All Episodes
Dropping Names ...and other things is Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes sitting down with the people they have worked alongside for decades, chasing the honest, funny, human side of a life in Hollywood. Two old friends, one great guest, and the stories that never made it to the screen.
Below is the full catalogue of guests on the show so far, newest first. New episodes release every Wednesday at 10am Pacific.
You can also find us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram and TikTok.
Leonard Maltin Let Himself Into Sammy Davis Jr.'s Empty House and Waited Until Midnight
Leonard Maltin once walked Red Buttons over to say hello to Paramount's goodwill ambassador AC Lyles at Spago, and Red looked up and asked if he hadn't just been wondering whether AC was still alive. That is the register of this whole conversation, which finds Leonard and his daughter and podcast…
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Steven Weber on Replacing Matthew Broderick in The Producers, and the Co Star Who Was Fired Two Weeks In
Steven Weber joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names to tell the story of taking over Leo Bloom from Matthew Broderick in The Producers on Broadway, opposite the acclaimed British actor Henry Goodman, who was abruptly fired about two weeks into the run for wanting to do something…
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Wil Wheaton on the Stand By Me moment that got him cast in Star Trek
Wil Wheaton joins Brent Spiner and Jonny Frakes on Dropping Names and starts with the movie everyone knows him for, Stand By Me, then keeps going to the part nobody talks about. He explains how a memo from David Gerrold about the kid from Stand By Me is the reason Wesley Crusher exists at all, and…
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Noah Wyle on the Diet Coke Bit Tarantino Invented on ER, and Why The Pitt Has No Music
A few minutes in, Brent Spiner stops the interview cold to tell Noah Wyle, as a friend rather than a host, that The Pitt is the best thing on television and that Noah is the reason. The room changes right there, and what follows is two hours of shop talk between people who actually know each other…
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Michelle Hurd: My Mother Taught Us to Lead With Love and Not With Fear
Michelle Hurd sits down with Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names and the first thing she gives them is her father. Hugh Hurd was 18 when he shipped out with a Black battalion in World War II, and he was one of the soldiers who walked through the gates of Dachau, where the prisoners…
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Animal House to West Wing with Tim Matheson
In this exclusive episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the legendary Tim Matheson to explore his incredible journey through Hollywood. From his iconic role in 'Animal House' to his unforgettable appearances in 'West Wing', Tim shares behind-the-scenes stories and insights that reveal the…
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Sam Witwer on William Shatner Daring Mr. T to Convert Him at a Comic Con
In this episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the incredibly talented Sam Witwer, known for his roles in Star Wars and Star Trek. Sam shares his unique approach to choosing roles, his experiences in the industry, and some behind-the-scenes stories that will blow your mind. From his time on…
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Michael Dorn Ran Out of Fuel Over the Mojave and Glided His Jet Into a Base That Knew Him as Worf
In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the legendary Michael Dorn, best known for his iconic role as Worf in Star Trek. Join us as we delve into his fascinating career, from his early days on 'Chips' to his memorable moments with Glenn Close and beyond. Michael shares…
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Bill Prady and William Shatner Talked About Their Fathers for Three Hours on The Big Bang Theory
What happens when one of your biggest heroes completely crushes your dreams? In this episode of Dropping Names, Bill Prady shares the unbelievable story of how a disappointing meeting with legendary science fiction author Isaac Asimov unexpectedly launched his writing career. Along the way, Brent…
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Tom Bergeron Toured the Star Trek Enterprise Set With Whoopi Goldberg and Got Cast in an Episode
In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, Tom Bergeron takes us on a journey through his illustrious career, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood Squares, Dancing with the Stars, and more. From unexpected encounters with celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg and Bob Dylan to hilarious…
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Jane Leeves Was a Teenage Dancer When Benny Hill Auditioned Her at His Flat in His Pajamas
In this captivating episode of Dropping Names, we sit down with the delightful Jane Leeves, known for her iconic role as Daphne on "Frasier." Jane opens up about her experiences working with legendary stars, including the incomparable Betty White. Discover behind-the-scenes stories from her time on…
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Ron Perlman on Marlon Brando Trying to Get Him Thrown Off The Island of Dr. Moreau
In this captivating episode of "Dropping Names," Ron Perlman takes us on a wild ride through Hollywood's golden stories and his bold vision for the future of the film industry. From crashing Linda Hamilton's wedding for tacos to working with legendary figures like Marlon Brando, Ron shares candid…
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Jessie Usher on the Blacked Out Hibachi Dinner He Snuck The Boys Cast Into During Lockdown
Jessie Usher joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes on Dropping Names ...and other things, for a hilarious and wide-ranging conversation covering Hollywood, superheroes, growing up in the industry, unexpected career moments, fandom, and what it’s really like being part of one of television’s…
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Joel McHale on Cutting Jokes at the Correspondents' Dinner Because Obama Was Telling the Same Ones
Joel McHale joins Dropping Names for an epic conversation covering everything from the highly anticipated Community movie to his unforgettable experience hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner for President Obama. Joel opens up about being baptized at the Vatican, his uncanny resemblance to…
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Dean Devlin Wrote Bill Pullman's Independence Day Speech as a Placeholder and Never Rewrote It
Join us for an exhilarating episode of Dropping Names as we dive deep into the world of filmmaking with the legendary Dean Devlin. Known for his work on iconic films like Independence Day and Stargate, Dean shares behind-the-scenes stories, his journey from acting to producing, and his insights…
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Felicia Day Pitched Wil Wheaton a D&D Show, Got TableTop, and Later Helped Start Critical Role
Felicia Day joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes for a wildly fun, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about building a career by making your own lane, long before that was the norm. They talk about Firefly, The Guild, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, The Librarians, Leverage…
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Phil Rosenthal Quit Everybody Loves Raymond Twice Before It Aired, and CBS Let Him Run It
Phil Rosenthal joins Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes for a funny, insightful, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about sitcoms, Hollywood, creative control, travel, food, and the stories behind Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil. Phil shares how he fought to cast the right people…
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Seth MacFarlane on the Night Darrell Issa Drank His Booze Live on Bill Maher's Show
Seth MacFarlane joins Dropping Names for a wildly funny, sharp and unexpectedly heartfelt conversation about a career that spans animation, orchestras, sci-fi, and hosting the Oscars… from Family Guy and The Orville to singing at the Hollywood Bowl, working with John Williams, and growing up a Star…
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Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk on Tudyk Being Fillion's Waiter at Harry's Burritos Before Firefly
Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk join Dropping Names for a wildly funny, nostalgic and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about decades in the business… from Firefly and Star Trek conventions to Saving Private Ryan, Disney villains, Shakespeare with Patrick Stewart, and the night Nathan may or may…
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John Logan on Killing M in Skyfall and Telling Judi Dench He Had Already Killed Data
In this episode, John Logan sits down to reflect on a career shaped by bold choices and stories that have defined modern film, television, and theater... from Gladiator and Skyfall to Star Trek, Broadway, and beyond. It’s a candid, wide-ranging look at the moments and relationships that shaped his…
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LeVar Burton on The Hunter Role Steve McQueen Gave Him That Was Originally Written for a Dog
LeVar Burton sits down to reflect on a journey that shaped generations, from the cultural impact of Roots, to opening minds and imaginations on Reading Rainbow, to boldly going into the future with Star Trek. It’s a candid, thoughtful look at the moments, choices, and experiences that defined his…
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