Carmela Isabella What Fame Means To Me

FAME TV SHOW – by Carmela Isabella

I loved watching the television show Fame as a kid - the music, dancing, lessons and the compassionate characters of the teachers. Even though I could never sing, dance or act nor did I ever have any desire to do so professionally, the show made me want to have fun, learn, participate in school activities and even enjoy school.  Fast forward 30 years later, I am in awe on how much Fame still impacts my life. In hindsight, I think Fame has been more influential to me as an adult than when I was a kid. 

While I loved, and still love all the characters from Fame, Carol Mayo Jenkins’ portrayal of Elizabeth Sherwood impacted my life the most.  I wasn't even in high school when I first watched Fame however in my eyes, the character of Miss Sherwood was such a genuine and compassionate person that I wanted to be just like her, a mentor to teenagers and a high school teacher.  Unfortunately, my dad wouldn't let become a teacher and instead sent me to a business high school.  After graduating high school, I spent my late teens and most of my 20’s working in the business world and volunteering with teenagers.  I always loved singing all the songs from the show and even today, every time I hear the song Fame or pass through certain parts of Manhattan, which is where they filmed many of the outdoor scenes, I attempted to jump in the air and dance.

In May of 2011, I was visiting my mom in New York when I randomly heard Erica Gimpel singing. To my surprise and excitement, mom was watching Fame.  This happen to be [I think] the first day the Ovation Channel in the U.S. started to air all six seasons of Fame (mom apparently was watching the show that preceded Fame); this was also around the same time I came across Mark Perkins’ Kids From Fame Media blog.  Reconnecting with Fame cohorts, the Ovation Channel broadcasting all six seasons of Fame, being friends with some of the cast of Fame on Facebook and Twitter and all of the wonderful treasures Mark Perkins shares has enriched my life tremendously.  

Watching all six seasons of Fame as an adult verifies Carol’s impact on my life.  I sort of found myself living a parallel life of Miss Sherwood, politically and somewhat professionally.  The character of Elizabeth Sherwood is a very passionate woman, with no interest in show business.  Sherwood always fought for what she believed in and the right for the kids to be in show business by taking on the institution, the board of education and anything or anyone that prevented these young people from following their dreams.  Every time I watch Sherwood fight for her beliefs, I feel as though she is fighting with me and my friends in real life in the U.S.  Every time I watch the episodes about the battles with the board of education (for materials, money for programs, teachers’ rights-the strikes, etc.), the episodes Tomorrow’s Children of the Sixties (peace vs. war), Hail to the Chief (when they list the reasons why Sherwood was a security risk), and some of the other episodes Sherwood is standing up for her beliefs, you might as well just insert me in the television because most of these issues I have been [for years], and in some instances still am, battling these issues in real life. 

In addition, even though I never became a teacher, I have a bachelor and master degree of social work and I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children in Washington, DC.  I can relate with many of the dramatic scenes between Ms. Sherwood and the students, especially with Leroy, because these situations are similar to some of the situations I have been in as a social worker.

I have had only a few role models come in my life over the years and I am in awe that one TV character (Elizabeth Sherwood) was able to motivate me as a child and inspire me years later as an adult.  I did not quite understand the reality of these stories when I was younger, then there was a gap with no Fame and today, sometimes I have to remind myself Fame is indeed fiction and based on characters and stories.  Fiction or not, every time I watch Fame it is so evident to me that Carol Mayo Jenkins felt very passionate about her portrayal of Elizabeth Sherwood and that thrive, compassion, feistiness in Miss Sherwood has become a role model for me and motivates me to continue my fight for humanity and justice.

I am sad to see that the people in the U.S. (I’m not sure about other countries and territories) are still fighting what I thought were fictional battles 30 years ago.