I'm Mark & I've been a Fame fan since the beginning of the TV Series in 1982. This blog is dedicated to the incredibly talented cast of the show who have brought so much comfort and pleasure to my life over the last 40 odd years.
Every week day we post and our Archive can be found on the Kids from Fame Media TV Series Archive Website.
Including Interviews, Episode Information and Videos, Scripts, Merchandise, MP3 Downloads, Reunions, Fan Fiction, Cast and Crew Information.
We are very excited to announce that Loretta Chandler will be our first special guest at the Fame Family Experience Fame convention. Part of the Fame U.K. Reunion. Loretta played Preacher's daughter Dusty Tyler in Seasons 5 and 6 from 1985 to 1987. Sadly the BBC didn't show those episodes in the U.K. but they were broadcast on the Children's Channel in the early 90s. You can also watch them in the Fame Episodes Group on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/228844867743106/?
Loretta with her big powerful voice was given the honour of re-recording the “Fame” Theme for the opening and closing titles for those last 2 seasons and she won the Luminous Award for the episode 'Self Defense".
After “Fame” Loretta had guest appearances on a Movie of the Week called “Give Me My Child” starring Valerie Bertinelli, “A Different World” and “Misery Brothers”, however, Loretta’s first love is music and theatre.
Loretta’s passion for theatre has allowed her to star in numerous national tours such as; “Dream Girls”, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”, “The Gospel Truth”, “Law’d Ha Mercy” “Wait Until Dark”, “Out Of The Frying Pan” and “Harlem Suite” where a special solo featured spot was created for her by the director and co-writers, Maurice Hines and Jennifer Holiday. Currently,
Loretta has a new love, writing, directing and producing her own work. She is most proud of her latest venture, “The Black Path Finders!”
Debbie Allen is holding her annual DADA Gala on November 1st. Here's what Debbie had to say about it:
"Join me for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s (@officialdadance) 18th Annual Gala featuring @LinesBallet and DeeDee Bridgewater on Thurs. 11/1 at @thewallisbh!!! For tickets or to donate please contact Dina Bartello at (310) 280-9145. I’ll see you on the dance floor!"
“Fame” has always had a very special place in the hearts of the people from the U.K. The summer of 1982 cannot be remembered without thinking of the energy and excitement that the TV series generated. Right from the outset, on 17th June 1982, the TV series became a huge ratings hit for the BBC, regularly placing in the Top 5 TV programmes. “Fame” made Thursday nights must see TV with Top of The Pops as its lead in, finally the youth of the nation had its own night dedicated to pop music and dancing. Soon “Fame” Mania began to sweep the Country.
The “Fame” Theme Song had already been getting attention due to the BBC’s publicity promos for the TV series. Sadly RCA records were unable to secure the rights from RSO records to release Erica Gimpel’s version of the theme as RSO had plans of their own. They quickly re-released Irene Cara’s version of the song from the original 1980 “Fame” Movie. The song hadn’t charted in the U.K. on its original release but the power of the TV show had the song entering the charts just 2 weeks after the show’s debut. Exactly one month after the show began the Theme was at number one in the U.K. singles chart where it stayed for 3 weeks becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. The Top of The Pops audience was full of people wearing “Fame” T-shirts, a trend soon replicated around the British Isles. Members of the TV Series cast made a special message, broadcast on Top of the Pops, where they thanked the British public for their love and support.
A week after Irene Cara hit the Number One Singles spot, The Kids from Fame Album leapt into the U.K. album charts. Two weeks later it was also Number One, knocking the Original Fame Soundtrack album off the top, where it stayed for 8 consecutive weeks, only dropping down when the first series of “Fame” came to an end on BBC TV. However, a few weeks later with the success of the number 3 single “Starmaker” the album regained the top spot and stayed there for a further 4 weeks. With a total of 12 weeks at number One the album became the biggest selling BBC Records album ever and it became the 2nd biggest selling album of 1982. After a hit TV series, 2 huge selling albums and 2 top 5 singles the next step was a tour. The U.K. was the first place the “Fame” cast ever performed live.
On a break in filming the second season, for the Christmas holidays, 6 members of the cast fly to the U.K. and performed 9 concerts in a whirlwind 5 day tour! Demand for the tickets was huge and it was quickly announced that they would return 3 months later, when filming on the Second Season was complete. With fantastic reviews a live album and video were prepared for release in early 1983 just as the Fame gang returned for a much bigger second tour. The live single “Friday Night” also became a big U.K. hit and the cast were all over U.K. TV and the press. As the tour came to an end the second season of “Fame” burst on to British TV screens. An abundance of merchandise flooded the U.K. market: 2 further Top 30 albums; novels, annuals, posters, sticker books, ice cream lollies, colouring books, magazines and a large assortment of “Fame” clothing, with legwarmers becoming the must have fashion item.
In America the series was in trouble and poor ratings led to cancellation by NBC, the TV network that had broadcast the first two seasons. It looked like the dream was over, however the BBC started talks with MGM and Italian TV Company RAI to co-finance two further seasons which were to keep “Fame” on the air for 2 more years in the U.K.
In January 1986 the last new episode of “Fame” was broadcast and apart from a series of repeats made up of episodes from seasons 1 and 2, which were broadcast later that summer, “Fame” sadly came to an end in the U.K. However, the show was never forgotten by the British public. Repeats were broadcast on short lived satellite channels like the Children’s Channel and Granada Plus in the early 90s and 00s. New documentaries celebrating the show, and reuniting cast members, were commissioned and broadcast by the BBC (Remember My Name) in 2003 and Channel 4 (Bring Back Fame) in 2009. This all helped to keep the “Fame” memory alive and we dared to dream that one day the cast would return to British shores to perform together once more.
Now after all those years of dreaming and waiting those dreams are finally coming true with Fame U.K. Reunion. Eight original cast members will reunite in Liverpool May 3rd to 6th 2019 for a long weekend of music, dance, family and “Fame” Magic. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience!
Fame U.K. Reuion is going to be the best party of 2019 but there is also a serious side to the Reunion. All profits from #fameukreunion will be donated to Claire House Children's Hospice.
Valerie Landsburg said: "The visit to Clare House Hospice with my friend Sue Hinds was an eye-opening experience. This was an approach to support not only a child or teenager with a critical illness or a severe on going health situation that will shorten their life expectancy, but one that... cradles the entire family through what may be the hardest journey of their lives.”
TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!!! Debbie Allen’s award-winning family spectacular “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” starring Debbie Allen and carlo Imperato, at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 6th to 9th December with an EXCITING new number choreographed by Tony Award Winner Savion Glover!!! Get your tickets TODAY at https://m.ovationtix.com/pr/1000599!!!
There are 2 new VTP Packages available for the Fame U.K. Reunion:
The Once In A While Zinc Package: This is a package which includes a seat at the Monday matinee show on either the 6th or 7th row (these are now the very best seats you can buy for either of the Reunion concerts) as well as “coffee and cake” with the cast. These tickets are selling for £100.
The beauty of the matinee show is that you may have the option of travelling in to Liverpool just for the day, which will of course save you any accommodation costs.
The Tomorrow Morning Aluminium Package: This is a package with simply the “coffee and cake” ticket on its own because we realise many of you will have already purchased your concert ticket in the interim time period. These are selling for £50. Buy Tickets
Don’t miss out this time as we don’t believe it will be possible to create any more spaces anywhere at our concert VIP events.
On the U.K. album chart for 1st October 1983 the Kids From Fame Sing For You album is down to number 62. This is the last week that any Kids From Fame Album will appear on the charts and so sadly this is the final charts post.
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