Shark Bytes

Every time Danny had to sing = JTS. They didn't have him do it very often, but when he did he was definitely the worst of the lot. Also, those big production numbers which used to spontaneously erupt any where, anytime. Guess if you didn't know the moves, you couldn't join in. That'd be the nerdy kids, then. It was a MUSICAL! A TV musical! Gah! Day One.

I loved this show when it was on in the 80's. In fact, it was one of the reasons that we had bought our first video machine so that I wouldn't miss an episode. The first few years were great, but I think that it kind of faded after NBC cancelled them and they got into syndication. Erica Gimpel was my fave, and I really liked Nia Peeples and Billy Huffsey as new characters; but Paige Hannah, Cree Summer and Carrie Hamilton didn't do it for me. The new principle also bothered me. I agree about Leroy's singing...Ouch! (Lee Curreri, and Lori Singer were also not exceptional singers.) Are they ever going to release the other seasons on DVD? Also for the record Jimmy Osmond NEVER joined the cast, he was a guest in a few forgetful episodes but that was it.

I was always a big fan of the show (although I don't remember Janet Jackson being in it, so perhaps I wasn't that big a fan!) but for me it Jumped when "Little" Jimmy Osmond joined the cast.

JTS when the first commercial advertising the show aired."Shaaa, ShaShaShaSharovsky...." Hammy and imbecilic nearly approaching "the big Ragu".

When Janet Jackson sang some lame ass song called "Dream Street" and there was some cheesy video accompanying it. Billy Hufsey and Nia Peeples were both really annoying, too.

Fame JTS right around the time Doris (Valerie Landsburg) left, if not sooner. This was around the time Janet Jackson started but I don't think it had anything to do with her. It was more a problem with getting the original cast being replaced with actors that were prettier but less talented (Cynthia Gibb, Nia Peeples).

It also started to go downhill when they started making the dance people sing and the singing people dance. Leroy was a good dancer but there really was no need to make him sing! I can't remember when that started to happen though.

IMHO, When an ensemble show selects only a few characters to spot-light, it is getting close to jumping. When the spot-light stays only on those selected characters, and ignores the others to the point that the media begins to print stories of cast members leaving due to non-usage...then a show has JTS.
I think I could say this about most of the ensemble shows.

Remember those AWFUL "Fame In Concert" specials? Debbie Allen singing "Billie Jean is not my Lover" HA! She is an amazing singer, but whoever decided for her to sing that on stage was an idiot. Also watching Billy Hufsey (Chris Donlon) lip sync to "Puttin on the Ritz" was like a total train wreck.

I admit this show was a guilty pleasure for me, but,let's face it,the original movie was better.They were smart to keep Gene Anthony Ray, Lee Curreri, Debbie Allen and the late Albert Hague(a real-life composer of musical theater portraying a stuffy pedagogue who only likes classical music-too funny!) on the TV series-but Valerie Landsberg and Carlo Imperato both got on my nerves big-time! I also didn't like the idiotic replacement principal who had no clue about the arts; and why did they kill off Nicole? She was one of my favorite characters on the series.On the plus side,there were some great episodes-one particular favorite was when Jesse wins a songwriting contest,only to see his simple-yet-powerful ballad turned into cheap,loud,lewd,discofied garbage...and,in the end,Jesse performs the song the way HE wrote it and,though pissing off the contest executives,wins over the audience with his integrity.

The show truly JTS in season six with the addition of the Maxie character.. weak weak weak.. it's no wonder the show ended it's run after she did only 13 shows.

This show never ever jumped!!!! I agree with the last poster - so many of you have your facts totally wrong. As the last poster stated, Leroy (Gene) never left - what you may be thinking of is that in the 5th season, his character became an assistant teacher. He had graduated the previous year with Doris and was working while auditioning just like his mentor, Miss Grant. I absolutely loved each cast member and what they brought to the show. My sentimental faves will always be the original cast but I loved everyone who came on the show. Each had their strengths and weaknesses but they all brought something amazing to the show as well. Everyone seems to be bashing Lori but she was a great actress and Cello player. She couldn't sing but it's the rare person that excels at everything. Valerie Landsburg wasn't a great dancer but she could sing and act the pants off of anyone. I could go on like that for each person. This show ran from the time I was 13-19 and got me through my teens. It will always be my favorite show that ever aired. It was so special and no other cast on any other show has got me so obsessed with this one (with Roswell and Charmed not too far behind) - To this day, I follow the careers of all the actors that were on it. And for those Janet bashers out there, did you ever stop to think that maybe she couldn't dance as well because she was younger and less experienced? Watch any amazing actor/dancer/singer and early in their careers, I'm sure they weren't quite as good as they came to be later on. They're people after all - get them off a pedestal and accept the fact they're not perfect in every way shape and form. Some of you take this way too seriously and sound unforgiving of any flaws they had. For anyone else reading this who agrees - Fame rocked and will live in my heart forever!!!!

I don't know what some of the folks on this board are talking about. It is not just that I disagree with your assessments, but so many of you just have your basic FACTS wrong: Leroy never left the show. Ever. He was on every season, until the very last episode. So how can so many of you say that the show jumped the shark when he left the show. Huh? The school never burned to the ground. That must be some other show you are thinking of. And, then, getting back to opinions: Nia Peeples, Valerie Landsberg, Erica Gimpel, Cynthia Gibb, Debbie Allen, Carrie Hamilton -- these women were GREAT. I will agree that Janet Jackson and Lori Singer sucked. But how anybody can call Nia Peeples talentless is just beyond me. Now, her mullet hair, that is a totally fair complaint...

The show jumped the shark when NBC cancelled it and replaced it with Manimal. After it moved and some of the cast left, the show wasn't good.

This was and still is the best tv show ever. I had been singing since age 3, but at ten The movie Fame inspired me to act and dance. At age 13 I auditioned for Laguardia High School of Music and arts (the real fame school) and was in their class of 1988. and NO the kids there do not dance on the tables!

I enjoyed FAME for most of its run. Being a musician and having been a theater major in college, I could relate to a lot of the situations that went on at the school. I did find myself annoyed with the constant cast changes though. I will admit getting rid of Lori Singer and Erica Gimpel was a good move. However, I lost all interest in the show when Leroy left. Gene Anthony Ray was gorgeous and an amazing dancer. One thing that bothered me about this show is that not one of the male characters was gay. Having spent over twenty years doing theater in various venues, I know that a large majority of men in theater, especially dancers, are gay. Montgomery was revealed to be gay in the movie, but it was either glossed over or forgotten about where TV Montgomery was concerned (he sucked anyway and should be lumped with Lori Singer and Erica Gimpel). I appeared in a production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR once and every guy in the show was gay. If you're going to do a show about theater in New York City and have male dancers on the show, at least one of those characters should have been gay. JMO.