FAME: A PLACE TO BELONG {FIFTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic television series about the lives of students of the fictional New York City High School for the Performing Arts, based on the 1980 film of the same name. A new school year begins and the students are all excited to return (“A Place Where We Belong”). This year sees the introduction of new student Dusty Tyler, who feels somewhat uncomfortable and unsure of herself. Since his graduation, Leroy has been struggling to land dance auditions, with very little success. Meanwhile, Christopher and Danny make fun of Dusty for her Shakespeare performance, and Mrs. Persky decides to punish them by assigning them to perform a scene from a play entirely in drag, encouraging them to explore their characters regardless of gender. Lydia talks to Morloch about getting a teaching assistant to help her handle her classes while she appears in a Broadway show, and she wants Leroy for the job. The board of education has Leroy “audition” for them by instructing a class in front of them, and he impresses them with his energy and enthusiasm, earning him the assistant teaching job. However, Leroy soon finds that his new position comes with some drawbacks when Holly and Nicole each try to manipulate him into using their friendship to earn them lead roles in the upcoming fall play. Christopher and Danny appear before their class in drag and earn the mockery of their fellow classmates. Leroy attends a faculty meeting where the teachers are discussing the importance of motivating the students, but it feels awkward to him and he excuses himself. He notes to himself that he feels like neither a teacher nor a student, and is unsure of exactly how he fits in at the school now. Christopher and Danny decide to wear their costumes around the school, hoping that they can acclimate to their characters and understand what it means to play female roles. Lydia gives Leroy advice about his future at the school and on Broadway, but he is feeling depressed. Shorofsky tries to offer Dusty advice; she is concerned about succeeding on the stage and is worried that her disapproving father will send her home. Leroy overhears her as she forlornly sings to herself (“A Place to Belong”), and when she sees him he claims he doesn’t work there anymore. Holly and Nicole argue with each other about their attempts to manipulate Leroy, and soon realize that they have been rude and apologize. Danny and Christopher watch them eagerly, conducting “research” for their roles. Jesse chides Leroy for abandoning his assistant teaching position, claiming that he could lend a great deal of help to many students if he stayed on. Leroy continues to futilely seek parts on Broadway, and imagines himself alongside the cast of the musical “Cats.” He realizes that he can still teach until the time comes for him to get his first big break on Broadway. He returns to the faculty to express his true views on motivation, noting that he was frightened and unsure of himself until the school’s staff brought out talent he didn’t know he had, and he feels that they can all do the same for other students. Meanwhile, Christopher and Danny perform their scene for their class, and using what they’ve learned they put on a genuinely skilled and moving performance. Leroy takes over Lydia’s audition session for the fall play and encourages Dusty to try out as well; she takes to it readily. Lydia overhears him echoing her own words to him about earning their lot through hard work. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: October 12, 1985
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:08278
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1983; Syndicated, 1983-1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Patricia Jones … Executive Producer
- Donald Reiker … Executive Producer
- Claylene Jones … Producer
- Frank Merwald … Associate Producer
- Randall Torno … Associate Producer
- David de Silva … Consulting Producer
- Denny Salvaryn … Consulting Producer
- Ray Danton … Director
- Christopher Gore … Created by
- Paul Boorstin … Writer
- Sharon Boorstin … Writer
- Gary Scott … Music by
- Michael Gore … Theme Music by
- Dean Pitchford … Theme Music by
- Jaime Rogers … Choreographer
- Randy Allaire … Dancer
- Paula Brown … Dancer
- Dwayne Phelps … Dancer
- Trish Ramish … Dancer
- Christophe Caballero … Dancer
- Bronwyn Thomas … Dancer
- Shawn Earl … Dancer
- Cynthia Sarmiento … Dancer
- Melissa Hurley … Dancer
- Ken Molina … Dancer
- Rocker Verastique … Dancer
- Regan Patno … Dancer
- Debra Vernado … Dancer
- Michelle Whitney-Morrison … Dancer
- Sheri Cowart … Dancer
- Edyie Fleming … Dancer
- Kenneth Jezek … Dancer
- Thom Keeling … Dancer
- J. Kathleen Lamb … Dancer
- Adrea Gibbs Muldoon … Dancer
- Phineas Newborn III … Dancer
- Serge Rodnunsky … Dancer
- Leigh Webster … Dancer
- Derryl Yeager … Dancer
- Debbie Allen … Cast, Lydia Grant
- Jesse Borrego … Cast, Jesse V. Valesquez
- Loretta Chandler … Cast, Dusty Tyler
- Cynthia Gibb … Cast, Holly Laird
- Albert Hague … Cast, Benjamin Shorofsky
- Billy Hufsey … Cast, Christopher Donlon
- Carlo Imperato … Cast, Danny Amatullo
- Carol Mayo Jenkins … Cast, Elizabeth Sherwood
- Ann Nelson … Cast, Mrs. Berg
- Nia Peeples … Cast, Nicole Chapman
- Gene Anthony Ray … Cast, Leroy Johnson
- Ken Swofford … Cast, Morloch
- Randee Heller … Cast, Peggy Persky
- Tom McDermott … Cast, The Stage Manager