Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Grammy nominee Molly Tuttle, who is nominated for Best New Artist and Best Bluegrass Album at the next ceremony in February. They discuss her journey from losing her hair with alopecia areata to recording the acclaimed new album "Crooked Tree," which she hopes will inspire others to be different. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn mor...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees, Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town and Ryan Cabrera, who combine with All-4-One to bring "A Boy Band Christmas" to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Friday night. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedy legend Bob Newhart as today marks 20 years since the Christmas comedy classic "Elf" went into production on Dec. 9, 2002. They discuss his memories of playing Papa Elf, his iconic TV sitcoms from "The Bob Newhart Show" to "Newhart," and voicing Bernard in Disney's "The Rescuers." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about yo...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates the hilarious Eddie Murphy, who made his film debut 40 years ago today in the buddy cop action-flick "48 Hrs" on Dec. 8, 1982. They spoke briefly on the red carpet when Murphy received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in 2015. You'll also hear from other celebrities on the red carpet, including Trevor Noah, Kathy Grif...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with actor Michael Genet, who performs in the musical "Wicked" at the Kennedy Center starting tomorrow through Jan. 22. They discuss the social commentary between Elphaba and Glinda, as well his own journey from growing up in Washington D.C. to writing the screenplay for Spike Lee's "She Hate Me." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more ab...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with country music star Pam Tillis, who brings her “Belles & Bows: Country Hits & Christmas Favorites Tour” to Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday. They discuss her journey from growing up the daughter of Nashville legend Mel Tillis to recording her own hits like “Maybe it was Memphis.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Kenny G, who brings his "Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour" to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Friday. They discuss his playing the same exact saxophone for nearly 50 years since high school en route to becoming the top-selling instrumentalist of all time. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley gets ready for this Sunday's Kennedy Center Honors with a fun flashback to the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors featuring Reba McEntire, Cher, Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter and the creators of "Hamilton." You'll also hear Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter preview this year's honorees: George Clooney, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant, Tania León and U2. (Theme Music:...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks the 75th anniversary of the Broadway debut of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Dec. 3, 1947 starring a breakthrough Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski. Jason spoke with filmmaker Steven Riley about his 2015 documentary "Listen to Me Marlon" to discuss Brando's career on stage and screen. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn m...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with legendary cult filmmaker John Waters, who brings "A John Waters Christmas" to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Dec. 21. He shares memories of growing up in Baltimore, protesting in D.C. and directing cult classics like "Pink Flamingos" and "Hairspray," which of course became a smash Broadway musical. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff, who brings her "Home for the Holidays" tour to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Dec. 11. They discuss recording hits like “Somebody’s Eyes” on the “Footloose” soundtrack, as well as writing hits for other artists like Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Aaron Neville and Wynonna Judd. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Rascals founder Felix Cavaliere to mark the 55th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band's last single as The Young Rascals before changing its name to The Rascals. They spoke when Cavaliere and co-founder Gene Cornish played The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia in 2018, breaking down hits like "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'" and "A Beautiful...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with director Steven Spielberg as "The Fabelmans" opens today in movie theaters nationwide. They spoke in 2013 at the National Archives' Records of Achievement Awards presented by Ken Burns. You'll also hear an in-depth breakdown of Spielberg's entire filmography in chronological order by legendary D.C. movie critic Arch Campbell and the hilariously e...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with John Cleese to mark the 60th anniversary of his TV debut writing for the BBC's "That Was the Week That Was" on Nov. 24, 1962, which of course led to "Monty Python" and "Fawlty Towers." They spoke in 2017 when Cleese visited Washington D.C. for a special Q&A and screening of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" at the historic Warner Theatre. (Theme...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Jeff Dunham, who returns to Comedy Central this Friday with a new standup special called “Me the People,” which was filmed recently at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. They discuss his journey as a ventriloquist comedian and how he and his famous puppets are navigating the changing comedy landscape. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Cl...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Frank Caliendo as this weekend marks the 15th anniversary of "Frank TV" premiering on Nov. 20, 2007. They spoke when Caliendo performed at the D.C. Improv in 2018, sharing his hilarious impersonations of Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Charles Barkley, Jon Gruden and the late John Madden. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "C...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Leslie Iwerks, granddaughter of Mickey Mouse co-creator Ub Iwerks, about her new book "The Imagineering Story." They discuss the creative and technological innovations since Disneyland opened in 1955 and Disney World opened in 1971. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Ford's Theatre's Senior Artistic Advisor Sheldon Epps, who just penned the new book "My Own Directions: A Black Man’s Journey in the American Theatre.” They discuss his journey from Broadway to Pasadena Playhouse in California, as well as his TV directing carer from “Frasier,” to “Friends” to “Girlfriends." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion"...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Blue Öyster Cult co-founder Eric Bloom as the band rocks Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Saturday night. They spoke about the band’s biggest hits from “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” to “Godzilla” to “Burnin’ For You," and of course the hilarious “Saturday Night Live” sketch featuring Will Ferrell’s cowbell. (Theme Music: Sco...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with actor Mario Lopez, who emcees "Home for the Holidays" at Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda, Maryland on Sunday. They discuss his new Lifetime movie "Steppin' into the Holiday," as well as his TV career from "Saved by the Bell" to "Access Hollywood." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates Veterans Day by chatting with "Band of Brothers" actor James Madio, who joins a star-studded TV tribute to the troops tonight called "American Valor." They discuss his memories from "Band of Brothers" and his favorite episodes. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony Harris, host of "The Proof Is Out There" on the History Channel on Fridays. They discuss his journey from Baltimore radio and TV stations to hosting national programs on CNN and "Entertainment Tonight." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Charles Kelley, founding guitarist and vocalist of the country music group Lady A, which is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards tonight on ABC and streaming on Hulu. They spoke in 2017 when the group rocked Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. (Theme Music: "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Paula Poundstone, who brings post-election humor to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday and Saturday. They discuss the state of American politics during the first midterm elections since the Jan. 6 insurrection. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with neo-soul and R&B star Maxwell, who performs live at MGM National Harbor near Washington D.C. on Saturday and Sunday. They discuss his career from "Ascension" to "Pretty Wings" to "Lake By the Ocean," which sparked viral videos of his dance moves on stage. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...