Fame (1982 TV Series) - Details

Details

The show was produced by MGM Television and was initially broadcast on the NBC television network in the US on January 7, 1982. Despite glowing reviews from critics, ratings were less than impressive, and NBC cancelled it after only two seasons. However, by special arrangement with LBS Communications, MGM revived the series for first-run syndication in the fall of 1983, where it continued for four more seasons, with the last first-run episode airing in the US on May 18, 1987.

Some seasons of the show were produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom, RAI in Italy and Channel 7 in Australia, where later seasons of the show were more popular than in the domestic market, and in order to continue production, they financed the later seasons.

Following its cancellation, two versions of the series were syndicated in reruns: the original hour-long episodes, which usually contained a primary plot, a sub plot and two or more musical numbers; and a second version, stripped of the musical numbers and the sub plot and reduced to 30 minutes in length.

The show's theme song was a pop hit for singer Irene Cara, having been featured in the motion picture. A re-recorded version of the theme, using similar instrumentation to the 1980 track, was used in the TV series and sung by co-star Erica Gimpel, who played Coco Hernandez.

Although Gimpel left the series midway through the third season (after the show moved from NBC to first-run syndication in 1983), her opening vocals were still heard on the show for two more seasons. An updated version of the song, featuring a modern, synthesized hard-rock flavor, was introduced in the fall of 1985 and performed by new cast member Loretta Chandler (Dusty). This version ran for the final two seasons of Fame.

"I Still Believe In Me", from an episode of the series entitled "Passing Grade", was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Original Song. It was performed by Erica Gimpel and Debbie Allen and co-written by Gary Portnoy who would go on to co-write and sing the Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name). In the UK, two singles credited to The Kids from "Fame", "Hi-Fidelity" and "Starmaker", reached the top ten.

There were four cast members from the original movie that appeared in the television series. Lee Curreri portrayed the character Bruno Martelli, an introverted musical genius.

The second cast member was Gene Anthony Ray who portrayed Leroy Johnson, a tough hood from the projects with a natural talent for dance who muscles his way into an audition and wins. In the film, Leroy is also illiterate, but this was not addressed in the television series.

The third film castmember was Albert Hague who played teacher Benjamin Shorofsky, a German music teacher who constantly battled with Bruno Martelli over music styles.

The final castmember from the film was Debbie Allen who played dance instructor Lydia Grant. Although Allen only appeared briefly in the movie, her character was expanded in the series and she also became the show's original choreographer, in addition to directing several episodes and co-producing one season.

There were also several characters carried over from the movie, played by different actors. The character of Coco Hernandez appeared on the show, played by Erica Gimpel and not Irene Cara, who was offered the role by the show's producers, but politely declined as she wanted to focus on developing her budding singing career. Actor P.R. Paul played Montgomery McNeil in the series, while ER actor Paul McCrane portrayed the gay student in the film. The Montgomery character was changed for TV and was no longer gay. The character Doris Schwartz, played by Valerie Landsburg, was in the series while the character of Doris Finsecker appeared in the film version and was portrayed by Maureen Teefy.

The character of Ralph Garcy metamorphosed into the character of Danny Amatullo for the TV version.

Since 2011, reruns of Fame air in the United States on the arts-focused cable network Ovation.