Fame (1982 TV series)

Fame is an American television series that ran from 1982 to 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name that tells the stories of the students and faculty at the "New York City High School for the Performing Arts."

The show was produced by MGM Television and was first broadcast on the NBC television network in the U.S. and on the BBC in the United Kingdom. After NBC cancelled the series, the show continued for an additional four seasons in first run syndication. The popularity of the film and television productions was such that its cast members went on the road to perform live concerts, even after the show's cancellation.

Two versions of the series were syndicated in reruns. The original hour-long episodes which usually contained a primary plot, a sub plot and two or more musical numbers. The second version was stripped of the musical numbers and the sub plot and was a half-hour in length.

The show's theme song was a pop hit for singer Irene Cara, having been featured in the motion picture. "I Still Believe In Me", from an episode of the series entitled "Passing Grade", was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Original Song. It was performed by Erica Gimpel and Debbie Allen and co-written by Gary Portnoy who would go on to co-write and sing the Theme from Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name). In the UK, two singles credited to The Kids from Fame, "Hi-Fidelity" and "Starmaker", reached the top ten.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, which held the distribution rights for all MGM television series until May 31, 2006, released the first season of Fame on DVD on November 1, 2005. . Future releases will be handled by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment through a new deal made by MGM.