An excellent spin-off series based on the hit 1980 film of the same name, "Fame" tells the story of a group of students at a school for Performing Arts in New York who will do whatever it takes to make it in the world of entertainment.
hide
show
The New York School for Performing Arts is the setting for this highly successful show which aired from 1982 - 1987. Starring Debbie Allen as dance teacher Lydia Grant, Gene Anthony Ray as dance student Leroy Johnston, Valerie Landsburg as singer Doris Schwartz, Erica Gimpel as singer/dancer Coco Hernandez, Lori Singer as cellist Julie Miller, Lee Curreri as musician Bruno Martelli and Carlo Imperato as stand-up comedian Danny Amatullo, the show had a universal appeal for viewers of all ages.
Adapting a show from a hit movie is always a risk but in this case, the gamble paid off brilliantly as the show found itself a cult following across America and around the world. While following the lives of the students, the writers and producers of the show where also not afraid to address such vital issues as anorexia, racism, terminal illness and bigotry. The cast was truly an ensemble one, with each character given large amounts of screen time and relevant storylines throughout the entire run of the show.
In later seasons, Billy Hufsey, (well known from his role in "Days Of Our Lives") Cynthia Gibb, Janet Jackson and Nia Peeples, among others joined the cast as some of the originals left to pursue other projects. There were also several national and international concert tours by the main cast which were hugely popular, particularly in the US and Britain.
Very classy song and dance numbers, a strong supporting cast, talented guest actors and realistic storylines made "Fame" incredibly popular and extremely watchable. During its run, the show was the recipient of several prestigious awards and the cast featured in a US anti-drugs campaign with the message "You can't Fly if you're High".
Now available on DVD, rewatching the series is as much fun now as it was in the 80s!
TV.com
