Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Sarah Silverman, whose new standup comedy special "Someone You Love” premieres tomorrow night on HBO — also streaming on Max. They spoke in 2017 when she performed live at the MGM National Harbor near Washington D.C. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Mannie Fresh, who performs at the Célébrez en Rosé music festival this Sunday at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods in Columbia, Maryland. They discuss his journey from New Orleans to form Cash Money Records, producing hit albums for Juvenile, Lil Wayne, B.G. and Turk, while joining Baby a.k.a. Birdman to record Big Tymers hits like “Get Your Ro...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-nominated actor Gary Sinise, who returns to host the National Memorial Day Concert live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this Sunday night on PBS. They discuss this year’s star-studded lineup of performers and tributes, as well as memories of playing Lieutenant Dan in “Forrest Gump.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Doris Kearns Goodwin, executive producer of the new three-part docuseries "FDR," which premiers on The History Channel on Memorial Day. They discuss Franklin D. Roosevelt's legacy from pulling America out of the Great Depression to leading the country during World War II. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices....

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers, which rock Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They discuss their Grammy-nominated journey from “A Carolina Jubilee” to “Emotionalism,” from “The Carpenter” to “True Sadness," which included the hit song "Ain't No Man." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your a...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith, who is retiring after 25 years with a special gala tomorrow night in Washington D.C. They discuss her prolific career, her favorites plays and musicals, and how the venue transformed of entire part of the city. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Tyra Banks as tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of "America's Next Top Model," which premiered on May 20, 2003. They spoke in 2018 when she and her mom Carolyn London penned the mother-daughter memoir “Perfect is Boring: Ten Things My Crazy, Fierce Mama Taught Me About Beauty, Booty and Being a Boss.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Le...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews Lit guitarist Jeremy Popoff as the band rocks the Let's Go Music Festival in Annapolis, Maryland on June 3. They discuss the band's journey from its California roots to recording hit songs like "My Own Worst Enemy." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Director Sean Mullin and Executive Producer Lindsay Berra, granddaughter of Yogi Berra, about the new documentary "It Ain't Over," which opens in D.C. movie theaters this Friday. They discuss Berra's prolific baseball career, as well as his heroic service during World War II and overall pop-culture impact of "Yogi-isms." (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley discusses the Hollywood writers strike with Jai Jamison, staff writer on The CW's "Superman & Lois." He explains why the Writers Guild of America is protesting the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers as a result of the streaming revolution. You'll also hear their 2021 conversation about Jamison's rise from Richmond, Virginia to American Univ...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Rob Schneider, who performs live at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on May 27. They discuss his latest standup tour, as well as his pride for daughter Elle King and hilarious memories from “SNL,” “The Waterboy,” “Big Daddy” and his recent tribute to Adam Sandler at the Kennedy Center. (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...

WTOP's Jason Fraley chats with Julia Louis-Dreyfus to mark the 25th anniversary of the "Seinfeld" finale, which aired on May 14, 1998. They spoke in 2018 when she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. You'll also hear red-carpet tributes from Jerry Seinfeld, Tony Hale, Kumail Nanjiani and Jack Johnson. Be sure to also check the "Jerry Seinfeld" e...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with two-time Tony nominee Alex Brightman, who stars in Monty Python's "Spamalot" at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. tomorrow through May 21. He also describes filling the shoes of Jack Black and Michael Keaton in Broadway's “School of Rock” and “Beetlejuice.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard and partner Mira Howard, who are launching a new digital talent-discovery platform called Holly. They discuss their plans to change the industry by removing Hollywood's traditional gatekeepers, as well as memories of “The Best Man,” “Crash,” “Hustle & Flow,” “Empire” and “Prisoners.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, who hosts "Broadway in Bethesda" at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday night. They discuss her journey from Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey to Broadway for five Tony nominations in “Swing,” “Into the Woods,” “Gypsy,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and “She Loves Me,” as well as h...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews actor Raymond Cruz as today marks 10 years since the arrest of Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro on May 6, 2013. They spoke in 2015 when Cruz played Castro in the Lifetime movie "Cleveland Abduction." They also discuss his memorable roles as Spider in "Training Day" and Tuco in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley interviews legendary singer Pat Boone, who marks the 70th anniversary of his recording career, which began in April of 1953. They discuss his journey from teen idol rivaling Elvis all the way to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony winner Victoria Clark ("A Light in the Piazza"), who earned another Tony nomination today for “Kimberly Akimbo,” playing a teen who ages four times faster than the average human. We spoke in 2015 when she joined Vanessa Hudgens in a Kennedy Center revival of “Gigi," which premiered on stage 50 years ago this month in 1973. (Theme Music: Scot...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Styx keyboardist Lawrence Gowan as the band headlines the M3 Rock Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on Saturday. They discuss the band's biggest hits, including “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “Blue Collar Man,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Renegade” and “Mr. Roboto.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with 'Ted Lasso' cast members Cristo Fernandez and Kola Bokinni about their respective roles as Dani Rojas and Isaac McAdoo to see if AFC Richmond can turn this final season around. Just five episodes remain on Apple TV+. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' author Jeff Kinney, who returns to his alma mater of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland this Saturday to unveil a new statue of his iconic wimpy book character. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Recording Academy C.E.O. Harvey Mason Jr., who honors Pharrell Williams tonight at the Grammys on the Hill event at The Hamilton in Washington D.C. They discuss Pharrell's prolific career from The Neptunes to N.E.R.D. and beyond, as well as important new legislation on Capitol Hill to protect musicians and music fans. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Itamar Moses, creator of "An American Tail: The Musical," which makes its world premiere tonight at Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They discuss adapting the iconic 1986 Don Bluth film, as well as memories of "The Band's Visit," which won a whopping 10 Tonys on Broadway, including Best Musical. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with author Monte Schulz, son of the late "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz, about his epic new war novel "Metropolis." They also set the record straight about his father, who created beloved characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Samara Weaving about her new movie "Chevalier," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today. They discuss the true story of a slave who became a composer to rival Mozart. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices