Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics about why the new movie "The Batman" is his favorite Batman flick ever. You’ll also hear a 2015 conversation with actor Paul Dano, who plays The Riddler in movie theaters today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Emmy winner Kiefer Sutherland, who performs live at City Winery in Washington D.C. on March 14. They also discuss his favorite roles, from "Stand By Me" to "A Few Good Men," and of course his iconic role as Jack Bauer in TV's "24." He also explains why "Don't Look Now" is his favorite movie that his father, Donald Sutherland, ever made. Learn mor...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green, whose new movie "Bootyology" makes its world premiere tomorrow night at the D.C. Independent Film Forum. They also discuss the legacy of "90210" and the explosion of teen-based television series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates "The Batman" week by chatting with "Joker" executive producer Richard Baratta, who also executive produced Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman." That's right, Baratta is the perfect cross-section of the Scorsese vs. Superhero debate raging on social media. They spoke in 2019 when Baratta's jazz band performed live at Blues Alley in Georgetown in Wash...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino, who's gaining praise on social media for his score for "The Batman," which hits movie theaters Friday. We spoke in 2018 about his "Jurassic World" performance at the Kennedy Center, as well as his experiences working with "Batman" director Matt Reeves on the "Planet of the Apes" prequels, as well as...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "La La Land" director Damien Chazelle, who won the Oscar for Best Director five years ago today. They spoke in 2016 to discuss the film's magical and tragic directing elements, as well as his Sundance breakthrough "Whiplash." Also, check out our archives for our previous episode with "Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins about the infamous Oscar env...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Foxcatcher" director Bennett Miller to mark the 25th anniversary of John Du Pont's conviction in the murder of Olympic wrestling gold medalist Dave Schultz at his Foxcatcher Farm in Pennsylvania. They spoke during the 2014 release of the film, starring Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with sensational vocalist Michael Bolton as tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of his Grammy win for "When a Man Loves a Woman." Bolton called from the airport en route to Washington D.C. to perform at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Brady Bunch" alum Barry Williams, who comes to the Capital Remodel + Garden Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia on Saturday afternoon. Williams dialed in to discuss his favorite TV memories from playing Greg Brady in the iconic family sitcom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Grammy winner Rick Springfield, who performs live at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia on Friday night. They discuss his career, from his breakthrough hit "Jessie's Girl" to his role on TV's "General Hospital" to his new Rum label with Sammy Hagar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with the hilarious standup comedian Tony Woods, who performs at the D.C. Improv this Thursday night in Washington D.C. See why Dave Chappelle calls Woods the O.G. of D.C. comics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Doug Gray, lead singer of Marshall Tucker Band, which brings its 50th anniversary tour to Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on Sunday night. They discuss how the band got its name, as well as its biggest Southern Rock hits from "Can't You See" to "Heard it in a Love Song." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Aries Spears, who comes to the DC Improv tonight through Sunday. They discussed his successful standup career, his hilarious run on "MADtv," his memorable supporting role in "Jerry Maguire" and his favorite celebrity impersonations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks the 20th anniversary of the start of what would become the D.C. Sniper attacks of 2002. The first killing actually occurred in Tacoma, Washington on Feb. 16, 2002 in a killing spree that lasted until Sept. 23. Jason spoke with shooting victim Paul LaRuffa of Clinton, Maryland, as well as Producer Mary-Jane Mitchell and Creative Director John Smithson...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with two-time Emmy winner Alex Borstein, who stars in Season 4 of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" this Friday. They spoke back in 2016 when she was promoting the animated series "Bordertown," while shifting voices from Ms. Swan of "MADtv" to Lois Griffin of "Family Guy." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with late Hollywood comedy icon Ivan Reitman, who died over the weekend at age 75. They spoke about his career from "Ghostbusters" to "Stripes" during the 2016 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor for Bill Murray at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. You'll also hear from his son Jason Reitman ("Up in the Air," "Juno") when he brought "The Front Run...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with New York Times Music Journalist Marcus J. Moore, author of the Kendrick Lamar biography "The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America." They spoke in 2020 when the book was released. Listen as you prepare for Kendrick at the Super Bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Rob Havenstein of the Los Angeles Rams, who battle the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday at the Super Bowl. They discuss his roots at Linganore High School in Frederick County, Maryland, including a surprise appearance by Rob's (and Jason's) high school football coach Rick Conner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Editor Jason Fraley chats with R&B star Ginuwine, who brings a special "Valentine's Day Serenade" to MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Monday night. They discussed growing up in the nation's capital and recording hits like "Pony," "In Those Jeans" and "I Need a Girl (Part 2)." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with late country star Hal Ketchum, who released his hit song "Past the Point of Rescue" 30 years ago this weekend. They spoke five years before his death when he played The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia in 2015, discussing his biggest hits like "Small Town Saturday Night," as well as movie appearances in "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Maverick." Learn m...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Erin Jackson, who comes home to the D.C. Improv on Friday and Saturday in Washington D.C. They discussed her rise from Howard University to Netflix stardom, appearing in Tiffany Haddish's "They Ready" and writing for "The Upshaws." You'll also hear their chat from last April when she reopened the D.C. Improv after a year of COVID-19 rest...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Hadestown" creator Anaïs Mitchell, who brings her folk band the Bonny Light Horseman to Strathmore this Friday in North Bethesda, Maryland. She discussed her folks roots growing up in Vermont and how she came up with the idea for the Tony-winning Broadway smash "Hadestown." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Hollywood visual effects legend Douglas Trumbull, who died today at age 79. They spoke in 2018 when the Smithsonian celebrated the 50th anniversary of "2001: A Space Odyssey." He also shared memories of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Blade Runner." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain as Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson plays tonight at Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. McBrain called in back in 2019 when the band brought its "Legacy of the Beast" tour to Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Schmigadoon!" creator Cinco Paul and "This Is Us" writer Bekah Brunstetter about their new Biblical musical "A.D. 16" at Olney Theatre in Olney, Maryland about teenage Mary Magdalene crushing on Jesus. Paul also shares his Minions memories from writing "Despicable Me." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices