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Thursday 31 August 2023

Valerie Landsburg MGM Official Biography


Valerie Landsburg, Official MGM Press release biography for season 1 of Fame.





Lyric of the Week

 


Which Fame Song Does The Lyric "And you’ll wake one Morning Just to find Your Courage Gone." Come from?

Valerie Landsburg This Morning Interview 2004


Valerie Landsburg interviewed on U.K. TV programme "This Morning". Valerie also performs "Hi Fidelity and the cast of the London production of the Fame Musical end the performance with "Fame".

 

Tuesday 29 August 2023

Michael Cerveris Discusses Gene Anthony Ray

 

last dance
the final episode was a bittersweet one for everyone, and maybe even more so now. It was a big love fest with alumni from the roots of the show mingling with those of us who were carrying it to the finish line. Getting to know
Valerie
,
Cynthia
,
Erica
,
Lee
, and
Carol
was a joy. But saying good bye was hard. And not knowing that we'd too soon be saying good bye forever to some is even harder in hindsight. The loss of Carrie is one that everyone who knew her feels deeply to this day. And not long after, we lost a brother who was the essence of the story the series told.
Gene Anthony Ray's character Leroy embodied the dreams of every kid who the world had given up on or didn't take care of in the first place. He was troubled and he was trouble and he was jaw-droppingly gifted. So it was perfect that Gene Anthony himself had been kicked out of the real life NY High School for the Performing Arts that we were all pretending to still be young enough to attend on the series. He was an innately gifted dancer, singer and actor with boundless energy and trouble figuring out where to put it all. And he was a beautiful, big hearted heartbreak waiting to happen. He could be kind, surly, funny, fierce and FIERCE. I was in awe of him and loved him and was frustrated by him and for him, sometimes all at the same time.
Maybe there are some people whose special light has to consume itself. All we can do is treasure the glow and try to keep the flame lit. Maybe there's more we could each have done for the Leroys in our lives. Maybe there just wasn't. But we shouldn't keep trying any less hard.

Valerie Landsburg in All Is Forgiven

 


Valerie Landsburg on All is Forgiven 1986 




Monday 28 August 2023

Producer Michael McGreevey Comments on the Final Episode Deleted Subplot

 


Replying to Michael Cerveris' Facebook post on the Final episode of "Fame" Producer Michael McGreevey revealed there was a Deleted Subplot featuring Ian, Bruno and Shorofsky which was filmed but not broadcast.

Michael said: 

"This post brought tears to my eyes, Michael. Thanks for the shout out. FAME was a wonderful experience for me. And the character of Ian Ware was one of my favorite creations - you brought him to life better than I ever could have imagined. My only regret about the last show is that I had written a lovely subplot for Ian, Bruno and Shorofsky. You guys did a wonderful job realizing it on film, but Debbie Allen's Director's Cut of the episode was almost 20 minutes too long. We tried to convince MGM to air the finale as a 90 minute Special, but the syndication contracts prohibited any episode over 60 minutes. Debbie and I were heartbroken, but the powers-to-be forced us to cut that great subplot. I think Debbie kept a copy of her cut. If you ever meet up with her again, you might ask her to share it with you."

Doris 1982 Calendar



What a 1982 Doris Fame Calendar might have looked like.













Manhattan - Valerie Landsburg & Erica Gimpel - Song on of the Week


The lyric "Where Else Could This Have Happened?" comes from "Manhattan - from the Season 2 Episode "Winners" Written by Henry Gaffney it is performed by Valerie Landsburg & Erica Gimpel.


Download MP3


Manhattan, You Deserve a Patent,
Some Say You Should Be Flattened.
Oh Manhattan it's you or me.

You Really Needn't Be Combatant,
While Living in Manhattan.
Where Else Could This Have Happened?
I said Manhattan, It's You or Me.

I Love the Potholes In The Streets.
I Love to Hear the Cars Go
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep.

In New York you can lose your lungs,
Turn around and be missing your thumbs.
Take a Walk in the park Just after dark
and come out in the morning on a stretcher.

I love the potholes in the streets.
I love to hear your cars go
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep,
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep,
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep.

Manhattan, you really ought to know your charming,
and it's not so alarming,
that you're charming me.

Manhattan, You deserve a Patent,
Some say you should be flattened.
Oh Manhattan it's you or me.

I love the potholes in the streets.
I love to hear your cars go
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep.

Manhattan, Oh Manhattan,
You really ought to know your charming,
You're So Charming,
and it's not so alarming
that you're charming me.
Oh Manhattan it's you or me. Yeah!






Friday 25 August 2023

Ebay of the Week


 This week a Fame poster from 1982 advertising the merchandise available and the Event of the Year the cast performing in the U.K. for the first time.

View Auction 

Valerie Landsburg Garbo Magazine 1983




Valerie Landsburg Garbo Magazine 1983 





Legacy Instrumental


"Legacy" is an instrumental piece of music written by Gary Scott and comes from season 6 episode "Baby Remember My Name"

Download MP3 



Thursday 24 August 2023

Valerie Landsburg NME Interview September 1982





Valerie Landsburg NME Interview September 1982