Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley catches up with comedian Paula Poundstone, who returns to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia this Friday and Saturday to perform political comedy near the nation’s capital just days after the midterm elections. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 30th anniversary of Eva Cassidy's untimely death on this date in 1996. She was 33. Jason spoke with Blix Street Records Owner Bill Straw in 2021 about the re-release of Cassidy's album “Live at Blues Alley,” recorded at the legendary jazz supper club in Georgetown just months before her passing. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley hosts a special Halloween convo with "The Omen" screenwriter David Seltzer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his 1976 horror classic. He describes working with director Richard Donner, composer Jerry Goldsmith and a killer cast of Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Harvey Stephens. They also chronicle his screenwriting career, including secretly writing the script for "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates International Animation Day with Radford Sechrist, who served as a story artist on “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Madagascar 3” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2” before working on “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” the reigning Oscar champ for Best Animated Feature. They spoke when he gave a lecture at George Washington University in Washington D.C. back in 2020, fresh off his original Netflix series “Kipo & The Age of Wonderbeasts.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Frank Zappa's son Dweezil Zappa, who brings his “Like Father Like Son” tour to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Nov. 1. They spoke when Dweezil previously played The Birchmere in 2016 to raise money for his charity Guitars Not Guns. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates Hitchcocktober by revisiting his 2016 chat with Freddie Highmore, who played young Norman Bates across Vera Farmiga in the A&E series “Bates Motel." They discuss the thrill of creating a hit prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's iconic 1960 horror masterpiece "Psycho." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Broadway icon Kelli O'Hara as her Tony-winning Broadway show “Fallen Angels” hits the big screen tomorrow in movie theaters nationwide. She called in to rave about co-star Rose Byrne and explain why Noël Coward’s play still rocks in 2026. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley mourns the loss of longtime Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday, dead at age 66. Ann joined Jason in studio to discuss the release of her 2017 book "Talking Pictures: How to Watch Movies," so we're replaying that extended conversation in tribute to one of the greatest film critics ever in the nation's capital. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Rodrigo Sanchez of the Grammy-winning guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, which rocks The Anthem in Washington D.C. tomorrow night. They preview the show and chronicle the duo’s journey from Mexico to Ireland to Japan where they recorded their latest album "Our Home" in honor of their late cat. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 65th anniversary of the iconic movie musical “West Side Story" by flashing back to his convo with the legendary Rita Moreno from her “Profiles in Creativity” event at the Kennedy Center in 2017. They chronicle her journey from Puerto Rico to New York to eventually star in Hollywood classics like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The King & I” and “West Side Story,” becoming a rare EGOT. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley chats with the original cast of the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" as Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Paris Themmen (Mike Teavee) and Rusty Goffe (Oompa Loompa) reunite for The Chocolate Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland on Oct. 24-25. They preview the event and reflect on working with Gene Wilder to create an iconic family musical. Stay tuned until the end as we join together to sing “Pure Imagination.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 80th birthday of The Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward, who was born on this date in 1946. The progressive rock genius called in to promote his show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia in 2018, just months after band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. You'll hear Jason tag team this interview with WTOP colleague Dave Preston. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley welcomes Chuck Todd to predict the midterm elections where a potential “blue wave” might be fueled by a “red undertow.” They also riff on the state of journalism, the history of the news business, and Todd's own career highlights, culminating with hosting NBC’s “Meet the Press" and now embracing the future with “The Chuck Toddcast." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” which made its world premiere on the West End in London on this date in 1986 before setting the record as the longest-running show in Broadway history with nearly 14,000 performances. Jason spoke with lead actress Julia Udine backstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2016 -- in between her two stints playing Christine Daaé on Broadway, first from 2014-2016, then from 2021-2023. Stick around until the end for a bonus laugh with Gerard Butler, who played The Phantom of the Opera in the 2004 film version. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews comedian Lewis Black, who cracks up the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland this Saturday, Oct. 10. They spoke when Black previously performed at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2018. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews comedian Margaret Cho, who cracks up the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia this Saturday. She reflects on her career and current events, explaining how she would run her own country under a system she calls “The Choligarchy.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 5th anniversary of "Only Murders in the Building" airing its Season 1 episode "The Boy from 6B," which earned Nathan Lane an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series as murder suspect Teddy Dimas, swapping sign-language clues with deaf son Theo, played by James Caverly. You'll hear Lane's praise of Caverly when he visited Virginia's Signature Theatre in 2024, followed by Caverly via interpreter when he starred in “The Music Man” at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland in 2022. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley wishes a happy 10th birthday to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, which opened on this date in 2016. He spoke that week with two-time Oscar-winning sound mixer Russell Williams about donating the Academy Awards that he won for “Glory” and “Dances with Wolves," and why it was important to give back to the city he calls home. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Colin Mochrie, who reunites with Brad Sherwood of “Whose Line is it Anyway” at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on Oct. 4. They spoke when Colin visited the Kennedy Center in 2016, reflecting on his favorite improv games from "Scenes from a Hat" to "Greatest Hits" and dishing on co-stars Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady, as well as his favorite guest appearances from Robin Williams to Richard Simmons. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Demián Bichir about Angelina Jolie's new movie "Without Blood," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today. He praises co-star Salma Hayek and breaks down Angelina's directing techniques. He also chronicles his own journey from growing up in Mexico to becoming an Oscar nominee for “A Better Life.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")