TiVo Community Forums Archives - "Fame"

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"Fame" - Anybody watch this?
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Posted by: LtSparky

Ok, since I like American Idol (no comments, please), I thought I'd give "Fame" a look. I got about 10 minutes into it when I just couldn't take it anymore. Is it just me, or is the host and "judge" two of the most annoying people on the planet to listen to? The fake laughter, the mutual compliments they give to each order which are meant to inform us all what big stars they are. Then, the auditions...they were so boring. No interesting comments or critiques. Just one judge saying "next", "next" and then calling out a number for those she wants to stay.

For anybody that watched this all the way through...does it get better? Or, should I just delete it before my Tivo gets offended.

Posted by: rich

quote:
Originally posted by LtSparky
For anybody that watched this all the way through...does it get better? Or, should I just delete it before my Tivo gets offended.

I didn't watch it all the way through, I just caught the last half hour or so.

They narrowed it down to six people. For each, they played a video that showed them in practice and talked about their hopes and fears, then they got up and did an individual song and dance number in front of the studio audience. The three judges up front got to make comments. Then the coach/judge got to make comments (and if any of the three judges wanted to say anything, she simply shouted them down). Then the contestant got a chance to make a comment.

After all six got this, there was a group song/dance number done to "For the Love of Money".

Then they announced which three would stay and which three would go. The three losers talked about what a wonderful time they had and how thankful they were for the opportunity to perform for America.

Next week, more will be selected.

If you think you can do better, go to www.nbc.com/fame and learn how to submit your own video. Do it by July 1. If they like you, you can shoot for a spot on the show.

Posted by: hoopsbwc34

I decided I didn't want to Tivo this but then caught the last 30minutes... the end wasn't bad. I guess the last hour was 6 solo acts, with one group number at the end. The solo acts I saw were somewhat impressive, and I enjoyed seeing the increased talent it takes to sing AND dance (Ruben? Clay? Ha...) But I totally agree about the hosts.

After watching the end, I decided I'd tivo the next one and see what the whole show looks like. I guess I'll just skip the first hour. I'm really tired of these 2 hour marathon shows, thank goodness I can fast forward through all the crap.

Posted by: cello

I thought that it was thousands time better than American Idol - most of the people there were a lot more talented than the folks who made it to the last few cuts of AI. And in more than one area, also. Not to mention that instead of seeing people doing largely Karaoke (sorry to quote Simon, but it's so often true) versions of tired songs, they actually had an opportunity to show that they have personalities. Particularly in the first half of the show, but also in the second half.

I also like that Debbie and the judges were capable of giving useful criticisms, instead of the tired bland praise or purposefully inflammatory insults of AI. I'm a convert.

I think that this show will definitely appeal more to folks who are a fan of musicals and big flashy talent than to people who are fans of top-40 radio and pop music. I hope the show catches on because I found it immensely more interesting than AI ever was.

Posted by: hookbill

I don't get it. Why is everyone getting so excited about shows like this? Maybe I'm just getting old but what happened to people that did original music and relied on their vocal and composing abilities. Give me a show that showcases original artists doing their own music and that would be my idea of an "American Idol".

Granted the people on these shows, at least some of them, can sing. But as John Lennon said, "a pretty face may last a year or two, but pretty soon they'll see what you can do." I just feel there is so much more to music then an ability to carry a tune well.

And please tell these folks not to take on any more Beatles tunes. You can't improve upon perfection.

Posted by: kyote

I skipped in. Took the kids for a walk around the block and watched anime on TechTv.

Posted by: spartanstew

quote:
Originally posted by LtSparky
Ok, since I like American Idol (no comments, please), I thought I'd give "Fame" a look. I got about 10 minutes into it

I think you lasted about 5 minutes longer than me. After Ms. Allen said something along the lines of "You go Sister" three times in the first few minutes, I decided to quit watching.

Stew

Posted by: GoodN

Didn't anyone have a crazy music teacher like Debbie Allen back in junior high? She is much more entertaining than Randy Jackson on "American Idol."

The dance rehearsals were hilarious, and the group production numbers were fun to watch. It was high camp, more like an amateur talent show than a professional music showcase. I'd rather watch two hours of this than listen to some of those "American Idol" theme shows.

Unfortunately, I have no defense for Joey Fattone.

Posted by: modnar

We watched this show, and, even though we're not too thrilled with the host, thought it was pretty good.

Posted by: MauriAnne

I almost stopped watching during the first hour, but got busy doing something else and let it keep running. When I started to watch again, it was during the second hour which I enjoyed. I'll watch again.

Posted by: modnar

Was anyone else surprised they didn't try to make the show look a little less like American Idol? (i.e. three "panelists" who review each act after it's done...) I wonder if they'll have guest "panelists?"

Posted by: rich

They now have three shows under their belts with another to follow tomorrow.

The regular pattern now is that six contestants perform individually in front of the three judges, who get to make comments. At the end there is a group performance and then three of the six are sent home.

Debbie has toned down her act a lot and is more subdued. The host is still dull. The judges are allowed to speak their minds and Debbie doesn't try to shout them down.

I felt sorry for the one girl last night who said she was kicked out of a "Fame" studio when she was 13 because they said she lacked talent, which was a huge blow to her ego, but she picked herself back up and kept trying. Now, what is the big prize? A year of lessons at a "Fame" studio! Argh!

Posted by: cello

Actually, she was told by a teacher at the performing arts high school in NYC that she wouldn't make it. They didn't say she was kicked out. :)

I'm still quite impressed with this show. There are one or two performances each week that I'm not so hot about, but overall they're great. And I find them a lot more entertaining than anything on AI. Then again, I'm not much of a top-40 pop person. I was quite surprised that the girl who performed first last night didn't make it. She was fantastic. I wonder if they figure that she's young and will have other opportunities?

In addition to the performances (and they're actually performances most of the time, not someone just singing a few verses of a song), I really like the judging. I think I said this before, but I'll say it again. They say intelligent things, they give *constructive* criticism, and they're sometimes even funny. If I were on one of these shows, I'd much rather be judged by them than by the AI gang. Their feedback actually seems to be sincere and potentially useful.

Posted by: rich

Last night, on the big two-hour special, all twelve finalists gave individual performances and were judged. Phone numbers were given for each, and America got a chance to vote. Next week the bottom two will be eliminated.

Some of the goofier "spoiler" entries were shown.

The only real surprise was that it was revealed that Harlemm is not actually 27 years old ... he's 36. He said he lied about his age when he arrived because everyone else was so young and he didn't want to admit that he was in his 30s so he said 27. Debbie loves him anyway.

Posted by: skearney00

Oh and it appears NBC learned something from Fox and put a cap of 5 votes per phone.

Posted by: mitchrc

Debbie Allen is clearly mentally ill.

Posted by: rich

The twelve finalists have been narrowed down to eight. "The Spoiler" has been introduced but we have not seen him perform yet.

Before they announce each person who will advance, they go down the line and do a closeup on each of the remaining contestants and play a little "bump-bump..." music to heighten the suspense. The "FF" button on TiVo gets a workout each time they do this. Ugh.

Posted by: skearney00

quote:
Originally posted by rich
Before they announce each person who will advance, they go down the line and do a closeup on each of the remaining contestants and play a little "bump-bump..." music to heighten the suspense.

That drives me absolutely insane. They might actually have time for more judges comments--which are sometimes entertaining if nothing else--if they didn't do that crap every single time!

Debbie Allen is clearly on some kind of Prozac and Vicodin cocktail.

Posted by: rich

I laughed when one of the contestants said that The Spoiler should have auditioned like they did (unless they were in jail or something at the time). But, when you think about it, The Spoiler auditioned just like the rest of them did. A bunch of tapes were sent to Debbie Allen who then pronounced her selection. I wish that America would have had a chance to have some input into the process, so that it did not all depend on the all-knowing Debbie Allen.

Posted by: cello

Well, the contestants did have a point about that. Their audition was live, and they had to learn a bunch of routines and things to make it through. The spoiler didn't have to do through days of sitting around and waiting, learning routines in short amounts of time, and live auditions. He definitly had an easier audition. I don't know that that means he won't be as good as the others, but he definitly got in through the back door.

Posted by: rich

The eight got narrowed to six (the rapper dude was one of the ones eliminated), then The Spoiler was added. The Spoiler can dance, but as all of the judges noted, he isn't much of a singer. This week it gets narrowed to four, then next week is the big finale.

Posted by: rich

Last night the seven got narrowed to four. I'm pulling for Harlemm to win it all next week.

Posted by: omnibus

I agree that Harlemm may be the most talented of the final four but the music and other producers are probably wondering how to make money from his talent. I mean he's not exactly the teenage heart-throb type.

Give them Sharon Bex for that, could be the next Britney.

Posted by: BBQ Chicken

vote for shannon bex cause i know her
(she used to be a blazer dancer)

i dont watch the show though, its on the same time as boarding house north shore. :)

Posted by: rasheed

quote:
Originally posted by BBQ Chicken
vote for shannon bex cause i know her
(she used to be a blazer dancer)

i dont watch the show though, its on the same time as boarding house north shore. :)

You're not using the power of TiVo very well. You can watching the surf show on the WB Sunday encore and watch Fame in the normal time slot. Or if you have Bravo, watch Fame on that channel. Your SP manager would work this for you if you had both SPs and order them appropriately.

Regardless of the commercial sell, Harlemm is the one you wonder what he will do week to week (as the judges have also noted).

Rasheed

Posted by: rich

Harlemm Lee won, and Shannon Bex was also offered a recording contract. We'll see how their careers go now.

The big-name image consultants were working to define each finalist's image. They told Harlemm that he seemed proud of his heritage and they would probably work with that. Duh.

Joey was pretty lame as a host. He didn't know the name of Harlemm's closing song and said it was "because the teleprompter wasn't working". Sheesh.