I'm Mark & I've Been a Fame fan since 1982. This blog is dedicated to the incredibly talented cast of the show and is a place to share music, videos and pictures. To contact me please send emails to:mark1814uk@googlemail.com
At number 5 on my Top Ten Things I love about Fame is Debbie Allen:
The entire cast worked really hard on Fame but for me, no one worked harder than Debbie. Just the normal singing, dancing and acting that she did on the show as Lydia was hard enough work but Debbie did so very much more.
I’ve heard her say in interviews that she made a lot of sacrifices in her personal life to do Fame and I think that really shines through. Not only did she do the choreography, but right from the start she had a very clear vision of the creative direction she wanted the show to go in. Most of the production staff had little clue about the dancing and music side of things so pretty much it was left to Debbie to decide on the creative issues and how the shows production numbers would look.
She was virtually directing these parts of the episodes so it was a natural progression for Debbie to become an actual producer and director on the show. I believe she was the first African American Woman to direct prime time American TV, which is a major feat in itself.
The fact that Debbie remained with the show for all 6 seasons despite the fact that in her personal life she was dealing with divorce, the death of her Father, marriage and having children, is a great achievement. Did anyone even notice she was pregnant in season 3 and then rushed back from her maternity leave to start season 4? Did anyone notice she was pregnant at the end of season 6? Whatever was happening around her Debbie just got on with the job.
There's yet another change of the DVD version of Season 2's "Help From My Friends" episode. The start of the episode the dancers should be dancing to an instrumental version of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Something" but on the DVD this has been replaced by a different instrumental.
Here's the original scene:
There are a couple of additional scenes later where the action cuts back to the dance class and they are still performing the routine. Again the music has been replaced.
Well, we are still waiting for season 3 to be released on DVD and as it's been over a year since season 2 was released in America and approaching a year since the U.K. release, so the signs aren't looking good.
Maybe it's time to let the powers that be know we are still here and still want more Fame DVDs.
20th Century Fox currently hold the disribution rights so maybe a few emails might get their attention.
Here's a link to take you directly to their contact page. Simply input your name, email address, click DVD/Blu Ray and include a brief message for them to release season 3. It only takes a takes a minute.
On the right side at the top there is a select Country drop down menu, which after you choose the appropriate country will take you to the correct site. Sadly not all of the sites have the same contact button as the U.K. sites but have a look and see if there is another way to make your views heard.
Best of Luck and please let me know if any of you receive a reply.
Made in 1989 and staring Cythnia Gibb "The karen Carpenter Story" shows the highs and lows of Karen Carpenter's life from the 1960s to 1983 when she died of Heart Failure, due to her anorexia.
Fame executive producer for seasons 1 to 3, William Blinn was interviewed for the Archive of American TV in 2005. The full interview lasts nearly 4 hours and covers the whole of his career as a writer and producer. The segment on Fame last about 35 minutes and has been broken down into 5 parts. This is part 5.
Bill discusses how they needed to change the original Fame pilot to make it work better. He also gives an idea of what would be happening behind the scenes when planning an episode, which was done at the same time as they were recording the current episode; The problems they had with Gene Anthony Ray; his relationship with Erica Gimpel and Debbie Allen and how he was fired by MGM from the show.
"The Spirit is Alive" comes from the season 5 episode "Losin' It". The performer is unknown as they are not listed in the episode credits. If anyone does know who this is please contact me.
Behind the scenes making of Fame 2009 movie with interviews with Marguerite Derricks, Kay Panabaker, Naturi Naughton, Walter Perez, Asher Book, Collins Pennie, Paul Mcgill, Kirsty Flores, Kherington Payne, Anna Maria Perez De Tagle, bebe Neuwirth, Paul Iacono, Megan Mullally & Kevin Tancharoen.
Hi Everyone, We're back to start another year of Fame fun! I've made a few changes to the logo and the colours just to give us a fresh look for the new year.
I hope everyone had a really wonderful Christmas and New Year period.
For those of you who feel the need to get back into shape after the holiday period, don't forget Nia Peeples 6 week fitness programme that is starting this month as Nia starts on the journey towards her 50th birthday in December. For more information and to join up go to:
Congratulations to Debbie Allen on the success of The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, in which she featured along with Carlo Imperato. Debbie has vowed that the show will be back next Christmas and has won the Goldstar Nutty Award for the best Nutcracker production.
Debbie had the following to say on winning the award: "I am Just over the moon to receive the news that our production has been voted by theater-going audiences as this year's winner of the Nutty Award. Incredible!"
Well due to the holiday period it may be a shorter month than normal but it's a packed month with our usual mix of interview, videos, mp3s, pictures etc.. We have the 3 final parts to the William Blinn interview. Part 3 goes live today and the other 2 videos will be spread over the rest of the month.
We also have a special in depth fan made documentary on Irene Cara, charting her life and career. Talking about Fame and how she was the first cast member from the film to be asked to do the TV series but turned the role down. It also charts her legal battles with the record company and her fight to her musical royalties. The documentary comes in 5 parts and part 1 will be posted tomorrow, with the other 4 parts going live throughout the month. Here's a preview video:
This months episode of the month is "Losin It" from season 5 and posts for that start tomorrow. The big news for Janet Jackson fans is that her Number Ones Up Close and Personal Tour kicks off in February. Originally scheduled to start on Valentines day February 14th in Hong Kong, it has now been announced that the first date will be in Manila on February 4th. Then Singapore (February 7th), Hong Kong (14th), & Taipei (18th). More dates to be announced soon.
This tour will differ from her previous concert schedules in that she will perform music exclusively from her chart topping CD NUMBER ONES. There will also be a focus on venues that will allow Janet to be up close and personal in a much more intimate setting. This show is JANET more revealed, more intimate, and more personal than ever before.
Janet has expressed her excitement for the upcoming performance in Singapore by stating: “I’ve seen the world, been to many places :). . . the one thing missing was you. We’ll be together in Singapore on February 7th and I can’t wait to sing, dance, and be up close and personal with all of you. Your votes are helping me decide where to bring this very intimate, very different show. It’s not about effects, it’s not an extravaganza, it’s not about being as big as in the past. This one is all about you and me. I love you Singapore. Let’s go!”
Fame executive producer for seasons 1 to 3, William Blinn was interviewed for the Archive of American TV in 2005. The full interview lasts nearly 4 hours and covers the whole of his career as a writer and producer. The segment on Fame last about 35 minutes and has been broken down into 5 parts. This is part 4.
Bill discusses how they needed to change the original Fame pilot to make it work better. He also gives an idea of what would be happening behind the scenes when planning an episode, which was done at the same time as they were recording the current episode; The problems they had with Gene Anthony Ray; his relationship with Erica Gimpel and Debbie Allen and how he was fired by MGM from the show.