Behind the Scenes of HUNTER with Stepfanie Kramer!

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The Secret History of Hunter: Wild On-Set Accidents, George Clooney, Sammy Davis Jr. and more with Stepfanie Kramer!

In this episode of That's Classic, host John Cato sits down with the legendary Stepfanie Kramer—best known as the powerhouse, independent Detective Dee Dee McCall on the hit 80s series Hunter.

Stepfanie pulls back the curtain on Hollywood history, sharing incredible, never-before-heard stories about the intense grind of making the show, what Fred Dryer was really like off-camera, and how a chance encounter in a health food store frozen aisle laid the tracks for their iconic on-screen chemistry.

But it’s not just about Hunter! Stepfanie opens up about her encounters with old Hollywood royalty, from singing over the phone with Bob Hope and dancing with Sammy Davis Jr., to sitting between Donald O'Connor and Ella Fitzgerald at Frank Sinatra’s private 40-guest birthday party. She also shares the terrifying reality of 1980s international fame—including the dark side of obsession that forced her to live under 24/7 armed guard with a motorhome on her property.

Plus, find out why she chose to walk away from a hit show at the absolute peak of its success, what it was like directing her co-star Fred Dryer, and the massive cultural phenomenon Hunter became when China first opened its borders to Western television.

Finally, get an exclusive sneak peek into her brand-new paranormal and spiritual podcast launching later this year, The Other Side with Stepfanie Kramer!

Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.

• 00:00 — Introduction - Meet Stephanie
• 01:02 — The Missing Piece: The Audition Process for Hunter
• 01:52 — The Riptide Spin-Off That Almost Changed Everything
• 02:44 — The Mystery Envelope: A Second Position Audition
• 03:20 — Why NBC Executives Changed the Title Hunter & McCall
• 03:59 — Aging Up: Wearing a Suit to Look 10 Years Older
• 04:38 — Facing the "Suits" in the Network Mini-Theaters
• 05:38 — "That Girl": How Fred Dryer Picked His Co-Star
• 06:25 — A Chance Encounter w/Fred Dryer in the Health Food Frozen Section
• 08:42 — From the Gridiron to Hollywood: Fred Dryer's NFL Background
• 11:04 — Rewriting Hunter: Fixing Scripts on the Fly
• 12:14 — The 90-Hour Work Weeks: "It Exacts Its Pound of Flesh"
• 14:52 — The Hardest Gig in LA: Going Through 8 Crews in One Year
• 16:55 — Action to Romance: The Metamorphosis of the Show
• 18:37 — The Flashback Episode: The Truth About Their "Affair"
• 22:22 — The Forgotten Episode Featuring a Young George Clooney
• 23:25 — Sharing the Screen with True Greats: Jane Russell & Sammy Davis Jr.
• 24:52 — Late Night Phone Calls and Singing Duets with Bob Hope
• 27:51 — Frank Sinatra's Intimate 40-Guest Birthday Party
• 33:29 — Crawling Through Pipes with Uzis: The Physical Stunts
• 34:50 — On-Set Disasters: The Blank Blast That Blew Out an Eardrum
• 37:59 — "She Shot Me!": The Shocking Prop Gun Mishap
• 41:22 — The Dark Side of Fame: Mentally Unsound Fans & Armed Escorts
• 43:37 — Living Under 24/7 Guard: A Motorhome on the Property
• 48:04 — Training at the Police Academy & Inspiring Real-Life Female Officers
• 52:08 — "What I Do vs. Who I Am": Staying Grounded in Hollywood
• 54:51 — Choosing Motherhood Over Hollywood: Leaving Hunter at the Peak
• 57:31 — Stepping Behind the Camera: Directing Fred Dryer
• 1:02:35 — National Obsession: Becoming a Sensation in 1980s China
• 1:05:00 — The Ultimate Challenge: Learning a Theme Song in Chinese in 48 Hours
• 1:12:39 — Juggling with Tom Hanks: Early Days on Bosom Buddies
• 1:18:01 — The Next Chapter: Launching The Other Side with Stephanie Kramer