Fame Connections Top of the Pops

 

Top of the Pops is a British Music TV programme that ran weekly from 1st January 1964 to 30 July 2006. Made by the BBC the show would countdown the Singles charts and feature performances from acts that were doing well on the charts.

In 1982 as "Fame" started rise in popularity and singles were released the cast made a number of appearances. On 15th July 1982 when the title song hot the Number One spot, Lee Curreri, Gene Anthony ray, Carol Mayo Jenkins and Valerie Landsburg appeared in the form of a video message to thank the fans for making the theme number one. Irene Cara also recorded a video message and performed a specially recorded version of Fame on the streets of New York City. 

On 26th August 1982 Valerie Landsburg was in the U.K. on a promotional trip for "Hi Fidelity" she appeared on Top of the Pops for a brief interview.

The videos for "Fame", "Hi Fidelity" and "Starmaker" were shown a number of times and the songs climbed the charts.

Also the cast were featured in the 1984 Top of The Pops Annual.

On 7th April 1983 The Kids From Fame were on tour in the U.K. Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Carlo Imperato, Gene Anthony Ray and Lori Singer were at the filming of the Top of the Pops and each had a brief Interview between the songs.

On 26th March 1987 Janet Jackson made her first live appearance on the show performing "Let's Wait Awhile". Janet would return to the studio over the next 15 years to perform in person for her singles "Rhythm Nation", "That's The Way Love Goes", "Got Til It's Gone", "Together Again", "All For You" and "Just A Little While". In addition there would be special video performances recorded especially for the show for "Again" and "Doesn't Really Matter" and in concert videos for "Whoops Now" and "Someone To Call My Lover".  

In September 1987 CBS in America launched a U.S. version of the show. The U.K. version had always been hosted by Radio DJs but in the U.S. Nia Peeples hosted the show. Nia would link up with the U.K. version to include performances of U.K. acts from London. The show which aired late Friday nights wasn't a ratings success and only last 6 months before being cancelled. 

On 23rd March 1989 2 Fame dancers (Shaun Earl and Michael Rooney) appeared on the UK Show as back up dancers for Paula Abdul with her hit Single "Straight  Up".

The Story of 1982

 Top of the pops Annual 1984

Fame TOTP Appearances

Janet Jackson TOTP Appearances

Fame Connections : Hotel

 Hotel is an American TV Series based on the Arthur Hailey novel of the same name, which aired on ABC between 1983 and 1988. 

The series followed the lives of the staff and guests at the elegant St Gregory's Hotel in San Francisco.

114 episodes were made spanning 5 seasons. The series starred James Brolin, Connie Sellecca and Shari Bellafonte.

In 1987 having left Fame and just had her daughter Taylor, Valerie Landsburg joined the cast of Hotel for the 5th and final season playing Hotel Receptionist Cheryl Dolan.

Fame Cast Member guest starred on Hotel in 2 episodes playing 2 different characters:  He played Gary Hanzlick in the season 2 episode broadcast 19th December 1984 titled "Final Chapters" and Jeffrey in the season 4 episode broadcast 28th January 1987 titled "Controlling Interests".  

Albert Hague also guest starred on Hotel in 2 episodes playing 2 different characters:  He played Dr Kazmir in the 1983 episode "The Offer" and  Ben Garfield in the 1987 episode story "Prized Possessions". Valerie was on the show in the latter is episode too but unfortunately Albert didn't share any scenes with her.

"Hotel" would feature well known guest stars every week, a number of which also guest starred on "Fame" including Greg Evigan,  Lew Ayres, Arte Johnson, Gwen Verdon, Betty White, Julie Carmen, William Allen Young and Fame dancer Joni Palmer.

"Hotel" would also use some of the same directors that also worked on "Fame" including Robert Scheerer,Oz Scott, Harry Harris, Gwen Arner and Kevin Hooks.  Also Husband and wife writing team Sharon and Paul Boorstin who wrote  on 4 epsidoes of "Fame" were writers and executive story editors on "Hotel". Other writers who worked on both shows include: Gary Kott, Steve Klein and Bruce Shelly.

 

Fame Connections: Bill on his Own

 

"Bill On His Own" is an American made for TV Film from 1983.  Starring Mickey Rooney, it is a sequel to the 1981 TV Movie "Bill" and follows the life and intellectually disabled older man who has spent all his life in institutions.  The story is based on the real life of Bill Sackter.

Mickey Rooney won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance in the original movie and in 1983 the sequel was made.

In 1934 Mickey Rooney signed a contract with MGM, who produced Fame, and appeared in many of the studios films, including a number of musicals with Judy Garland. From 1938 to 1943 he was in the Top 10 box office stars, heading the list for 3 of those years.

Mickey Rooney is the father of Dancer and Choreographer, Michael Rooney.  Michael was one of the fame dancers during the time "Bill on his Own" was made and aired.

Alan Landsburg, Valerie's father was the Executive Producer on both "Bill" and "Bill On His Own". The films were also released by Alan's  production company: Alan Landsburg Productions.

Fame's Lee Curreri wrote the score and incidental music, for "Bill On His Own."  This was one of the first projects that Lee wrote for outside of "Fame". The official Fame magazine reported that Valerie and her boyfriend James McVay were helping Lee with the project. Valerie has no credit on the movie.

However, James is credited for writing and singing the films opening theme song  "Better to Fly", which is a very Fame like Song.  

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Fame Connections: Knots Landing

 

Knots Landing is an American night time Soap Opera that ran for 14 seasons on CBS from 27th December 1979 to 13th May 1993, following the lives of the residents of Sea View Circle, a Californian Cul-de-sac.  Created by David Jacobs, he presented it to CBS in 1977 but they wanted something more saga like, so he went away and came up with Dallas. When that was a hit he re-pitched Knots Landing as a spin off following the black sheep of the Ewing family, Gary to a new life in California. 

After 14 years and 344 episodes the show came to an end but 4 years later in 1997 the cast reunited for a 2 part Miniseries titled "Back To the Cul-de-sac".

Fame was filmed at the MGM Studios in Culver City. Lorimar productions which produced Knots Landing, Dallas and Falcon Crest also filmed on the MGM lot. The fame cast have talked hour their sound stage was near the Knots Landing and Dallas sets and they would often mess around on the other show's sets. 

In 1986 during Fame's final Season the MGM Lot was sold to Lorimar Telepictures and the studios were renamed.

There were quite a few directors who worked on both Fame and Knots Landing including:  Allan Arkush, Robert Scheerer, Michael Peters, Nicholas Sgarro, Peter Levin and Lorraine Senna. Other crew members who worked on both shows include Dan Yale and Duncan McEwan who both worked in the sound departments. Also writer Parke Perine worked on both shows.

Episode titles like "Choices", "Secrets", "Expose" and Homecoming" were used on both shows.

In 1982 during Knots' 4th season they introduced a character as a resident singer, Ciji, played by Lisa Hartman on the show meaning like Fame, many episodes included a song performances. When the characters was killed off at the end of that season the public response was so strong that Lisa Hartman was brought back as a look a like character who also turned out to be a singer, named Cathy Geary. Knots Landing like Fame only has 2 seasons released on DVD and the issues with music rights have prevented further releases.

A few Fame cast members appeared in Knots Landing over the years.

Ann Nelson appeared in 6 episodes from Seasons 11 & 12 from 1990 to 1991 playing Mrs Richfield a rich investor who the Summer Group were doing business with.

Dick Miller made an appearance in the Season 4 Episode "To Have and To Hold" in 1983 playing Al Spanky who was a witness at Karen and Mack's Wedding in Las Vegas.

Ken Swofford played Sheriff Pickings in the 1983 Season 5 episode "Nowhere To Run" involved in capturing Chip Roberts who was on the run for murder.   

    

Graham Jarvis appeared briefly in a 1991 episode from season 13 titled "I Claudia" playing George Ammons an oceanographer.

A number of the actors who played the kid's parents in Fame had roles on Knots Landing:

Louis Giambalva who played Danny's father in 2 episodes of season 4 on Fame appeared as Phil Harbert  in 9 episodes of Knots Landing in 1986 from seasons 7 and 8 an old friend of Greg and Mack's who is responsible for kidnapping Karen.

Jennifer Rhodes who appeared in 3 episodes of Season 4 of Fame as Nicole's Mother, also appeared in small roles in 3 episodes of Knots Landing. In Season 1 in 19800 she played a chair person at a school meeting and in Season 12 from 1990 she played an Attorney in 2 episodes.

Barry Jenner who played Holly's Father in the season 4 episode "Reflections" appeared in 5 episodes of Knots Landing as Jeff Cunningham, Abby's ex husband who ends up kidnapping their children when he thinks Abby is an unfit mother.

Royce Wallace who played Leroy's Mother in the Season 1 episode "Reunions" on Fame, played Martha a restaurant employee in the Knots Landing episode "Encounters" from season 4 in 1982.

There were also a couple of other Fame guest stars that had roles in Knots Landing:

Stuart Pankin who played the game show host Happy Burke in the Season 4 episode "Wishes" on Fame, also played Benny Appleman a con man associate of Anne Matheson in 9 episodes of Season 13 inn 1991. 

Lew Ayres who played Bert Kline the older man who Doris inadvertently  fell in love with when she dresses as a senior citizen in the Season 3 episode  of Fame "A Way of Winning" also played Andrew Douglas in the 1982 episodes of Knots Landing from Season 3 titled "Silver Shadows", a dying movie director who becomes infatuated with Abby believing she looked like a classic movie star he was once in love with.

William Allen Young who played Lydia's ex boyfriend in "Passing Grade" appeared in 7 episodes of Knots Landing during season 14 in 1992 & 1993 playing Cliff Templeman

Gigi Vorgan played Holly's anorexic friend Tina in the Season 4 episode "Reflections" and she also played Greg Sumner's assistant Carol in 13 episodes of Knots Landing from 1983 to 1987.

Fame Connections: V

 

V is an American Sci Fi Series that started as a 2 part miniseries which aired in May 1983.  It was hugely successful and a further 3 part mini series titled V: The Final Battle was broadcast in May 1984. This was followed by a 19 episodes Series that aired between October 1984 and March 1985. The budget was not enough to maintain the quality of the 2 miniseries and the show was cancelled after its first season. 

The series was remade in a 2009 reboot which lasted for 2 seasons before it was cancelled.

There are a number of links to Fame from the 2 original Miniseries.

V was created by Kenneth Johnson, who had created, written and produced big Sci Fi shows like The Bionic Woman & The Incredible Hulk. On V he wrote and directed  the original 2 part miniseries. After disagreements with the Network on the direction of the 2nd miniseries he left the production and in 1984 he created and wrote the TV Series "Hot Pursuit", which starred Fame's Erica Pierpoint and Mike Preston, who would later gest star as Ian Ware's father in the episode "Pros and Cons".  Billy Hufsey would also guest star in the Pilot episode of Hot Pursuit. Fame guest stars Glynn Turman and Greg Longstreet would guest on this show too. In additional Fame's Executive producers Harry and Renee Longstreet would write and direct episodes.

Kenneth directed the 1988 comedy sci fi film "Short Circuit 2" which starred Cynthia Gibb.

Kenneth would also go on to create Alien Nation and Eric Pierpoint would also be a lead on that TV show and Harry & Renee Longstreet would also write and direct episodes.  Fame guest stars Robert Romanus and Will Bledsoe would also guest on Alien Nation.   

  

V was aired on NBC which was the American Network that originally broadcast Fame. One of the leading stars of V was Marc Singer, who played News Reporter and freedom fighter Mike Donovan. Marc is the older brother of Fame's Lori Singer.

     

A number of V cast members would guest star on "Fame". Firstly David Packer who played collaborator Daniel Bernstein on V had a brief guest role on Fame as a waiter in the season 2 episode "Class Act".    

Then there is Dominique Dunne who played runaway Tracy in the season 1 episode "Street Kid". Dominique was cast in the role of Robin Maxwell on V and had already filmed some scenes, when she was tragically murdered by an ex boyfriend. She'd actually been rehearsing with David Packer just before she was killed. The role of Robin was recast with Blair Tefkin taking the part and scenes had to be reshot. However, there is the odd scene where Dominique is still on screen, usually from behind or in long shot so the audience don't notice.  

Fame's Dick Miller played a counterfeiter Dan Pascal in 2 episodes of  The Final Battle and actress Diane Civita (Dian Cary now) who played Harmony Moore in V guest starred in the season 6 episode of Fame "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore playing Miss Maguire the biology teacher.  

Behind the Scenes Fame Executives Harry and Renee Longstreet contributed storyline ideas and had a hand in writing V The Final Battle and TV Series and Susan Goldberg who on Fame was the Executive Story Consultant on Season 6, as well as writing 3 episodes  that season was also involved in writing V The Final Battle.      

If anyone knows of any further links between Fame and V then let us know.