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.
"You Can Really Do It" comes from the season 6 episode "Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore", written by Peter R Melnick and Pat Pattison, it is performed by Jesse Borrego, Elisa Heinsohn, Michael Cerveris, Olivia Barash and Robert Romanus.
The Kids From Fame appeared Live on Saturday Superstore on BBC1 before catching their coach to take them to Birmingham to perform their final 2 concerts in the U.K. of the Christmas / New Year Tour at the National Exhibition Centre.
The series is first broadcast in Italy with "Metamorphosis".
Also an episode of "Insight" titled "Clearing House" guest starring Olivia Barash was broadcast in the U.S.
2nd January 1983
The Kids From Fame leave the U.K. flying back to Los Angeles from London Heathrow Airport on 2nd January 1983.
4th January 1983
With the Christmas
Break and U.K. Tour over the cast returned MGM Studios in Culver City on 4th
January 1893 (Lee Curreri's Birthday) to continue filming Season 2 with Episode
18 "Friendship Day". Filming of
the episode would continue until 12th January 1983.
5th January 1983
Cynthia Gibb and
Christopher Atkins attend the Party to Celebrate "Entertainment
Tonight" Coming to WABC-TV at Tavern on the Green in New York City.
Tales of the Golden Monkey episode "Sultan of Swat" guest starring Nia Peeples as Zita was broadcast in America.
6th January 1983
Episode 13 of season
2 "Relationships", guest starring Greg Evigan was broadcast in
America.
7th January 1983
The series is first broadcast in The Netherlands with "Metamorphosis".
8th January 1983
"Passing Grade" first broadcast in Italy.
10th January 1983
Janet Jackson's single "Come Give Your Love To Me" Released in America.
Episode 14 of season
2 "Star Quality" was broadcast in America.
Episode 17 "Blood Sweat and Circuits" written by Lee Curreri was the next to be filmed with production taking place between 13th January and 21st January 1983.
14th January 1983
"Passing Grade" first broadcast in The Netherlands.
15th January 1983
"Tomorrow's Farewell" first broadcast in Italy.
16th January 1983
Debbie Allen's Birthday
17th January 1983
Janet Jackson
attends the 10th Annual American Music Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los
Angeles, California.
20th January 1983
Issue 4 of the Official Fame Magazine was published in U.K. Read Issue
Episode 15 of season
2 "Sunshine Again" was broadcast in America.
Also The series is first broadcast in Spain with "Metamorphosis".
21st January 1983
Debbie Allen and Morgan Stevens attending "Grand
Opening of Santopietro's Restaurant" in Calabasas, California.
Also "Alone in the Crowd" first broadcast in The Netherlands.
22nd January 1983
"Alone in the Crowd" first broadcast in Italy.
Also "To Soar and Never Falter" first broadcast in The Netherlands.
23rd January 1983
Carmine Caridi's Birthday
24th January 1983
Episode 19 "Not In Kansas Anymore" was filmed from 24th January to 1st February 1983 on the very sound stage where The Wizard of Oz was filmed at MGM. The original scarecrow Ray Bolger would pay a visit to the set during filming.
27th January 1983
Episode 16 of season
2 "Love Is The Question", guest starring Jimmy Osmond was broadcast
in America.
28th January 1983
Janet Jackson's single "Come Give Your Love To Me" Released in the U.K. View Single Information
Also "The Sell Out" first broadcast in The Netherlands.
29th January 1983
The 40th Annual Golden Globe awards take place celebrating the Film and Television from 1982. Fame wins the award for Best Series Musical or Comedy. and Debbie Allen wins the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series. Debbie became the
first black woman to win the award in this category.
Also "To Soar and Never Falter" first broadcast in Italy.
In January Kids From Fame Media posts will be Celebrating:
Episode of the Month: "Reflections" from Season 4
Song of the Month: Tomorrow Morning
More Scenes of the Week,
More Fame Annual Stories, Newspaper Article of the Month, Publicity Material of the Month.
A Fame Timeline from January 1983 and
Dancer of the Month: Cameron English
Our Interview clips are:
- Cynthia Gibb Discussing "Reflections"
- Valerie Landsburg Discussing Direction "Reflections"
- Carol Mayo Jenkins Discussing her Favourite Fame Scene, &
- Erica Gimpel Discussing Childhood's End.
Wishing everyone attending events with Carlo Imperato in Southport tonight and tomorrow a wonderful time. Kids From Fame Media can't be there so please send us your pictures and videos to post.
Debbie Allen in depth interview in Conversation with Pat Harvey from last month.
Last Month on her Birthday Nia Peeples held a live stream and one of the guests she spoke to was Jesse Borrego. Thanks to Larry from Remember Fame on Instagram for posting the video.
Nia also posted a video of pictures taken at the ET Fame Reunion in 2022 saying: "Fame doesn’t last
forever. But the love that exists in any given moment does.”
“LOVE Creates like
itself and is forever one with what’s created.” ACOL
Upon this may we
choose to rest our awareness, setting the course for the rest of our lives."
Erica Gimpel Posted a New Year's message:
"There is a saying:
“How you end the year is how you begin the
next.”
Last night, I was inspired to dance and I
realized what lives inside me is a joyous spirit.
As I approach this New Year of 2026, I look forward to welcoming in more fun,
freedom of expression, spontaneity and joy!
It felt like 2025 was filled with so many
atrocities here in America and around the world. As I witnessed these different
events my heart broke… I will continue to chant and take action to bring forth
humanity, justice and peace in our world—basic human rights to which I am
deeply committed.
However, this year I will not allow these
atrocities to rob me of my inherent joy!
So I will do my best to maintain, nurture, support and protect my joy so
I can share it with others, hopefully igniting more joy and light in our world.
That will be my radical act this coming year: maintaining my joy.
I wish everyone on this planet we share,
Peace, Love & Joy!
Happy 2026!
Peace,
Erica☮️"
Michael Cerveris will be performing a solo concert on 5th February 2026 at 54 Below Cabaret Club in New York.
Olivia Barash posted last month an update on her health and housing situation:
"My apologies for not checking in
sooner…
Pippin and I have been staying in a
hotel for nearly one month, now.
We were displaced by the recovery
home team… who I trusted to look after me, while disabled from surviving a
recent stroke.
I was easily manipulated into paying
an inflated rate for my first month,, after moving in… [then we were rendered
homeless by the very one who moved me into the home I believed was a
blessing,,, not even two weeks later]. I’d also paid for another haphazard
move, that left various valuables behind.
This entire fiasco has taken the
spirit out of me. No plans of where we go from here.
I’m working toward getting medical
clearance if I choose to go into another program.
Presently I do need a co-signer for
me to secure a studio in this neighborhood.
Once I have a more permanent address…
I can start working with in-home caregivers.
One last Xmas Wish…
Much Love,
Olivia"
Janet Jackson posted a New Year's message teasing exciting things to come in 2026!
Billy Hufsey posted a New Year Message:
"And now we welcome the new year. Full of
things that have never been.Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either
take them or you stay afraid of taking them. It is better to risk starving to
death then surrender. If you give up on your dreams, what's left?To enjoy good
health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one
must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind
he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally
come to him. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great
way.Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for
success.Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. A loving heart is the
truest wisdom. Don't wait to do what you want to do, do it know, time is
running!!! Go get it!!"
Robert Romanus who played Miltie interviewed on the Da Bois Podcast, discusses a little bit about Fame.
The Lyric "There Was a Time When We Settled for Second Best." comes from "First In Line" from the season 6 episode "Love Kittens Go To High School". Written by Sue Sheridan it is performed by Olivia Barash.
Maxine (Maxie) Sharp is a child performer
and she's spent her young life working in Hollywood. She started making
commercials when she was 6 years old and by the time she was 9 years old she
was making movies.There was never time
for her to attend regular schools, so she was taught by tutors on set. There
was also never time to settle down and make friends her own age.
When her latest film "Love Kittens Go
To High School" is filming at the School of the Arts, Maxie is intrigued
by the drama classes. Despite her successful career, she feels type cast and
that she is always playing the same kind of roles which no longer her challenge
her. Seeing the School Kids challenged
by drama class she decides to complete the assignment to look at her real self,
something that her career has never really pushed her to do.
Once the film wraps, she decides to take a
break from acting and spend some time studying and getting to know her true
self and enrolls at the school of the Arts.
Maxie is naturally competitive and in
"The Big Contract" she and Reggie become co Editors of the school
newspaper. However, they find it impossible to work together and agree on
anything and their constant disagreements lead to the Editors’ role being given
to Jillian.
In "The Crimson Blade" she starts
to have feelings for the masked hero thinking it is Jesse. To her surprise she discovers
it's really Miltie and they start a relationship, although she gets used to him
letting her down.
Olivia Barash was
born on 11th January 1965 making Capricorn her star sign. People born under the
sign of Capricorn have been described as ambitious, hardworking, driven,
pragmatic and proud.
Born in Miami,
Florida, she was raised in New York and then her family moved to Hollywood,
when Olivia was a teenager, where she attended Palisades High School in Pacific
Palisades, California, and graduated in 1982.
Olivia's career
began in the Entertainment industry began at the age of 5 and she would appear
on stage in New York Shows. She also guest starred in the TV shows "The Secret Storm" and
"A World Apart".
In 1974 She played
the role of Baby June in
"Gypsy" opposite Angela Landsbury and was the first child actress to win the New York Critic's Circle
Award.
In Hollywood during
the late 70s Olivia guest starred in numerous American TV shows like The
Incredible Hulk, Charlie's Angels and Alice.
Her Controversial role in " Little House On The Prairie",
playing the role of Sylvia propelled her to receive consideration for an Emmy
nomination.
She was also a main
cast member on shows "In The Beginning" and "Into The
Blue", as well as starring in films "Repo Man, and "Tuff
Turf" in the early 80s.
Then came
"Fame", where she replaced Nia Peeples and joined the series part way
through Season 6 in 1987 appearing in 10 episodes of Season 6 and child star
Maxine (Maxie) Sharp, who decides despite the career she's already had she need
to attend the school to study her craft and also discover who the real Maxie
is.
After Fame
Olivia comtinued to guest star on shows
like "St. Elsewhere" and "21 Jump Street" as well as movies
like "Patty Hearst" and "Dr Alien".
In the 90s Johnny
Depp hired Olivia as the in house promoter of his nightclub, The Viper Room.
Crossing over as a songwriter/singer, she signed with Warner Chappell Music,
placing her original songs in motion pictures such as Oliver Stone's, The
Doors.
These days Olivia,
who lives in California, owns her
production company with record producer, Dave Jerden, called Original Pixel
Cowboys and creates TV shows, Indie Movies and writes music.
"I'm gonna put this dream in motion" comes from "When the Going Gets Tough"from the season 6 episode "The Lounge Singer Who Knew Too Much". Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Mutt Lange and Billy Ocean, it is performed by Billy Hufsey, Loretta Chandler and Olivia Barash.
The lyric "And With all Your Heart, Believe" comes from "Now O Now I Needs Must Part" from the season 6 episode "Of Cabbages and Kings" Written by John Dowland and performed by Olivia Barash.
For an 80s tv show, there were a significant number of women in positions of power on the show, among the producers, writers, crew and cast. Not enough, and not (I'm sure) with complete parity, but enough to be remarkable in those days. And speaking of remarkable, this group of women I happily take a fitting back seat to in these photos today (albeit dressed in my best Prince attire). These women, among their many other accomplishments, became role models and inspirations for thousands of girls around the world, who were able to see themselves in these characters with their hopes, strengths and vulnerabilities. And in the paths they've taken since, they've continued to inspire people across continents, genders, races and sexualities through performing, teaching, raising children and advocating for the importance of the arts.
By the time I came on the show (in its final season), many of these powerhouse ladies had already moved on to other successes. But for the final episode, the OGs all came back and showed graciousness and generosity to all us latecomers who had been keeping the dreams alive that they had begun.
was already producing, directing, making music and raising a family. She adopted me (it might have been our shared propensity to dress in black) and became one of my best friends in LA. You could not have a more fierce advocate than Val, then or now.
was the sweetest person, a woman whose crush worthiness at first might predispose you to overlook her talent and drive. But that'd be a mistake. One of those people who lit up every room she walked into.
who I always felt shy around. Partly because of her natural talent combined with her natural loveliness, but also because of some earth deep wisdom she seemed to possess that appeared to see through your weak defenses to what you really felt and who you might be.
I was so lucky to have Elisa as my fellow freshman, both of us learning the ropes together from day one. Her midwest girl next door sweetness was genuine as can be, but her seriousness and hard work ethic were just as profound. I always thought her character was a great way for a lot of young viewers to find a way from their small towns into this urban free for all that could open their eyes and expand their minds to the value of other kinds of people and ways of being that they would never see in their hometowns.
whose infectious laugh and twinkling spirit combined with a soulful voice and a deep well of empathy inside her ever upbeat approach to life. I always thought there were a lot of young viewers seeing themselves in her character's struggles between a traditional upbringing and an eye opening new world.
arrived part way through the season to add some more edgy pizzazz to the proceedings. We became friends over our shared punk rock leanings, and she gave me the high honor of bringing me with her when she was being interviewed on KROQ one night, and introducing me to the one and only
who I admired so thoroughly (and still do) as an actor, performer, and person. He always had a seemingly unflappable ease and cool swagger that I aspired to and knew I'd never have. But deeper than that, an ability to immerse himself in his work and to give himself over to music, especially, that I connected with and really admired. I loved our scenes together and was like a sponge watching and learning from him everyday. He was my closest male friend on the show, and was happy he let me repay a bit of that debt by giving him a roof when he was between homes for a while. Ian and Jesse never got to be roommates (though that would have been another great spin offf), but I'm so Michael and Jesse got to be. And I'm even happier we've reconnected lately through these posts. And that I got to see his great new film Phoenix, Oregon streaming last week.
Facebook, for all its evils, occasionally has its uses
and then, of course, there was Carrie
She adopted Elisa and me on our very first day, a dance rehearsal in NYC where we started the season with a couple weeks of location shooting. I couldn't have been more daunted--especially since I'd had no dance component to my audition and was told Ian wouldn't really ever dance (which I pretty much proved in every dance number that season). By the time we left NY for LA, we were inseparable and it was through Carrie that I learned LA and made most of the real friends I have out there to this day. She remains one of the most multi talented, brilliant, creative and boundless people I've ever known. We played music together, had a development deal for a spin-off series, spent hours laughing, working and seeing music together. Our characters' symbiotic friendship, mutual admiration and support and unspoken affection for each other was the easiest piece of non acting there could be. I regret that we weren't more in touch after I left LA, and I miss her to this day. Her sisters and mom have meant a lot to me ever since.
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