The Bumpy History of Fame 1980 (WitW: S2E6)

[@mitchweissman5045]

You are doing soooo well, my friend! Our episode is one of your lowest views! Lol! I miss Gene. He was such a fun guy to hang with!

[@WaitintheWings]

Just means we'll have to make a Beatlemania sequel here someday soon. Hopefully once everything settles down I can head to LA to film an interview for the documentary!

[@kallen868]

Gene was amazing!

[@curtismichael4703]

A fantastic documentary! I learned new things about a movie I was sure I already knew everything about.

[@CARATMom]

As someone who was born in the 70s and raised in the 80’s I cannot express the strangle hold that Fame and leg warmers had on us.

[@lcdd9091]

Absolutely!!

[@thetarantella69]

Indeed and for all of us who dreamed about being a musical actress and born during that time, like myself :)

[@Jasmine-ot8br]

I was born in the 90s and when I first saw fame, around when I was 13 2005ish I felt like the theater kid who lived inside of me was actually loved and relevant. I quickly started looking for my community.

[@Dimi374]

Yasssss!!😂

[@seanswinton6242]

That was carried further by the film "Flashdance."

[@Changeling9au]

With the recent sad passing of Irene Cara, it's nice to see that her legacy, and the legacy she was part of, lives on.

[@dommitchell4319]

I'd love to see a video on the Amelie musical. It's baffling that a musical based on a highly acclaimed movie, and starring Philippa Soo fresh off her run in Hamilton at the peak of her popularity would run for only 50 odd performances.

[@madeleine.exists9207]

Dude I love Amelie!

[@baldmitzvah]

Right? I think it’s because although the movie was acclaimed, it wasn’t super well-known.

[@sakimiyu4604]

Plus it had a redemption arc in the form of the UK tour/off-west end run (which was so good holy fuck), which got nominated for 3 Olivier awards!

[@fabianhebestreit3240]

@@baldmitzvah Wait, what? The film was a MASSIVE hit with audiences worldwide when it came out.

[@WillowFae]

But the London version is AMAZING. Successful tour, plus two London runs (pre and post pandemic). The Broadway one just didn't work.

[@kaileykrantz]

First; by the way I love your videos man. How about a suggestion: What Went Wrong with The Little Mermaid (Broadway version)

[@WaitintheWings]

I remember that a regional theater near me showed it and they flooded the stage to have actual boats. Could be an interesting dive!

[@kaileykrantz]

Wait in the Wings- I had no idea. That sounds pretty cool

[@remyfacade]

They didn't cast Emily Skinner lol

[@ella9120]

@@WaitintheWings Please do this video it would be so interesting! :)

[@class3times]

I attended a magnet performing arts high school in Portland, Oregon, moved to New York City where I lived for 30 years and enjoyed an 18 year professional dance career because of this movie (and subsequent TV show). I don't know what kind of life I would have had without it. It pretty much consumed my life for much of the 1980's. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. One of my dreams was to dance on top of taxi cabs down 46th street to the song Fame. Haven't done it yet, but I will do it one day!

[@realmccoy18]

Fame changed my life...i grew up in a very conservative French Canadian city and this movie showed me that there were other freaks like me out there...i just had to move and find them.

[@annebarslev7312]

This was an emotional journey. I was a Fame-child, born mid 1970's, and raised on the tv-series. A misfit, I longed for that life, for being at that school. And I got there - the Amsterdam version. And now at 48, I'm a fairly successful opera director. Ups, downs, successes and rejections. And watching this docu actually made med cry. I realised the impact Fame have had on my early life and the fact that NOT ONE SINGLE WOMAN is part of the creative team, not one creative contributor is a woman - only this guy knew that guy, who knew this guy... My childhood-dreams are is concieved, created and brought to me by a boys club. My whole professional life in a f... nut shell... It really took me a long time to realise what a difference a penis makes in this business.

[@alyzu4755]

I was 11 when this film was released, and my friends and I were OBSESSED! I'm just hoping none of the polaroids of us in our leg warmers are still floating around. ☺️ Eventually I ended up at NYU as a theater major, and often went to the 8th Street Playhouse to see "Rocky Horror". Ah, memories! Great video, as always!

[@thetarantella69]

Me too.

[@marvinmoser4679]

HELL YES. I am so ready for this. I'm currently going to school for theater and am kinda uneducated when it comes to shows, so I've been bingeing your videos nonstop. Keep being dope as hell.

[@WaitintheWings]

Hey! Thanks man! *awkward finger guns*

[@Retrotude]

Can't wait for the WWW episode on Carrie!

[@WaitintheWings]

It's confirmed now! :D

[@yomamabaker99]

As a graduate of the Orange County High School of the Arts, I can honesty say you nailed it about auditioning for the chance to go to school at a place where it was OK to be weird and different and feel like you belong. Thank you for mentioning that.

[@elliot2331]

Being in Fame (the musical) was one of the most fun and physically challenging experiences of my life. But I am ashamed to admit I've never seen the original movie. Learning its history is really cool.

[@ucity88]

We did Fame as our spring musical in 1986 at my high school.❤

[@aestroai8012]

R.I.P Gene, and Irene Cara. I stumbled upon this wonderful doc. Thank you so much for filling me in on the little details I could never find before. I love the dark realism of Fame. It's one of my favourite films.

[@fastbowler]

I love this movie, and "I Sing The Body Electric" is a must-watch several times a year.

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Holy crap! I kinda wish I had watched these videos in order when you first uploaded them! I didn't realize you were building up to Carrie the Musical the entire time! That's pretty genius!

[@garlowe8565]

Excellent video. Geoffrey Kirkland, the production designer of FAME, is a good friend of mine. He was Alan Parker’s designer for many films - including Bugsy Malone. I’ve heard many of these stories from the art department’s point of view. I’m glad you got the logo story in, most people don’t get it right, and Geoffrey is 100% a baseball nut. His favorite team: the A’s. One thing I’d like to say if I may - the union (IATSE) is painted in an unfavorable light. It’s pretty standard for ANY union local to step in if a company sets up shop with primarily distant hires. Not so much for directors, but if your assistant director, production designer, and cinematographer - and THEIR support staff (like the camera operator and art director) are all distant hires… you can bet the union is gonna step in and request “shadows” (a local hire to match the position). It’s not a bad thing - it actually makes a lot of sense… having said that often in film negotiations with the union can be seen as adversarial by production instead of seeing the local hall as a valuable resource. Really really great video!! Thank you so much for making this super deep dive video!!!

[@elizabethenrique6924]

Does anyone else get excited when we see someone from a former video come up? I literally gasped when I saw Peter Allen in this video.

[@WaitintheWings]

You should have seen me when I stumbled across that fact while researching lol

[@flanplan5903]

I remember hearing the songs of fame on 80’s on 8, and I also remember singing I sing the body electric for a concert in middle school (I had no idea it was from a movie though), so my connection to fame has been around for longer than I imagined. To think that this film has such staying power...I heard once from an Internet forum that this person went to one of the first screenings for fame way back in 1980, and after the film had ended, there was a long pause before there was a thunderous five minute (no joke) standing ovation for the movie. I also think that fame helped pave the way for movie musicals like camp rock, burlesque, high school musical, and the tv show glee. I think that its influence goes far beyond the decade that it was in. Thanks for the video by the way!

[@adriennepender673]

I can't tell you how much FAME means to me. It came out just as I was graduating high school in 1980, and encompassed everything I wanted -- to be on stage, in environments with others like me, creating art. If ever a movie defined my life, it's this one. I still play "I Sing the Body Electric" before every opening night. ❤

[@HaydenofEverything]

I like how this series ties everything together in a way

[@battlegirldeb]

Thanks for this. Fame is one of my all time favorite movies. I was an 11 year old waiting to the Fall for my 12 birthday. I begged my mother to let me go to this movie as it would be the first rated R film for me. I saw something in the movie that made me want more. In 83 I got in to my city's school of the arts. Debbie Allen had also been a teacher at the school when it first open in the 70's when one of my teacher was in school.

[@fad23]

I was still a little too young when the film was released. I didn't see it until I was in college studying drama.

[@fad23]

Which school was it? I was geographically close to LACSA but didn't learn about it until my adulthood.

[@pbworld7858]

11:18 Erica Gimpel (Coco in the series). Proof that she really was a student at PA. She was probably still a young teenager then.

[@MusicByAllonaMayost]

I still have the original soundtrack on vinyl from thirty years ago.

[@zeroneoz1944]

A episode on in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:The Musical" would be interesting

[@WritingisDifficult]

Definitely. Especially the difference between the West End and Broadway productions.

[@moorecruise1880]

@@WritingisDifficult Oh definitely! I saw the West End version when it was running and was appalled from what I saw of the Broadway version.

[@mauriceortiz8817]

So many gems of trivia. My favorite one is that Luther Vandross sang back up on Fame.

[@lisyspaun4735]

Great job! I really enjoy your videos! I would love to see a video about Xanadu. How the movie failed, the stage adaptation succeeded and the awesome music of Electric Light Orchestra!

[@TheActualCathal]

Parker also directed The Commitments, basically bottling the spirit of 80s Dublin the same way Fame had captured the vibe of 70s youth culture in New York.

[@noellehannibal]

I lived in Dublin when the audition notices went up in every pub. Many of my musician friends and I rolled our eyes thinking it was some low budget thing. Several friends wound up being cast. They were offered £10,000 or a cut of the box office. All of them chose the £. Oof. Still, the film is a masterpiece and a true snapshot of the life of a musician in Dublin. The band I was in, coincidentally a 9 piece soul band, was invited to play at the premiere. Some of the greatest years of my life!

[@rhonda6791]

Terrific movie. I have the cd in my car.

[@rhonda6791]

@@noellehannibal How lucky were you to be part of that time.

[@ucity88]

I loved The Commitments. Great story!

[@handsomeX]

I'm 49, and Fame is the first movie/tv show that introduced me to the world of the perforning arts. Since then, i was always intrigued by live performances. People creating and displaying their art form, in real time, in front of an audience. I attended a perforning arts college as a result. I'm now a professional clarinet and sax musician and I'm also experienced in dance as well. I'm also a former Chippendales dancer. Great presentation! Thank you! ❤

[@blackamerican40]

RIP Irene and Gene Anthony 😢🙏

[@merlesstorys]

This Video was so good 😻 It’s nice to have the backstory to the song, the movie, the musical :) Go on like this 💕

[@WaitintheWings]

Thank you so much Swan Swan! :D I'm happy you enjoyed.

[@merlesstorys]

Wait in the Wings I most absolutely enjoyed your video essay because it’s so deep in the material & told with so much passion about the film :)

[@edvaira6891]

Thank you so much for bringing this movie flooding back into my memory! this came out the summer I turned 11 and it was one of the first R rated movies I got to see since my Dad actually worked as an English teacher at PA in the 1970s and was very enthusiastic for me to see the film and spent a lot of time pointing out kids he knew that were extras on screen....I probably haven’t thought of this movie in thirty years, but it brings back some really nice memories!

[@battlegirldeb]

Hi I was also 11 that summer and it was also my first rated R movie and the start of my dream to go to a high school like that one in the movie and I did go to my city's PA called Duke Ellington School of The Arts.

[@tessfeldman4797]

This is one of my favorite films!! I was so excited to see this notification!

[@WaitintheWings]

It's a surprisingly solid film. I was pleasantly surprised haha!

[@TheNormExperience]

“Now is when you start paying, In SWEAT!” One of the moments I realized I was head over heels in love with my significant other is when I jokingly used that line and he just lost it, doubled over laughing, trying to catch his breath between wheezing out, “Omg, how do you even KNOW that? No one knows that!” And I knew what he meant, because no one, not my best friends, not the theatre geeks I grew up with, or people I’d performed in shows with knew that deep cut from the tv show of Fame that aired long before I was in the double digits. In the grand scheme of things it was such a small moment, but it didn’t feel small. It felt like the payoff of a lifetime, that realization of how lucky I was to find that other person who really got me. I’m not gonna lie, we did then breakout into an unapologetically bad 80’s dance montage singing ‘Fame’, and I’ve never had so much fun. 😂 “Friendship is born in the moment one person turns to another and says, ‘Oh, you too? I thought I was the only one.’”

[@ladyrazorsharp]

I was 7 in 1980 and I remember that line well! I danced from age 3 to age 11 and like many kids dreamt of making a living as a dancer...my teacher was a Rockette and told us how hard it was in the business, but movies like Fame and A Chorus Line put the final nail in the coffin of my ever considering that life.

[@joiceraiana]

I really love Fame, is one of my favorite movies of all time and the songs still holding strong on their quality. I really liked to hear about the history behind it, thank you.

[@paulnodalo9130]

The film was a masterpiece and defined the 80's.

[@mayakotler3881]

As a drama LaGuardia high school student ( the fame school) I can confirm that nobody knows it by the name LaGuardia, it is “the fame school”. Plus a lot of people refer to it now as the school Timothee chalamet went to.

[@monicadavis2188]

Not really, I live in NYC when it moved it was called LaGuardia

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Class of 1982 here, Finney High School, Detroit MI - Still proudly wearing my legwarmers!

I grew up on the East Side. My cousin graduated from Finny in 1991.

[@josephdonato8154]

Good docu on this classic movie with the emphasis on the behind the camera stories. Curious thing, while a good amount time is spent on the music there is absolutely no mention of "Out Here On My Own'. Maybe because the lyrics were not penned by Dean Pitchford (who gets a lot of space here) but by the composer's sister Lesley Gore. And even though the song was a hit and was also up for the Best Song Oscar the docu barely mentions there was a nomination for another FAME song, the first time in Academy history that 2 songs from the same film were up. And Irene Cara really showed off her singing chops on the number. And years later in an interview director Alan Parker was mistakenly saying that it was the great song "Out Here On My Own" that won the Oscar.

[@ayindestevens6152]

Ok so.... 1: What a small world I actually know someone who auditioned for the movie as Doris AND got a callback! Love u Ceila! 2: The story of it getting made is so interesting and yeah it made sense for that era although I have to completely crack up over the incense flare up. 3: Luther Vandross be coming in CLUTCH (and worked with Bowie on the Young Americans album so that shit was fate). 4. This season was so well planned that the fact that if the next episode comes out when I THINK it will come out next month. Brandon you are a twisted genius and I CANT wait! Also so glad that all three school buildings in NYC still exist. One ironically enough is a theater and another is now a college for Criminal Justice. What a great trip!

[@edreid7872]

Saw Fame opening day at the Zeigfeld, and saw all of the actors in the film...went every weekend for a month to see it...

[@kathyastrom1315]

Thank you so much for this!! I just discovered your channel and am now subscribed. I saw Fame in the theater when it was released, and as a 14-year-old musical theater geek was immediately obsessed with it. Wore out the record on Mom’s turntable-I am now thinking about downloading the album so I can revisit the songs. As soon as you mentioned Whitman, I immediately started singing the song to myself. I also loved the tv show, although I think I only regularly watched the first season or two. To this day, every time I see Paul McCrane on my screen, I first think of his baby face as Montgomery. It’s weird seeing him in Shawshank or ER now!

[@ucity88]

Judge Lasky on All Rise, too.

[@janecob5995]

I saw fame in the movies as a teen. Lately, I keep listening to the soundtrack on KZbin. Good timing. I enjoyed this.

[@pagandeva2000]

I have a friend who was an extra on Fame. I remember her stories of Irene Cara chain smoking on breaks. They showed my friend briefly, too! I was so thrilled!

[@crazystairs7124]

Man, I’ve seen Fame years ago, yet I never thought it was as culturally impactful as this. The last time I heard of it in hindsight was when I saw the trailer for that terrible remake of it a decade ago (Spoiler Alert: the remake was watered down and sanitized to the point that it missed the point of the original movie in every way imaginable). P.S. I loved your video and can’t wait for the Carrie one; also, you pronounced my last name correctly at the end, which not many do :)

[@taniab2018]

Such a great video. I'm old enough that I remember when this movie was released, and though I didn't see it in the theatre, I absolutely watched the TV show.

[@richardmanville5621]

Just a couple things for posterity... Michael Gore was not a "contributor" to Lesley Gore's "Its My Party". Also, not mentioned, Lesley Gore was in fact a contributor to the soundtrack of Fame having co-written "Out Here on My Own" nominated for Best Original Song. Also, the very well-known singer working on backup vocals is Luther Vandross not Vancross.

[@bitcoinjc]

Superb documentary, wow. Thanks. Still my favorite musical of all time. R.I.P. Alan Parker & Irene Cara.

[@Videonerd03]

Love this, a lot, especially the ending. How you have it tie in with all the other production you talked about.

[@WaitintheWings]

It's been a long road this season that's for sure. I got really excited putting all the clips together at the end. It's like getting so close to finishing a puzzle lol.

[@Videonerd03]

@@WaitintheWings and thats smart, I love that, makes it more exciting to watch! Love to learn your style of editing! Cant get enough of it!!

[@jessicawasiak9071]

When I was getting ready to begin freshman year at a nyc hs for performing arts, this and the tv show truly became special to me and I’d watch them all the time throughout those 4 years. Thanks for bringing a lil warm feeling again with this lovely video

[@mamabear2613]

Also could you maybe cover tuck everlasting I love that show but it only lasted 3 weeks on Broadway 😭

[@carltonesmith5015]

Didn’t know Luther was involved! Can’t imagine the title song without the “remember” chant he added … and yes, Irene. I loved her in The Electric Company, but she was also the lead in *Aaron Loves Angela* and *Sparkle*. She hadn’t broken through to the mainstream before *Fame*, but she was already on the radar among Black/urban moviegoers 🙌🏾🙌🏿🙌🏽

[@edavis0423]

I tried watching Fame when I was 13 after my mom rented it from Blockbuster, but I couldn't get into it. Knowing everything that went into making it, I think I need to give it another shot.

[@kallen868]

It's a good flick. Give it another shot.

[@handsomeX]

Yeah sometimes movies, tv shows, music, and even food doesn't make quite an impact until later in life, once we've had more time to mature.

[@melissagarza2376]

I loved the show… watched the episodes in early 80’s as a preteen. The story plot lines were interesting with a moral lesson to be learned. Beautiful cast , dancing & disco was the icing on top.

[@andrewdinkins4480]

I literally saw the movie hundreds of time because I was so in love with Irene Cara may she rest in peace

[@marjoleintje1993]

wauw! I had no idea of this 'come to be' story! this is great!! I remember loving this film as a kid and living it as a teenager going to a performing arts school myself :D

[@cinemalights4601]

Here's something you might not have known: Albert Hague was the composer for the 1966 animated television special adaptation of How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Chuck Jones.

[@NelsonStJames]

listening to the nightmare of trying to film this, one can easily understand why we need "right to work" states, and independent film production. Still, it's amazing looking back to think of the level of filmmaking and storytelling one used to be able to get on a modest budget back in the day. Fame would still only be budgeted at 30 million in todays dollars, which is practical nothing in the blockbuster driven Hollywood landscape of today.

[@graceluckman8161]

Oh my gosh I havent thought about fame in years! Thank you for reminding me of this steller musical. I last though about it when I was about 11.

[@kallen868]

Fame is forever.

[@OtisLePoOtis]

seriously one of my favorite channels

[@WaitintheWings]

Happy 1 year anniversary as a subscriber! :D I'm happy you're still liking the vids :)

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

This is such a fantastic channel. Funny Girl brought me here.

[@aleksandramachaj529]

Such an amazing episode! 🎶❤️🎶 I watched "Fame" years ago and it never made it to my favourite musicals, with me only listening to some songs from it occasionally. Before watching your video, I didn't even remember the songs, but the moment you said "I sing the body electric", I've got chills all over. This has been such an interesting listen, thank you for all the time and research you put into it. Now I'm definitely gonna rewatch the movie, knowing and understanding the reach history behind it.

[@tonyandrade8131]

At 12:56 "The next day in Los Angelas". Your stock footage is of Chicago, not L.A. lolz. Loved the episode!!! Thanks.

[@waterlemonandfriends]

Hey guys just so you know he doesn't want to be associated with the "What Went Wrong" title anymore so if you're gonna suggest a musical to cover it doesn't have to be exclusively musicals that "went wrong." He wants his channel to be more positive (you might've noticed all the thumbnails and titles of his old videos changed).

[@madeleine.exists9207]

Love your videos! Would you ever consider doing Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 or Team Starkid shows?

[@WaitintheWings]

Who knowwwwwsssss? 😉😂

[@BartMassey-PO8]

Really nice! If you're still thinking about things to cover in the world of musicals, I was reminded by a clip in this about the weird year 1975, in which two of the greatest musicals of modern times - A Chorus Line and Chicago - premiered. I think it would be interesting to hear about how all that played out, as I really don't know much of the history, other than that A Chorus Line received nine Tonys and Chicago was nominated for 11 and got 0. Craziest Tonys ever.

[@ucity88]

That would be an amazing documentary. Like the Battle of Versailles about the French vs. US designers.

[@ej3016]

went to NYC late 70’s with high school art / theatre class - most memorable moment was someone’s hand in my pocket while waiting for light to turn green 😂🤣 I ❤️ New York

[@eakherenow]

Thank you,this was excellent;you did a great job.

[@noellehannibal]

Love this! I am a huge fan of the film and TV series. Lucky enough to have spent the summer after graduating high school doing a stage version that featured songs from the TV show in Act One and songs from the film in Act Two. This was an incredible trip down memory lane! I have only one complaint: Luther VanCROSS? No, no...Luther Vandross.

[@noellehannibal]

Also, the leading into Carrie...*chef's kiss* Just finished a run here in Montreal as Margaret (and producer). Your Carrie episode was required viewing for everyone on the team! Thank you for all you do!

[@abax2]

A fine documentary about the 1980s, about a movie I saw over and over again as a teenager. Thanks to the filmmakers.

[@em4998]

another amazing video!! i still cant understand how come your videos dont have more views, they are so good and well done :( like really, keep up the good work your videos are srsly really good!!!!

[@roorooroor]

I end up caring and longing for every show he talks about

[@kallen868]

Gene was a King. Irene was a Queen! ❤

[@tophertales9967]

Actually Gene was a glorious queen

[@meganrobinson9867]

Do you plan this to come out with The Show Must Go On streaming Fame or was it just an incredibly well timed coincidence

[@WaitintheWings]

It was honestly just a really well timed coincidence hahaha

[@siborgproductions2422]

36.04 the inner whovian in me has come out also i never realised that was Luther Vandross on backing vocals

[@realmccoy18]

Isaac Mizrahi was in Fame. you showed him with students of the school that were in the movie.

[@yvaincallipso84]

Aww man, I remember doing the junior school play version of this in my high school. Me and my friends where looking at the non-censored version and laughing at how buckwild it was compared to our scripts. Loved learning about this one! The Fame song has been stuck in my head for days now!

[@melanied7453]

I wanted to be in Fame!!! I recorded the TV show on cassette tape. I still have the London live show album. I never knew about Luther! 😍😍😍

[@LittleMissLounge]

I am, at the most, a slightly-more-than-casual fan of theatre. I've never even seen/listened to most of what you've covered, but your videos are done so well that it doesn't even matter. I've had a tertiary awareness of Fame for a long time (Irene Cara comes up /a lot/ in crossword puzzles), but I've never felt the need to watch it despite having gone through an 80s teen movie phase when I was a kid. The hellishness of the production alone piques my interest.

[@mamabear2613]

My day: *going shit* KZbin: wait in the wings has uploaded a new video My day: *just got a whole lot better*

[@WaitintheWings]

Aw, I'm sorry you're having a bad day! I hope this video can help out a little bit

[@mamabear2613]

Wait in the Wings it really has brighten my day, helps that fame is one of my all time favourite musicals 😍😍😍 hard work is my go to song when I need to get stuff done 😍

[@Sophia3477]

OH MY GOD IT'S CARRIE, WE ARE GETTING A CARRIE EPISODE THANK YOU

[@FlyLikeDove]

This was so well done! I learned a lot about the movie that I never knew!

[@FabulousFab72]

I discovered the TV show in my youth. As Alan Parker (Midnight Express, Birdy, Angle Heart, Mississipi Burning) became one of my favorite director I dioscovered that the TV show came from a movie he made. And then I saw how the TV Show was wattered down compared to the movie.

[@lonellfletcher]

Just a note; its Luther VanDROSS, not VanCROSS. Other than that, killer vid.

[@MellissaBoomeroftheNight]

RIP Christopher Gore who passed of AIDS in the late 80s. I truly wish the far superior song of "Out Here On My Own" would've won for both Michael and Lesley Gore.

[@anastasiarene6617]

Casting notices were also posted at the Talent Unlimited program at Julia Richman High School, which is where Gene Anthony Ray went after getting booted from PA.

[@alexandergraham6912]

A comment stated "Fame" was "woke" long before anyone even knew what that word stood for. That is a fact and then some. But more to the point is that the truth of that statement is often overlooked by younger viewers who turned that word into their own anti-establishment rallying cry. When the film was released in the summer of 1980, at the very tail-end of Hollywood's most radical and taboo-breaking period of commercial mainstream filmmaking, explicit social criticism flourished in a manner that was unprecedented in the history of the American cinema. Such iconic and popular blockbusters like "The Godfather", "Jaws", "The Exorcist", and" The Deer Hunter" were perfect examples of this phenomena, where the words "mass market corporate entertainment" and "ambitious and serious works of art" were not mutually exclusive. For a film mainly aimed at younger audiences, "Fame" was a unique and exceptional achievement for its time. it was critically praised less for the outer shell of its dominant musical form and much more for the central dramatic conceit of its main theme: that "fame" is a meaningless and societally manufactured aspiration dependent on a self-sustaining belief in mass adulation and material acquisition as a measure of self-worth, a false ideal which has nothing to do with living a personally fulfilled or "successful" life as an individual. This is made clear through the entire "woke" journey of the main "Ralph Garcy" character, essentially the screenplay's specific vessel of this message as it connected to the then-recent suicide of Hollywood "overnight sensation" Freddie Prinze, who had been a student at The High School Of The Performing Arts. Despite its good intentions, this documentary does not really illuminate the real reasons the film, whose outdated cultural references firmly belong to the 1970's , has managed to remain relevant or in any way compelling to watch in the 21st century. Without explaining this, there is no way of really understanding why there was originally any so-called "revolution" at all.

[@fad23]

So here for this. I love the movie and just got the first season of the TV show which I watched growing up.

[@raaid22]

another great, video I always look forward them. I can tell you put a LOT work in researching them.

[@WaitintheWings]

Thank you so much!! I'm happy you enjoyed :)

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Haha, a shot from "Hoffa" - who was based in Detroit. Great choice!

[@MoDOMO93]

Whoa I’m happy frustrated and in awe of this video I love this so much now I wanna watch fame thru new eyes

[@tempbauer2131]

I went to a magnet PA highschool in the early 90’s after being in the “gifted” grade school. It wasn’t like Fame at all. But it was full of alot of talented, fun, interesting people. Our school was at odds with the ROTC school bc well most people don’t think to combine military with the arts or arts with the military. In the late 2000’s they merged. I was and still am gobsmacked as my daughter, 17 stated things are still the same and altho the schools merged, they still all hate each other

[@rjinws]

Your research is incredible, but how come no mention of the 2009 remake?

[@WaitintheWings]

*shudders* oh no lol. That's gonna get a video of its own lol.

[@rjinws]

Wait in the Wings whew. Im glad to hear that it was not just an oversight. (Although we should all forget about it)

[@kallen868]

Cuz it sucks 😆

[@idanwillenchik3050]

The film while obviously dated now still remains powerful and unflinching.Many felt though that several storylines remained unresolved.Almost ironically none of the film's principal actors became a household name.Some had solid careers but none achieved the elusive stardom that the film's story and concept talk about.Irene Cara didn't sustain her level of popularity over the years.Lee Curreri and Gene Anthony Ray rehashed their characters on the TV show and these roles became the only ones that they were known for.It's a shame that Paul McCrane,Barry Miller and Maureen Teefy who were all amazing in the film never got another chance to shine on film like they did here especially Teefy who never lived up to a great potential.The film was a big hit at the box office but not huge.I find it less of a musical but more of a drama and a character study with musical interludes.The film is raw and energetic and often feels improvised.The TV show was a watered down version that still managed to maintain the spirit of the concept.The show seems more dated than the film.The film looks grimey and unglamorous which adds to its sense of realism.

[@ucity88]

Maureen Teefy was a Pink Lady in the cult classic Grease 2.😂

[@hayleyrobetoy147]

Can't wait to see your next episode. :)

[@josephschauster6277]

interesting info. I remember the TV seris back in the 80's.

[@drtroyturner7464]

The irony that the one composure had to turn down Fame because working on Donna Summer album, yet Irene Cara's eventual result still sounds very Donna Summers-lik. Like this backstop of a top 10 favorite film of mine, but my pet Peeve is presentations thar jump from visual to visual in 1 & 2 seconds. Would like it to be more still to absorb. Found myself having to rewind to see Who was that? What scene was that? Other than that, great job.

[@LonniDelane]

Beautiful. Tears. 👏👏👏💖💖💖💜💜💜

[@Steven-fw1ll]

Leroy was a strange character,he was tough but feminine and extremely talented admiring him alot I hate when people don't get their respect take care bro. See you in heaven

[@feliciajenkins5041]

I gotta see this again. I'm always watching Hot Lunch and the dance battles.