Alan Parker’s film Fame (1980) about the artistically gifted musicians and dancers at the New York City High School for the Performing received enough acclaim to turn into a television show with the same name. The TV-series kept some of the original cast from the film such as Debbie Allen who had a minor part in the film as the dance instructor Lydia Grant who became one of the driving forces in the TV series. Contrasting Allen’s kinesthetically aptitude, the show also brought the inspiring music teacher Mr. Benjamin Shorofsky (Albert Hague) from the original film to sway the students and perfect their talents. Unfortunately, the show did not reach the quality of Parker’s film, as the series on occasion felt a little two dimensional and simplistic. Despite this, Fame still portrayed some intriguing elements of coming of age while trying to reach out of the shadow into the light of fame. ***

The first season opens with an introduction to the school of the extraordinarily gifted student, as the school receives a new group of students in the episode Metamorphosis. Through the first episode and forward the audience gets to experience the difficulties of being a teen in a highly competitive environment where success means almost everything. Yet, the show manages to touch on several different issues such as compassion in A Big Finish where they help the janitor back on his feet. There are also many other coming of age issues that come into focus including friendships, drugs, and education. One of the more amusing episodes, Tomorrow's Farewell, provides an interesting perspective on how dance compares with physical education, as it also offers movement and coordination versus a football team. There is also the traditional struggle with identity in the show, as these teens face success and failure in a continuous up and down fashion. ***

The TV show Fame received a mild face-lift, as the broadcasting company desired the show to be more family oriented when it began to air on Thursdays evening primetime in 1982. It has several Emmys and Golden Globe nominations and awards, and it secured a spot on television for an additional five years while the show slowly began to diminish in its popularity. Personally, I remember that it was this show that compelled me as a 14-year-old to seek out swing dance. However, my career as a dancer did not last more than two years, as my feet did not compare to any of the talents on Fame. Nonetheless, the magic and hope of teenage dreams still linger in this 1980s television teen drama that simultaneously offers a fascinating and straightforward coming of age experience. ***

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