Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Lea Thompson as “Back to the Future” becomes a Broadway musical tomorrow at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. They spoke for a special 30th anniversary screening at Wolf Trap in Virginia back in 2015. (Them Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Alfonso Ribeiro, who hosts PBS' "A Capitol Fourth" concert and fireworks in Washington D.C. next Tuesday for the Fourth of July. They also discuss his memories of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Dancing with the Stars." After that, you'll hear a bonus throwback interview with Ribeiro's predecessor Tom Bergeron...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley catches up again with Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik, who performs live at The Anthem in D.C. on July 5. They discuss his biggest hits from "Superman (It's Not Easy)" to "100 Years," as well as his diehard passion for hockey and whether Alex Ovechkin can break Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz about his new album, “Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride,” which drops today on his birthday. They also discuss his upcoming show at Wolf Trap in Virginia, where he grew up before recording hits like "The Remedy," "You and I Both," "Lucky," "I'm Yours" and "I Won't Give Up." (Theme Music: Scott Bu...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Oscar-nominated actress Kathleen Turner as today marks the 35th anniversary of the classic live-action/animated hybrid “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” which premiered on June 22, 1988. They spoke in 2019 when she visited Washington D.C. for the annual Arena Stage Gala, breaking down her most famous roles from "Body Heat" to "Romancing the Stone." (Th...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Deniece Williams, who performs live at Bethesda Blues & Jazz in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday night. They discuss her career from singing background vocals for Stevie Wonder to recording duets with Johnny Mathis to recording her own hits like "Let's Hear it for the Boy" on the "Footloose" soundtrack. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Harrison of the band Talking Heads, who performs live with Adrian Belew of King Crimson this Thursday night at Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C. They discuss the biggest hits of Talking Heads, including “Psycho Killer,” “Life During Wartime,” “Take Me to the River,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Burning Down the House...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews tenor Tyler Trepp of Straight No Chaser, which brings its "Yacht Rock" tour to Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Wednesday. They also discuss the group's new album "Yacht on the Rocks." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with 8-year-old Thomas Parobek of Fairfax, Virginia, who stars in Tom Holland's new psychological thriller series "The Crowded Room" on Apple TV+. They discuss his role as Amanda Seyfried's son in "The Crowded Room," as well as his role as Young Johnny in Netflix's "Cobra Kai." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices....

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley wishes a happy 80th birthday to iconic singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, who was born on June 17, 1943. Manilow is currently performing a residency in Las Vegas where you’ll hear hits like “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs” and “Copacabana.” He briefly spoke to Jason in 2015 for what was then thought to be his farewell tour at the Verizon Center, now called Capita...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Shila Ommi of Pixar's "Elemental," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today. They discuss the immigrant social commentary of Element City where Fire, Water, Land and Air attempt to coexist. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Sasha Calle, the first Latino to play the role of Supergirl in "The Flash," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today. They discuss how the film’s time-travel plot allows audiences to reconnect with classic characters like Michael Keaton’s Batman and Michael Shannon’s General Zod. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about you...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Ziggy Marley, who performs live at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Saturday and Sunday. They discuss his journey from growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, to learning music from his father, Bob Marley, then forming The Melody Makers with his siblings and eventually charting his own Grammy-winning solo career. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Michael & Kevin Bacon again as The Bacon Brothers perform four shows over two nights at the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland this Friday and Saturday. You can also check out the archives for other conversations, riffing on Kevin's most famous movie roles. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews comedian Bert Kreischer, who brings his "Fully Loaded" comedy tour to CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland this Thursday, featuring titans like Dave Attell and Tiffany Haddish. They discuss his incredible journey from a Florida State party animal who inspired “Van Wilder” to his shirtless standup specials and new action comedy flick “The Machine...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, who performs live this Friday for “Broadway in the Park” at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. They discuss her groundbreaking career, including winning a Tony in “Miss Saigon” on Broadway — the first Asian actress to do so — as well providing the iconic Disney singing voices of Princess Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Mulan i...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with filmmaker Whit Stillman as tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of “The Last Days of Disco,” which opened on June 12, 1998. They spoke in 2016 about the release of his period-piece comedy “Love & Friendship.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with singer Phillip Phillips, who releases his new album "Drift Back" today. They discuss his journey from growing up in Georgia to winning Season 11 of "American Idol," including his instant hit "Home" that became the top-selling coronation song in "Idol" history." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Melissa Rivers as today would have been the 90th birthday of legendary comedian Joan Rivers, who was born June 8, 1933. They spoke in 2016 when she hosted a tribute to her late mother at the Kennedy Center. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with reggae star Shaggy, who plays Jiffy Lube Live this Friday in Bristow, Virginia. They spoke back in 2019 when Shaggy joined UB40 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. They discuss his roots singing in the U.S. Marines before recording massive hits, including "Boombastic," "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews singer Vanessa Williams as today marks the 35th anniversary of her debut album “The Right Stuff” on June 6, 1988. We spoke in 2019 when she performed at the “A Capitol Fourth” concert in Washington D.C., breaking down her biggest hits from “Colors of the Wind” to “Save the Best for Last.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony winner Debra Monk, who won for Broadway's "Redwood Curtain" 30 years ago tomorrow on June 6, 1993. They spoke in 2017 when she starred in “Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing” at Signature Theatre in Shirlington, Virginia. They also discuss her Emmy win for "NYPD Blue" and her film roles from "The Devil's Advocate" to "The Bridges of Madison County."...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Collective Soul rhythm guitarist Dean Roland as the band rocks the Let's Go! Music Festival in Annapolis, Maryland this Friday night. They discuss the band's biggest hits from "Shine" to "The World I Know" to "December." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Kristin Chenoweth to mark the 20th anniversary of “Wicked,” which made its pre-Broadway premiere in San Francisco on May 28, 2003. They spoke when she performed at the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland in 2016. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Mary McCormack, who returns to the National Memorial Day Concert tomorrow night on PBS. They spoke in 2019 about why she keeps coming back to this military tribute on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices