something Rotten” to “Some Like It Hot.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews filmmaker Gillian Robespierre and co-writer Elisabeth Holm as today marks the 10th anniversary of their acclaimed indie flick “Obvious Child” opening in U.S. theaters on June 6, 2014. They spoke when Robespierre and Holm reunited for their 2017 comedy “Landline,” which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Fest. (Theme Music...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Judge Reinhold, who screens "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" at Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. on Saturday. He shares why the film is such an iconic teen movie, as well as memories of his other roles from "Beverly Hills Cop” to “The Santa Clause” — not to mention his Emmy nomination as the “close talker” in “Seinfeld.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckle...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Sam Harris of X Ambassadors, who rock the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, June 4. He discusses the band’s newest album “Townie,” as well as his journey of forming the band with his blind brother Casey to record smash hits like “Unsteady” to “Renegades.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ace Frehley, former guitarist of KISS, who brings his solo tour to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on June 15. They discuss his new solo album “10,000 Volts,” as well as his biggest KISS hits, his love for science-fiction and his passion for art, right down to that famous costume and face paint. (Theme Music: Scot...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews blues icon Keb’ Mo’, who performs live at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia this Saturday night. He reflects on his prolific career spanning five Grammys, as well as his favorite contemporary blues artists and the legends he would put on the Mount Rushmore of Blues. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about y...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews actor Gary Sinise, who returns to co-host the National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday night live on PBS. They discuss this year’s star-studded lineup, as well as reflect on the 30th anniversary of his Oscar-nominated role as Lieutenant Dan in the 1994 blockbuster Best Picture “Forrest Gump.” (Theme Music: Scot...