View Full Version : Thoughts on the Season 1 DVD Set


vashti1999
10-31-2005, 02:52 AM
Here's the first online review I found, from dvdtalk.com (http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=18481)

Dr. Jazz
10-31-2005, 05:06 PM
Hell yeeeaahhh!! I finally get to see my girl Erica Gimpel in all her crystal clear DVD beauty. I heard she is on "Veronica Mars" from time to time. The woman is still FINE! Season 1 also has one of my favorite episodes, "A Big Finish" guest starring Art Carney & Ray Walston. Unfortunately, Coco's not in that ep, but it has one of my favorite Fame songs "You're the Real Music in My Life" sung by Gene Anthony Ray. I can't wait til' tomorrow!! :lol:

vashti1999
10-31-2005, 05:16 PM
Hell yeeeaahhh!! I finally get to see my girl Erica Gimpel in all her crystal clear DVD beauty. I heard she is on "Veronica Mars" from time to time. The woman is still FINE! Season 1 also has one of my favorite episodes, "A Big Finish" guest starring Art Carney & Ray Walston. Unfortunately, Coco's not in that ep, but it has one of my favorite Fame songs "You're the Real Music in My Life" sung by Gene Anthony Ray. I can't wait til' tomorrow!! :lol:


Yes, Erica was featured pretty heavily in the most recent Veronica Mars episode. As for Fame, I'm sorry to say I don't remember any specific songs or episodes from season 1 at all. Unless I watched them in syndication, this'll be my first time watching these since they originally aired (I at least remembered that I watched it on NBC). I'll be stopping off at Target before work tomorrow to get my copy.

vashti1999
11-01-2005, 10:50 AM
I'll be stopping off at Target before work tomorrow to get my copy.

The store opens at 8 a.m., and I made it there a little past 9. If the dvds had been stacked to the edge of the display shelf, they definitely sold a few copies before I got there, because there were only a couple left on the shelf. So if this is indication that there's some interest in this set, I'm happy.

They could have done a better job with the episode summaries on the inside of the cases. You shouldn't have to move the discs to read the summaries, not a good look.

Dr. Jazz
11-01-2005, 11:21 AM
The store opens at 8 a.m., and I made it there a little past 9. If the dvds had been stacked to the edge of the display shelf, they definitely sold a few copies before I got there, because there were only a couple left on the shelf. So if this is indication that there's some interest in this set, I'm happy.

They could have done a better job with the episode summaries on the inside of the cases. You shouldn't have to move the discs to read the summaries, not a good look.

That's good if they already sold some that early today. I had heard they didn't do a good job with the episode summaries, but we'll take what we can get :lol: I also think that the "Fame" logo should have been in red (at least for the first season box) since that's the color it always was on the show and the movie. If they release the other seasons, then they could have the logo be a different color on each box set or something.

vashti1999
11-01-2005, 11:34 AM
I also think that the "Fame" logo should have been in red (at least for the first season box) since that's the color it always was on the show and the movie. If they release the other seasons, then they could have the logo be a different color on each box set or something.


Yeah, when I initially saw the cover art when they announced it I thought the black and silver was a strange color scheme. I definitely expected the cover to be more colorful, to match the spirit of the show. Like you said, hopefully they'll have different colors when they release future seasons. ("When" not "if". Gotta think positive). ;)

vashti1999
11-01-2005, 05:12 PM
Jazz, when you watch it, check out Jasmine Guy in the first episode. She's wearing the same yellow sweater in three or four different classroom scenes. Everyone else changed but they have her in the exact same wardrobe on different days. Guess they didn't pay attention to the extras.

Anyway, the show is great. I nearly got a little misty when they performed the song at the end of that episode. I'm so happy I can see this season's worth of episodes whenever I'm in the mood to now. I'm already ready for seasons 2 through 6.

Dr. Jazz
11-02-2005, 08:42 AM
Jazz, when you watch it, check out Jasmine Guy in the first episode. She's wearing the same yellow sweater in three or four different classroom scenes. Everyone else changed but they have her in the exact same wardrobe on different days. Guess they didn't pay attention to the extras.

Anyway, the show is great. I nearly got a little misty when they performed the song at the end of that episode. I'm so happy I can see this season's worth of episodes whenever I'm in the mood to now. I'm already ready for seasons 2 through 6.

I remember Jasmine Guy saying she had been an extra on "Fame" but I couldn't recall what episodes. I guess she was just around for the first season or maybe just the first episode. I got mine at Target yesterday afternoon but haven't got to watch any of it yet, hopefully tonight :cool:

vashti1999
11-02-2005, 09:09 AM
I remember Jasmine Guy saying she had been an extra on "Fame" but I couldn't recall what episodes. I guess she was just around for the first season or maybe just the first episode. I got mine at Target yesterday afternoon but haven't got to watch any of it yet, hopefully tonight :cool:


I've noticed her in at least 3 of the first four episodes, if not all 4. I plan on watching another 4 today. Ordinarily I wouldn't rush through it, but I need to watch enough to write a review. Plus, I'll have to get ready for The White Shadow next.

Dr. Jazz
11-02-2005, 11:29 AM
I've noticed her in at least 3 of the first four episodes, if not all 4. I plan on watching another 4 today. Ordinarily I wouldn't rush through it, but I need to watch enough to write a review. Plus, I'll have to get ready for The White Shadow next.

Yeah, you don't wanna watch all of them and then have to wait Lord knows how long for Season 2 lol You don't have too long too get ready for the White Shadow, about 6 days :lol: I can't wait til' next Tuesday either, WS and A Different World!! This is the greatest month, TV-DVD-wise for me so far because of those three releases.

vashti1999
11-02-2005, 11:56 AM
Yeah, you don't wanna watch all of them and then have to wait Lord knows how long for Season 2 lol You don't have too long too get ready for the White Shadow, about 6 days :lol: I can't wait til' next Tuesday either, WS and A Different World!! This is the greatest month, TV-DVD-wise for me so far because of those three releases.


My sentiments 150%. Those three shows are the top three shows that I hoped for on dvd and that they're all coming out at the same time, it's definitely the best tv-dvd month for me. I don't think I'll personally have another period as good as this, unless maybe the season 2's of all those shows come out on the same day a couple months from now.

vashti1999
11-17-2005, 01:14 PM
I'm just now halfway through the set. Watched the "Street Kid" episode, probably my least favorite of the first eight. It just wasn't a peppy episode. There was no Leroy, so that's a negative, and watching the episode knowing that the guest actress Dominique Dunne was killed that same year didn't make watching it any more pleasant.

Dr. Jazz
11-17-2005, 05:19 PM
I'm just now halfway through the set. Watched the "Street Kid" episode, probably my least favorite of the first eight. It just wasn't a peppy episode. There was no Leroy, so that's a negative, and watching the episode knowing that the guest actress Dominique Dunne was killed that same year didn't make watching it any more pleasant.

I never liked that one either. I hope that isn't her real voice when she was singing, she sounded awful :lol:

vashti1999
11-17-2005, 05:55 PM
I never liked that one either. I hope that isn't her real voice when she was singing, she sounded awful :lol:

Yeah, she was pretty bad, but I think that was really her. They didn't do a lot of dubbing on Fame. Truth be told, some of the regulars didn't have a great singing voice either. I mean, Danny Amatullo singing? :eek:

Dr. Jazz
11-17-2005, 08:15 PM
Yeah, she was pretty bad, but I think that was really her. They didn't do a lot of dubbing on Fame. Truth be told, some of the regulars didn't have a great singing voice either. I mean, Danny Amatullo singing? :eek:

That's true. It was mainly the male cast members that couldn't sing. Gene Anthony Ray could NOT sing but as the seasons went on, he started sounding better. I never thought Lee Curreri or Billy Hufsey were good singers either, but they had good songs to hold them up. Jesse Borrego was the best male singer out of the cast IMO.

vashti1999
11-17-2005, 08:24 PM
That's true. It was mainly the male cast members that couldn't sing. Gene Anthony Ray could NOT sing but as the seasons went on, he started sounding better. I never thought Lee Curreri or Billy Hufsey were good singers either, but they had good songs to hold them up. Jesse Borrego was the best male singer out of the cast IMO.



That's right! I should have mentioned Lee Curreri over Carlo Imperato. Lee couldn't sing to save his life. As for Leroy, I think it was the episode "Tomorrow's Farewell" I was like "I'm a big fan of yours Gene, but man, you should NOT be singing."

How far along in the set have you gotten?

Dr. Jazz
11-17-2005, 09:18 PM
That's right! I should have mentioned Lee Curreri over Carlo Imperato. Lee couldn't sing to save his life. As for Leroy, I think it was the episode "Tomorrow's Farewell" I was like "I'm a big fan of yours Gene, but man, you should NOT be singing."

How far along in the set have you gotten?

I once read somewhere that even Gene Anthony Ray's mother told him that he should stop singing and just stick to dancing lol

I've watched the first 7 so far. I'll probably watch a couple more and then save the rest of them to watch in a month or two, or until I hear a Season 2 announcement ;) I've been watching a couple episodes every weekend. I've got so many other TV-DVD sets to watch that I haven't finished lol I'm taking my time watching The White Shadow as well.

vashti1999
11-18-2005, 11:25 AM
I've got so many other TV-DVD sets to watch that I haven't finished lol I'm taking my time watching The White Shadow as well.


Same situation with me. I'm backed up with stuff I haven't even started let alone stuff I have to continue. I've only watched three episodes on The White Shadow set so far.

vashti1999
01-19-2006, 05:04 PM
I just finished watching the "But Seriously Folks" episode, and the song was already over for five minutes before I realized that the song Danny was singing was the same song Leroy did in "Tomorrow's Farewell" (Come What May). I'll have to check them both out again to decide who did a better job with the song.

AllForYou8
01-20-2006, 06:26 PM
I watched the entire DVD in three or four days. I forgot how much I loved this show when I was a kid. I have the Kids From Fame Live album and I had forgotten from which episode the songs came. I was really nice seeing them again. I can't wait for the second season.
I have to totally agree about some of the guys singing. I still cringe when I hear Leroy sing "Come what Maaaaay". :lol: Julie too, I really like It's Gonna Be A Long Night, but her voice is just. :nonono:

vashti1999
01-20-2006, 08:22 PM
I watched the entire DVD in three or four days. I forgot how much I loved this show when I was a kid. I have the Kids From Fame Live album and I had forgotten from which episode the songs came. I was really nice seeing them again. I can't wait for the second season.

I also considered going through the set quickly because it had been a few years since I've seen the show but I decided to savor it slowly and spread the episodes out. Like you, I can't wait for the second season either. Let's just hope it actually happens.

Dr. Jazz
01-21-2006, 01:24 AM
I just finished watching the "But Seriously Folks" episode, and the song was already over for five minutes before I realized that the song Danny was singing was the same song Leroy did in "Tomorrow's Farewell" (Come What May). I'll have to check them both out again to decide who did a better job with the song.

In the Season 4 episode "Who Am I, Really?", Nicole sings a song called "Come What May" as well but it is Patti LaBelle's 1979 song "Come What May", not the one both Leroy and Danny had sung in Season 1. Nia Peeples has mentioned in several interviews that Patti's "Come What May" is her favorite song that she sang during her three seasons on Fame :cool:

vashti1999
01-23-2006, 01:21 PM
In the Season 4 episode "Who Am I, Really?", Nicole sings a song called "Come What May" as well but it is Patti LaBelle's 1979 song "Come What May", not the one both Leroy and Danny had sung in Season 1. Nia Peeples has mentioned in several interviews that Patti's "Come What May" is her favorite song that she sang during her three seasons on Fame :cool:


Hope I won't have to wait too long for the season 4 dvd to see that (hint Sony/MGM)