Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»TV by Decade»TV Shows - 1980s
    TV Shows - 1980s Variety 3 Mins Read

    Fame

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 7 (USA)
    60 x 60 minute episodes

    The summer of 1982 was the summer of Fame. The NBC series spun off from Alan Parker’s 1980 film about New York City’s renowned High School for the Performing Arts.

    Most of the movie cast members – Debbie Allen, Gene Anthony Ray, Albert Hague and Lee Curreri – reprised their roles in the series.

    The show was about a group of students planning to become performing artists – dancers, comedians, singers, musicians, etc at the school designed to provide a curriculum that would prepare its graduates for careers in show business.

    It was there that they learned to deal with competition and rejection, as well as the problems of growing up.

    Among the students were:

    • Bruno (Lee Curreri), a talented but arrogant keyboard player and composer
    • Coco (Erica Gimpel), a singer/dancer driven to succeed and in a rush to get into the professional scene
    • Danny (Carlo Imperato), a bright comedian who would break into a monologue at the drop of a hat
    • Doris (Valerie Landsburg), an actress-writer-comedienne whose easygoing nature hid an ego as strong and determined as anyone’s
    • Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray), a dancer from the ghettos of New York, who graduated and became an assistant dance instructor at the school
    • Montgomery (P.R. Paul), who was trying to follow in the footsteps of his successful actress mother
    • Julie (Lori Singer), the outsider from the backwoods of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was an accomplished cellist adjusting both to the school and the high-energy environment of New York City

    The faculty was even more dedicated than most of the students, with hard-driving, beautiful dance teacher Lydia Grant (Debbie Allen) being the most prominent.

    fame_tv

    Other teachers/instructors included Professor Shorofsky (Albert Hague), the much-revered white-bearded music teacher; Mr Crandall (Michael Thoma), the drama instructor and Elizabeth Sherwood (Carol Mayo Jenkins), the English teacher.

    There were changes in the cast throughout. David Reardon (Morgan Stevens) replaced Mr Crandall (when actor Michael Thoma died suddenly during the season) as drama instructor and he was later replaced by Paul Seeger (Eric Pierpoint).

    Mrs Berg (Ann Nelson), the scatterbrained school secretary, became a regular, and Quentin Morloch (Ken Swofford), the unchanging principal (later replaced by Bob Dyrenforth, played by Graham Jarvis) who came to realise that this was no ordinary high school, was added.

    New students included:

    • Dwight (David Greenlee), an awkward, overweight tuba player
    • Holly (Cynthia Gibb), a vivacious drama major
    • Jesse (Jesse Borrego), a Hispanic dancer who became Leroy’s protégé
    • Nicole (Nia Peeples), a beautiful singer/dancer who was tragically killed in a car accident
    • Christopher (Billy Hufsey), a talented but cocky dancer
    • Ian (Michael Cerveris), an English guitarist who loved rock music

    In later shows, Lou’s bowling alley/restaurant became a regular hangout for the students.

    Lydia Grant 
    Debbie Allen
    Coco Hernandez 

    Erica Gimpel
    Danny Armatullo 

    Carlo Imperato
    Bruno Martelli 

    Lee Curreri
    Doris Schwartz 

    Valerie Landsburg
    Leroy Johnson 

    Gene Anthony Ray
    Montgomery MacNeil 

    P.R. Paul
    Elizabeth Sherwood 

    Carol Mayo Jenkins
    Prof. Benjamin Shorofsky 

    Albert Hague
    Julie Miller 

    Lori Singer
    Mr Crandall 

    Michael Thoma
    Mrs Charlotte Miller 

    Judy Farrell
    Angelo Martelli 

    Carmine Caridi
    David Reardon 

    Morgan Stevens
    Dwight 

    David Greenlee
    Mrs Gertrude Berg (Alice Bowman) 

    Ann Nelson
    Holly Laird 

    Cynthia Gibb
    Christopher Donlon 

    Billy Hufsey
    Quentin Morloch 

    Ken Swofford
    Cleo Hewitt 

    Janet Jackson
    Jesse Valesquez 

    Jesse Borrego
    Nicole Chapman 

    Nia Peeples
    Mr Lou Mackie 

    Dick Miller
    Laura Mackie 

    Carolyn J. Silas
    Dusty Tyler 

    Loretta Chandler
    Mr Bob Dyrenforth 

    Graham Jarvis
    Reggie Higgins 

    Carrie Hamilton
    Kate Riley 

    Page Hannah
    Ian Ware 

    Michael Cerveris
    Jillian Beckett 

    Elisa Heinsohn
    Mr Paul Seeger 

    Eric Pierpoint
    Maxie 

    Olivia Barash
    Miltie Horowitz 

    Robert Romanus

    Video

    Related Posts

    • 3 Girls 3
      3 Girls 3
      1 9 7 7 (USA) 4 x 60 minute episodes This innovative four-episode variety show-cum-sitcom from NBC starred three beautiful, talented…
    • Music Hall
      Music Hall
      1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 0 (UK) 15 x 60 minute episodes This British-produced variety series from ATV…
    • Mac Davis Show, The
      Mac Davis Show, The
      1 9 7 4 - 1 9 7 6 (USA) 33 x 60 minute episodes Country-oriented singer and composer Mac Davis…
    • Ace of Clubs
      Ace of Clubs
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes This short-lived BBC series hosted by Michael Aspel featured British club…
    • Facts Of Life, The
      Facts Of Life, The
      1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 8 (USA) 209 x 30 minute episodes This spin-off from the popular NBC…
    • Continental Classroom
      Continental Classroom
      1 9 5 8 - 1 9 6 4 (USA) Produced by NBC in cooperation with the American Association of Colleges…
    • Saturday Variety
      Saturday Variety
      1 9 7 2 (UK) 26 x 60 minute episodes This ATV series presented musical acts, comedians and assorted variety acts, including…
    • Your Hit Parade
      Your Hit Parade
      1 9 5 0 - 1 9 5 9 (USA) Your Hit Parade premiered on NBC as a summer replacement for Robert…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleEvery Second Counts
    Next Article Fanny’s Kitchen

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • McKeever & the Colonel
      1 9 6 2 – 1 9 6 3 (USA) 26 x 30 minute episodes Gary […]
    • Blow-Up (1966)
      Leading Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni attempted to […]
    • Iron Horse
      1 9 6 6 – 1 9 6 8 (USA) 47 x 52 minute episodes Under the […]
    • Brotherhood Of Man
      Brotherhood of Man’s 1970 UK hit United We Stand was […]
    • Driveway
      1 9 6 8 (UK) 16 x 30 minute episodes Soap opera makers had tried […]
    • Q.E.D.
      1 9 8 2 (USA) 6 x 60 minute episodes Sam Waterston stars as […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    24 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    2 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.