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Fame (1980s)

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Lee Curreri, Debbie Allen, Gene Anthony Ray, Where to watch: Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Classic teen series is dated, but it once broke new ground.

Themes in this show include:   dating/crushes, friendship, growing up, peer pressure

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The series is purposefully positive and regularly includes specific take-away lessons for teen viewers on topics like drinking, sex, etc.

  • Role models:

    The main characters are diverse, work hard, and generally overcome obstacles and adversity by making the "right" decisions. Although they're probaby less relatable now than they were in the '80s, their problems were meant to echo those of real-life teens.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Rare verbal sparring between major characters, including students and teachers. Secondary characters who make one-time appearances occasionally lead violent lives.

  • Sex:

    It's rare for a storyline to involve sex, but it happens from time to time. In one episode, for example, a student meets a teen prostitute while preparing for a drama project and befriends her.

  • Language:

    Some mild insults like "jerk," "dumb," and "stupid." Rare uses of gateway phrases like "damn it."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    On rare occasions, a secondary character has a drinking or drug problem. In one episode, for example, a student's brother shows up drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fame (1980s)

Parents need to know that this classic TV drama about artistic teens growing up in New York City in the 1980s is generally clean when it comes to language and sexual content -- and it's much tamer than the R-rated 1980 movie it was based on. Storylines occasionally include secondary characters who have serious problems with drugs, alcohol, or violent crime or involve heavy themes like prostitution and debilitating disease. But the primary role models -- and messages -- are overwhelmingly positive.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether the characters' stories are still relevant to today's high schoolers. Teens: Which of these characters, if any, do you relate to? Do any of the characters' problems seem outdated to you? Does the plot play to any stereotypes?
  • How does this series compare to the 1980 film version? How about the 2009 remake? Do you think Fame could make it as a TV series today?
  • What message does the show send about fame? Is it easy to get? How much work does it take? Is fame any easier to come by in modern-day society -- and does that mean you don't have to work as hard to get it?
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