Stages
Synopsis
Holly is unhappy when her Mother comes to New York and decided to live with her for awhile.
Meanwhile Danny tries to hypnotize his friends, which they don't think works. However, Morloch is listening in on their conversation and he is affected by a hypnotic suggestion.
Review
This episode isn't a favourite of mine and for me the main story of Holly and her Mother doesn't really go anywhere.
Holly seems a little put out that her Mother has come to stay as she want to be a performer too. Holly isn't happy about it but they sing a song together and everything is okay in the end! It's not really very dramatic stuff and for me not enough to be the lead story of an episode. Even though the whole cast are here with the exception of Lydia the episode still feels a little empty. It's not as though Holly's mother takes over the show, like other guest stars do, I guess I just find it boring. There has been no previous mention of Holly having a difficult relationship with her mother and nothing here to really explain what the problem is.
The subplot with Morloch being hypnotised by Danny adds lots of humour and is fun to watch but is a little silly. I'm not convinced someone who'd just bought a book to hypnotise his friends into thinking doing a 40s show is a good idea, would actually be able to hypnotise anyone or place post hypnotic suggestions into their heads. So it is all a little unconvincing.
Still the interaction between Sherwood, Morloch and Mrs Berg is good stuff. I'd never realised until I watched these episodes back to back just how many times Morloch says "Not now Mrs Berg". It's almost every episode so that was obviously a little in joke and nice continuity but I'd never picked up on it before.
Danny says that Caruso loves 40s music and in the scenes set in Caruso's yes 40's music is playing but it never has been in any of the other episodes, so it's a little convenient here.
I quite like Rudy's Restaurant and Cabaret as it's something a little different for Fame. Although it's really a feeble excuse to get Mrs Laird on stage because neither Holly nor Doris know the 3rd part! She only sings one brief line on her own so I'm sure that if they'd been practising they others would know that line too.
I do find it a little frustrating that the guest star guest gets to sing on 3 different songs. Her voice is very pleasant but I'd rather hear more form the cast, so I guess it's good that 2 of her 3 songs are with cast members.
I've always loved "Out Here On My Own" from the film so it's nice to hear it here. We are told that it's one of Holly's favourite songs. Does that mean she watched the Fame film and that's why she wants to be a star?!
I find it a little strange that Holly would choose to barge into Dwight's music rehearsal to sort out possible room mates. It doesn't seem to make any sense. Why wouldn't she just go to the library or the cafeteria? It seems very selfish to interrupt someone with something that doesn't affect them.
One final nit pick, In "Appearances" Holly and Chris decide to go out on a date and she tell him that she lives at number "1147 Beaman Avenue, apartment C" but here her door shows the number 8!
Episode Pictures
Production Number & Filming Schedule
Production Number 2775
Executive Producer William Blinn.
Air Dates
Original air date in U.S.A 04th March 1984
Original air date in U.K. 01st June 1984, Repeated on The Children's Channel Autumn 1992
Original air date in The Netherlands 12th June 1984
Original air date in Italy 11th August 1986
Original air date in Belgium 14th July 1988
Original air date in France 14th January 1989
Watch Episode
Production Credits
Written By Billy Field
Directed by Richard Kinon
Assistant Director Richard Schor
Guest Stars & Dancers
Ann Nelson as Mrs Berg
David Greenlee as Dwight Mandenhall
Donna McKechnie as Suzi Laird
Dave Shelley as Caruso
Johnny Hammer as Mr Gianni
Bronwyn Thomas as Michelle
Charlie Brill as Jennings
Songs & MP3 Downloads
Rudy's Restaurant & Cabaret
Performed by Valerie, Cynthia & Donna McKechnie
Written by By Barry Fasman & Sue Sheridan
Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
Performed by Donna McKechnie
Written by Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
Out Here On My Own
Performed by Cynthia Gibb & Donna McKechnie
Written by Michael Gore & Lesley Gore