Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks the release of Pixar's "Lightyear" by chatting with the real inspiration for Buzz Lightyear: the legendary NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man on the moon after Neil Armstrong. They spoke during the release of his 2016 memoir “No Dream is Too High: Life Lessons from a Man Who Walked on the Moon.” You’ll even hear him quote the famous "T...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with the legendary Paul Anka, who performs live at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on Tuesday, June 21. They discuss his golden oldies from "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" to "Puppy Love," as well as songs he's written for other artists, namely "My Way" for Frank Sinatra. You'll even hear his reaction to Doja Cat sampling his music in the 2020 h...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley salutes the genius of Frank Zappa as The Zappa Band plays The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Sunday and Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland next Tuesday. First, you'll hear a brand new conversation with Zappa Band member Mike Keneally, who takes a deep dive into Zappa's records, followed by a throwback conversation with Frank's son Dweezil Zappa from 201...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Tony winner Kelli O'Hara, who joins her fellow Tony winner Adrienne Warren for "Broadway in the Park" at Wolf Trap next Friday, June 24. They discuss O'Hara's prolific career of seven Tony nominations, including "The Light in the Piazza," "South Pacific" and "The King and I," which finally won her the prize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with D.C. native Ethan Slater, who earned a Tony nomination as the original star of Broadway's "SpongeBob SquarePants" musical in 2018. A regional production just opened at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, so it's the perfect time to revisit this Tony-themed conversation conducted in a pineapple under the sea. Learn more about your ad choi...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks today’s 55th anniversary of the "Loving v. Virginia" Supreme Court decision, which legalized interracial marriage on June 12, 1967. He spoke to director Jeff Nichols ("Mud") and actor Joel Edgerton ("Zero Dark Thirty") when they visited Washington D.C. to discuss their touching movie "Loving" in 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Steven Van Zandt to mark last night's 15th anniversary of "The Sopranos" finale, which cut to black on June 10, 2007. They spoke in 2017 when Van Zandt played the annual Rock and Roll for Children benefit concert, which returns tonight to The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar winner Mark Rylance about his new golf comedy "The Phantom of the Open," which opens in Washington D.C. movie theaters today. They discuss the incredible true story of Maurice Flitcroft, who in 1976 shot the worst round of golf ever at the British Open. They also discuss Rylance's career from "Bridge of Spies" to "Dunkirk" to "The Trial of...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley salutes Julie Andrews, who receives the AFI Life Achievement Award tonight in Los Angeles. They spoke briefly on the red carpet at the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors. You'll also hear a 2015 conversation with Elisabeth Von Trapp, the granddaughter of the real-life Maria and Baron Von Trapp, to preview a live concert in Virginia for the 50th anniversary of "The...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with monster-truck driver Adam Anderson, who competes at Monster Jam at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland this Saturday. They discuss the 40th anniversary of the iconic monster truck Grave Digger, which was built by his father, Dennis Anderson, in Chesapeake, Virginia back in 1982. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Billy Joel's longtime drummer Liberty DeVitto, who performs at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland this Saturday for the annual Rock & Roll for Children concert to benefit The Children's Inn at NIH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats again with DJ Jazzy Jeff for the "Célébrez en Rosé" wine and music festival at National Harbor this Saturday. They discuss his Grammy-winning hip-hop duo with Will Smith, his time on TV's "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and his reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with country music star Scotty McCreery, who plays Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Saturday, June 11. They discuss his career from winning Season 10 of "American Idol" to recording country music hits like "Five More Minutes," "This Is It" and "Damn Strait." (Theme Music:Scott Buckley&#...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates the 20th anniversary of "The Wire," which premiered on HBO on June 2, 2002. You'll hear two conversations with "The Wire" creator David Simon, first at the premiere of "Spotlight" in Washington D.C. in 2015, then at the grand reopening of the Parkway Theatre in Baltimore in 2017, followed by memories of "The Wire" from co-producer George Pelecano...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Kenny Loggins, who brings "Still Alright: An Intimate Evening of Stories & Songs" to Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, June 7. They discuss his career from Loggins & Messina to movie soundtracks like "Caddyshack," "Footloose" and "Top Gun," as his song "Danger Zone" returns for the new blockbuster sequel "Top Gun: Maverick." Learn mor...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Slamdance Film Festival founder Dan Mirvish about his new film "18 1/2," which makes its Washington D.C. premiere tomorrow night at the Landmark E Street Cinema. The film imagines what happened to the 18 1/2-minute gap in Richard Nixon's infamous Watergate tapes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture to mark the 25th anniversary of his first UFC match on May 30, 1997. They spoke in 2015 when Couture visited the studio with fitness expert Fairfax Hackley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Gary Sinise, who co-hosts the National Memorial Day Concert this Sunday on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. They discuss this year's lineup and the legacy of his character Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Matilda" star Mara Wilson as "Matilda: The Musical" hits the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia this weekend. They spoke in 2016 about her memoir "Where Am I Now?" for child-star memories of "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Matilda." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with All Elite Wrestling President & C.E.O. Tony Khan about the big "Double or Nothing" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Las Vegas. They discuss the main event of Hangman Adam Page vs. CM Punk for the world title, as well as The Hardyz vs. Young Bucks for the tag titles, Chris Jericho's team vs. Bryan Danielson's team, and the finals of the Owen Har...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley mourns the death of longtime Yes drummer Alan White by reviving this 2020 conversation with Yes frontman Jon Anderson. They break down the Hall of Fame band's biggest hits from "Roundabout" to "Owner of a Lonely Heart," the latter of which featured White's signature drums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who executive produces the new two-part documentary "Theodore Roosevelt" on The History Channel on Monday and Tuesday. They discuss Teddy Roosevelt's legacy from labor policies to conservation efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Jay Leno to mark the 30th anniversary of Leno taking over for Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" on May 25, 1992. They spoke in 2017 when Leno performed a live standup gig at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., discussing his favorite guests, his interview approach and his thoughts on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon. L...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates National Tap Dance Day with a conversation with Savion Glover, whom The New York Times called "the greatest tap dance who has ever lived." They spoke in 2018 when he brought his production of “All FuNK'd Up” to the historic National Theatre in Washington D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with bluegrass legend Del McCoury, who brings the 14th annual Delfest music festival back to Cumberland, Maryland this Thursday through Sunday. We discussed his journey from hearing Earl Scruggs' banjo as a teenager to joining Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, then forming The Del McCoury Band and being invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. Learn more about...