Fame

For those of us late 30/early to mid 40 somethings who watched the original "Fame" on television in the early 1980s, this a real treat! I'm sorry, but the original television series still knocks spots off the latest film version. The first two seasons of Fame were definitely the best - series 1 was released a few years ago and MGM have ignored the series' legion of fans ever since. The only good thing about the new movie is it has encouraged MGM to belatedly release season 2, which features some excellent episodes with some half decent songs. My favourite is "Your Own Song" which features Jimmy Osmond as a singing student who comes from a school for kids who are disabled. Jimmy's portrayal of a young man with a mental disability struggling to fit into a mainstream school (if the High School for the Performing Arts could ever be regarded as one!) is well observed, down to his body language, tics and mannerisms. It is a heart-warming experience, and the episode is boosted by his brilliant singing voice belting out the classic Beatles song "Penny Lane". To me, this dvd set is worth the money even for this brilliant episode alone.

Amongst the collection is also the "Not in Kansas Anymore" where Doris gets knocked on the head, and whilst unconscious dreams that she meets the Wizard of Oz and all the other characters from the classical musical movie; of course, the main characters from the series take on the various film roles with Bruno as the Tin Man, Danny as the Scared Lion, Leroy as the Scarecrow, Miss Grant as the good fairy, Miss Sherwood as the Wicked Witch from the West, and Mr Shorofksi as the wizard himself. Another gem of an episode.

Overall, this is a welcome addition to the collection for "Fame" fans. Series 3 is awaited with baited breath, but knowing MGMs dismal track record so far, we'll probably have to wait until some film director decides to remake "Fame" in 2035 before we ever get to see any more, and us 40 somethings will be on our death-beds by then. (Message to MGM execs - you are a disgrace for sitting on many of your classic tv series and not releasing them onto dvd now whilst you have the chance and people still alive who want to buy them. Instead, you seem to prefer to churn out the more more recent film rubbish you've made. Shame!).

FORGET HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AND GLEE. BECAUSE THIS TAKES PLACE AT A PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL (WITH THE MULTI-TALENTED DEBBIE ALLEN AT THE HELM IN BOTH THE LEAD AND AS EXEC. PRODUCER), THE CAST HERE IS LIKABLE AND HAS MORE ON THE BALL, AND THE SONGS AND MUSIC ARE FRESHER AND WAY MORE ORIGINAL. IN FACT, WAY BETTER THAN ANYTHING BACKSTREET BOYS, N-SYNC, OR THE HOKEY RE-MIXES ON GLEE COULD HAVE EVER EVEN DREAMT UP.

I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL IN THE EARLY '80S WHEN FAME FIRST WENT INTO SYNDICATION, AND AS IT SAYS IN THE THEME SONG, "FAME, I WANT TO LIVE IT FOREVER" AND IT STILL RULES, THANKS TO OVATION TV (WWW OVATIONTV COM). PERIOD. ;-)

At last we get Season Two.
I hope we don't have to wait as long for Season Three.
An excellent TV series from the 80's. Singing, dancing and tears, all thrown in. Perfect escapism - even 20 years later.

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