Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Molly Ringwald to mark the 40th anniversary of her film debut on August 13, 1982. They spoke in 2016 when she performed at AMP by Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, breaking down her music career and classic John Hughes movies like “Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn mo...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with REO Speedwagon bass player Bruce Hall as the beloved band rocks Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia tonight. They spoke in 2015 when the band played Warner Theatre in D.C., breaking down the band’s biggest hits like “Roll with the Changes,” “Keep on Loving You,” “Take it on the Run” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with cousin Jake Fraley, who plays outfield tonight for the Cincinnati Reds against the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball's second annual "Field of Dreams" Game in Dyersville, Iowa. You'll also hear from Jake's proud parents, Marv and Traci Fraley, whose favorite movie is naturally "Fields of Dreams." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tony Gilroy as this summer marks the 20th anniversary of Gilroy writing the original "Bourne" trilogy starring Matt Damon; this month marks the 15th anniversary of Gilroy writing and directing "Michael Clayton" starring George Clooney; and today marks the 10th anniversary of Gilroy directing "The Bourne Legacy" starring...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Fantasia, who performs live at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virgina on August 19. They discuss her rise from North Carolina to winning Season 3 of “American Idol,” launching a career of music and Broadway shows like “The Color Purple.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with actor and comedian Jon Lovitz, who performs live at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Friday night. They discuss his comedy career from “Saturday Night Live” to “The Critic” to “A League of Their Own," while introducing their dogs to each other on Zoom. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with hilarious actor/comedian Jane Lynch, who just this week got renewed for a third season as host of the hit NBC game show "The Weakest Link." They spoke in 2015 when Lynch played The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, just days before the series finale of "Glee." She also discussed her most successful film roles from "The F...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Florence LaRue, founding member of The 5th Dimension, which rocks Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday night. They discuss the band's Grammy-winning hits from "Up, Up and Away" to "Wedding Bell Blues" to the iconic medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley’s “Clarion”) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with country music legend Marty Stuart, who performs live tomorrow at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. They spoke when Stuart previously played The Birchmere in October of 2020, discussing touring during the pandemic and sharing memories of hits like “Burn Me Down” and his participation in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series “Country Music.” (Them...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with WCW legend Eric Bischoff, whose new autobiography “Grateful" is now available for pre-order before its November release. They discuss his prolific career at WCW, signing Hulk Hogan, birthing the NWO, creating the Cruiserweight Division, navigating the Montreal Screwjob and withstanding a DX tank invasion to beat the WWF (now WWE) in the Monday Ni...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with crossover country music superstar Maren Morris, who rocks Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on Thursday night. They discuss her biggest hits from "My Church" to "Rich" to "The Middle," as well as her newest album "Humble Quest." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank to mark the 30th anniversary of her big-screen debut on July 31, 1992. They spoke during the release of her 2018 Alzheimer's film "What They Had." Swank also reflected on her Oscar-winning performances in “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Million Dollar Baby." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more abou...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of author Gore Vidal's death on July 31, 2012 by chatting with Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville and co-director Robert Gordon, who visited AFI Docs in 2015 to screen their documentary “Best of Enemies” about the 1968 political debates between the liberal Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley Jr. (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with country music superstar Keith Urban, who rocks Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia tomorrow night. They spoke in 2017 when Urban was honored by the Recording Academy at the Grammys on the Hill event at The Hamilton in Washington D.C. You'll hear exclusive red-carpet tributes from fellow singers Mario, Martina McBride, Kara DioGuardi and others,...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan to mark the 10th anniversary of his LBJ play "All the Way" premiering on July 28, 2012 before making its way to Broadway to win a Tony for Bryan Cranston. They spoke in 2018 when Schenkkan brought his LBJ sequel “The Great Society” to Arena Stage in Washington D.C. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley wishes a happy 100th birthday to legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who hits the century mark today! They spoke back in 2015 when Lear released his memoir “Even This I Get to Experience,” breaking down his iconic sitcoms like “All in the Family,” "Sanford and Son,” "Maude," “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn mo...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with eight-time Grammy-winning musician/producer and Bob Marley's son Stephen Marley, who joins brother Ziggy Marley for a special tribute to their father tomorrow night at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. They discuss Bob Marley's biggest reggae hits, including "One Love," "Get Up, Stand Up," "Buffalo Soldier," "I Shot the Sheriff," "Jamming," "Three L...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Ben Bailey, who cracks up the D.C. Comedy Loft this Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Washington D.C. They spoke in 2019 about his standup comedy career and his three Daytime Emmys hosting the taxi game show “Cash Cab.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Third Eye Blind, which rocks Merriweather Post Pavilion tonight in Columbia, Maryland. In 2019, Jason and his former WTOP colleague Chris Cichon spoke briefly with frontman Stephan Jenkins about the band's biggest hits from “Semi-Charmed Life” to “How’s It Gonna Be." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Bradley Jackson, director of the new Nolan Ryan documentary "Facing Nolan," which hit streaming this week. They discuss Ryan's prolific career pitching for the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers, compiling 7 no-hitters, 5,714 strikeouts and a fastball estimated at 108.1 mph. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-winning editor Lee Smith to mark the 5th anniversary of Christopher Nolan's World War II flick "Dunkirk," which hit U.S. theaters nationwide on July 21, 2017. They spoke in 2020 about his many Nolan collaborations n "The Dark Knight," "Inception," "Interstellar" and "Durkirk," as well as working with Sam Mendes on the World War I flick "191...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with R&B Hall of Famer Freda Payne, who performs live at Georgetown's historic Blues Alley in Washington D.C. for four shows Friday and Saturday. They discuss her journey from Detroit to New York City and back again, including hits like "Band of Gold" and "Bring the Boys Home." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices....

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with folk-rock legend Gordon Lightfoot, who performs tomorrow at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland, followed by Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on Monday. They discuss his biggest hits from "Early Morning Rain" to "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with folk-pop singer/songwriter Mason Jennings, who performs live Sunday Aug. 21 at City Winery in Washington D.C. They discuss his 25-year music career from "Lemon Grove Avenue" to "Be Here Now." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Richard Linklater to mark 20 years since he began filming "Boyhood" in 2002, filming scenes every year for 12 years for a literal coming-of-age story that's become a masterpiece of American cinema. They spoke during the film's release in 2014 en route to six Academy Award nominations and a pair of Golden Globe wins for Best Picture and Best Direc...