Nigel Lythgoe to Produce a Reboot of the TV Series “Fame” (VIDEO)

By On 08/28/2012 · 18 Comments · In American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance

Share on TumblrShare via email

Oh Gosh! American Idol and So You Think You can Dance, Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe is producing a reboot of the 1980s TV Series Fame!

MGM Television announced Tuesday that the executive producer of “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” will re-imagine series. He will executive produce with Kary McHoul, president of Nigel Lythgoe Productions, Charles Segars (“National Treasure”) and Chad Gutstein.

The new “Fame,” like the old “Fame,” will “expose the gritty struggle, heartache and pain endured in the search for stardom and the often lofty price paid for success,” according to MGM and Lythgoe.

“In my lifetime, I’ve discovered a great many incredibly talented individuals,” Lythgoe said. “Some have achieved stardom. Simultaneously, I’ve seen many dreams shattered, egos destroyed and lives changed forever. The end destination may well be fame and fortune, but the road to stardom is littered with broken hearts. I look forward to stripping away the glitter and glamour and revealing the true mixture of passion, humanity, exhaustion and sacrifice that these richly talented individuals endure on their road to ‘Fame.’”

Yes. Before there was Glee there was Fame! And it should come as no shock to anybody that I LOVED this TV series that ran on NBC for 3 years and in syndication for many more. A very young Janet Jackson was a cast member at one point. I had a big crush on Bruno. Ha ha.

A reboot of the original movie starring So You Think You Can Dance alum, Kerrington Payne flopped at the box office, but a TV show may fare better. We’ll see. I’ll definitely be checking it out.

Via The Wrap

 
  • http://twitter.com/MissMindyK Mindy Redington

    I loved that show.  Bruno was my favorite too.  I still remember the legwarmers that Leroy always wore. 

    I’m waiting for Nigel and Ryan to get together and redo American Bandstand.  

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    If Nigel messes this up, I will cut him. I loved this movie *and* the TV show. Mr. Sharofsky rocks!

    ETA: Fun fact: Rumored future judge Nicki Minaj is a graduate of the NYC performing arts high school this Film/TV show was based on. She was a drama major :)

  • http://twitter.com/Miztig Miz

    Also LOVED the original movie and the TV show. You had a crush on Bruno, I had a crush on Leroy. (That boy’s body was HOT)

    Such a great show and remembering makes me realize how much Glee actually stinks in comparison.

    Please don’t screw it up, Nigel.

  • Hazehel

    ETA: Fun fact: Rumored future judge Nicki Minaj is a graduate of the NYC performing arts high school this Film/TV show was based on. She was a drama major :)

    Another fun fact – the Fame film and TV series inspired the creation of the BRIT school of performing arts whose former students include Adele, Amy Winehouse, Imogen Heap, Katie Melua and Leona Lewis. 

  • Mateja Praznik

    Is it just me or is Nigel producing a lot of non-Idol or SYTYCD projects these days?

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    Awesome! I had no idea that school was started because of Fame. Thanks!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

    LOVE IT!  I’m a watcher….Nigel — smart move.  Hire Irene Cara!

  • Montavilla

    I loved Bruno, too.  I didn’t get to watch the TV show — I think I was in college then and sans TV.  I do remember that my friends and I tried to get “Fame” to be our graduating class song (although, I thought “The Body Electric” was a far better song).  We were overruled and the class song was “I’m Coming Out.”

    I always wondered if my non-theater geek classmates understood the implications of that song.

  • http://twitter.com/BamadansPad Danny Latham

    Here is what sets Fame apart from Glee. Fame concentrated on all of the fine arts where Glee only concentrates on the vocals and some dance. Also, most important, Fame had original music every week where Glee has covers, with very few originals. I sure hope Nigel sticks with the premise of having original music every week and then make it available on iTunes like Glee does with its compilation albums. Nigel can do this with in house composers(Lee Curreri aka Bruno was one on the original series). Yes, Fame did have its own compilation albums, but this was way before iTunes(yes, I had a few of the cassettes). 

    If Nigel is going to pull this off, he needs at least one or two of the original characters return(I would love to see Debbie Allen become the principal). 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000325443396 Shannon Smith McNeely

    I am absolutely stoked at the prospect of this show-if it is done right!!!!

  • Hazehel

    it’s funny because when the school started i didn’t think so many great singers would emerged from that school (I thought it would be more of a place for actors and the like).  I actually lived about half a mile from that school the first ten years of that school’s existence, once in a while you’d see students from that school on the buses.  Perhaps I should have paid more attention to what’s happening in there.

    But back to Fame, I like the film much more than the TV series (only watched a few episodes of that), TV tends to dilute things down (also it didn’t have a good director like Alan Parker).  If it goes back more to the grittier side of the film, then it will be a good thing I think. 

  • LLA1535

    I absolutely loved the movie Fame! I enjoyed the tv show as well–but IA it was water-downed some.

    First thing Nigel should be focusing on are excellent writers. Smash had a lot of promise–but the writing was very weak.

  • Axxxel

    Bruno for principal, Debbie Allen for recruiter of a Broadway show…

  • Axxxel

    Fame and Glee are different beasts….
    Fame is situated in a “School of Arts” in a big liberal city (New York)so all students  are focused to get a shot at fame in the arts…
    Whereas Glee is situated in a public highschool in a conservative  small town where arts are not necessarily appreciated by the majority of the students.

    Even in the Glee club… I think there are only 3 students who were really into making arts part of their professional life… and only two  (Rachel and Mike) succeeded to get into an “Arts School” while the third walked on the Boulevard of Broken dreams… (=Kurt and still pissed about this twist in the storyline…oh well…)…

    All the other Glee club members seem more to be with the Glee club as a hobby and a place for friendship and love… So they are not as driven in being excellent in the arts as the students in “Fame”…

    You want a piece of reality about the tough road to fame in the Arts, watch Fame… You want to see a fantasy story, where things that are impossible in reality, become possible in the Glee-verse and vice versa, watch Glee…
    I love them both… reality and fantasy…

  • Axxxel

    Fame would be a competition for “Smash” more than for Glee… If Glee survives Season 4 this year…  :-(

  • http://twitter.com/BamadansPad Danny Latham

    What watered down the TV show from the movie is that you have to remember this was the early 80s. TV shows that dealt with homosexuality was very taboo. In the movie, Montgomery was gay and he was picked on, even though he was not really out. We never knew the orientation of the TV show Montgomery, and the subject was never delved into. Nigel has the opportunity to bring in openly gay characters without the controversy it would have caused had this been the original 80s show. 

    Axxxel, Bruno could possibly take Mr Sharofsky’s place as piano/keyboard instructor.

  • http://twitter.com/ladymctech ladymctech

    I wonder if Nigel will be hiring any Idol alumni for the show.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    The “Fame” show would be more successful if it had a few Idol and SYTYCD alumni.  I loved the movie and the series – and even the remake was pretty good.  I hope Nigel will come up with some new ideas!

    Thank you, MJ – for some good memories on that clip!