History YMMV / Fame

** "Tough Act to Follow", even moreso when you consider that [[RealitySubtext the actor playing Mr. Crandall had just died.]]

!!The musical version provides examples of:

!!The movies provide examples of:

!!The series version provides examples of:

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: The very first episode has Lori Singer's character, Julie Miller, learn that she's supposed to dress differently to fit in at a new school, rather than expect other students not to pick on her for trivial things. Only Bruno points out that picking on her for being different is unfair. To make matters worse, part of the reason she changes school is because her parents divorced, not because she really wants to go to that performing arts school in particular.

** The Season 5 episode [[VerySpecialEpisode ''"W.S.O.A."'']] has Kathleen Wilhoite (later better known for her recurring roles on ''Series/LALaw''; ''Series/{{ER}}'' and as the voice of the title character on ''WesternAnimation/PepperAnn''.

** The Season 5 episode [[VerySpecialEpisode "''W.S.O.A.''"]] has Kathleen Wilhoite (later better known for her recurring roles on ''Series/LALaw''; ''Series/{{ER}}'' and as the voice of the title character on ''WesternAnimation/PepperAnn''.

* RetroactiveRecognition[=/=]YouLookFamiliar: Nia Peeples appeared in Season 2's "Sunshine Again" in a minor role before joining the cast for Season 4 as Nicole Chapman.
** Glenn Gordon Caron wrote the series 4th episode ("''Alone in the Crowd''"). Caring would later go on to create the series ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'' and ''Series/{{Medium}}''.

* EarWorm: ''"FAME! I'm gonna live forever, I'm gonna learn how to fly!"''

* EarWorm: ''All over the place.'' That many of the original songs were written by Michael Cruz, who also wrote original songs for fellow MGM musical series ''Series/KidsIncorporated'' should tip you in, one of which was actually sung on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhElhfDPqY BOTH shows]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCPIcACh1OQ in the same year]].

* EarWorm: ''All over the place.'' That many of the original songs were written by Michael Cruz, who also wrote original songs for fellow MGM musical series ''Series/KidsIncorporated'' should tip you in.
** One of which, might I add, was actually sung on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhElhfDPqY BOTH shows]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCPIcACh1OQ in the same year]]

** One of which, might I add, was actually sung in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhElhfDPqY BOTH ''Kids Inc'']] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCPIcACh1OQ AND ''Fame.'']]

* EarWorm: ''All over the place.'' That many of the songs were written by Michael Cruz, who also wrote original songs for fellow MGM musical series ''Series/KidsIncorporated'' should tip you in.

* {{Narm}} : On occasion. Some episodes are available on YouTube. Some of the actors veer into LargeHam territory, and on occasion the vocal performances are cringe-worthy. Granted, it ''was'' TheEighties.

* HilariousInHindsight: The Season 5 episode "Self Defense" (focusing on several of the girls wanting to learn karate after the School of the Arts is repeatedly vandalized) becomes this to a degree considering Nia Peeples' other major role saw her get plenty of opportunity to use her karate skills on ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger''.

* EarWorm: ''All over the place.'' That many of the songs were written by at least one person who also wrote original songs for fellow MGM musical series ''Series/KidsIncorporated'' should tip you in.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Nia Peeples appeared in Season 2's "Sunshine Again" in a minor role before joining the cast for Season 4 as Nicole Chapman.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Paul McCrane would again play his heartfelt song, "Is It OK If I Call You Mine", 30 years later during a guest appearance on the TV show ''Series/HarrysLaw'', and the performance contributed to him winning a Primetime Emmy Award.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Nia Peeples appeared in Season 2's "Sunshine Again" in a minor role before joining the cast for Season 4 as Nicole Chapman.

** "Tough Act to Follow", even moreso when you consider that [[RealitySubtext the actor playing Mr. Crandall had just died.]]

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The series proved far more popular in UsefulNotes/{{Europe}} and especially the [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} United Kingdom]] that it did in the home market UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates; to the point that it played a role in Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer and LBS Communications partnering to [[{{Uncanceled}} continue production in first-run syndication]] after the series was canceled by Creator/{{NBC}} in 1983.
* {{Narm}} : On occasion. Some episodes are available on YouTube. Some of the actors veer into LargeHam territory, and on occasion the vocal performances are cringe-worthy. Plus TheEighties.

** The song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pEcaIsOgE "Come What May"]] (not [[Film/MoulinRouge that one]], an original song composed for the show) in particular is also heartbreakingly gorgeous.

* ActorAllusion: In the remake, one of the auditionees performs "All That Jazz" from ''Theatre/{{Chicago}}''. Creator/BebeNeuwirth, who plays one of the dance instructors, won a Tony for her portrayal of Velma Kelly (who sings the number) in a Broadway revival of ''Chicago''.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: "Fame", clearly. The full version of "Bring on Tomorrow" is another.

* BizarroEpisode: The Wizard of Oz episode. Ironically, the show's renditions of the classic songs seem to be how people discover the show on Youtube.
* McLeaned: Nicole in season 6. Long story short, the writers considered doing a VerySpecialEpisode on drunk driving, but had to get a main character involved. When Nicole's actress Nia Peeples wanted to leave, they got her permission to have Nicole KilledOffForReal; the result was the episode "Go Softly Into The Morning". According to the book ''Inside Fame on Television: A Behind-the-Scenes History'' the writers regretted doing this and they would have loved to have Nicole back for the GrandFinale.
* TheOtherDarrin: Coco, Montgomery and Doris are not played by the same actors as the movie. Coco starts out with her hair done in the same way as movie!Coco, to make the transition less obvious.

** The full version of "Bring on Tomorrow" when Schlomo [[spoiler: dedicates the performance to Carmen, who's just died of a drug overdose.]]