The Kids From "Fame" Live on Tour in Israel
Synopsis
Synopsis
Kids from Fame concert Special on Tour in Israel. Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Erica Gimpel, Carlo Imperato, Valerie Landsburg, Gene Anthony Ray, The Waters and The Fame Dancers, take their very successful tour to Tel Aviv, Israel to celebrate it's 35th Birthday.
Kids from Fame concert Special on Tour in Israel. Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Erica Gimpel, Carlo Imperato, Valerie Landsburg, Gene Anthony Ray, The Waters and The Fame Dancers, take their very successful tour to Tel Aviv, Israel to celebrate it's 35th Birthday.
The Kids perform some of the songs from the show as well as some cover versions. Also we see the cast sight seeing in Israel and commenting on their thoughts and feelings.
The Kids perform some of the songs from the show as well as some cover versions. Also we see the cast sight seeing in Israel and commenting on their thoughts and feelings.
Review
Review
This episode was never shown in the U.K. during the original BBC broadcasts and again I didn’t know it even existed. When the show was broadcast again on the Children’s Channel in the early 90s I was so excited to see something I hadn’t seen before.
This episode was never shown in the U.K. during the original BBC broadcasts and again I didn’t know it even existed. When the show was broadcast again on the Children’s Channel in the early 90s I was so excited to see something I hadn’t seen before.
When the cast toured the U.K. for the second time I wasn’t allowed to go as it was a school night and there was only an evening performance, where I lived at that time.
When the cast toured the U.K. for the second time I wasn’t allowed to go as it was a school night and there was only an evening performance, where I lived at that time.
The show was very similar to the first tour although they changed some of the songs and most of those different songs were shown in this episode, so I finally got to see “Higher Ground”, “Murphy’s Blues”, “Memory” etc.. 10 years later.
The show was very similar to the first tour although they changed some of the songs and most of those different songs were shown in this episode, so I finally got to see “Higher Ground”, “Murphy’s Blues”, “Memory” etc.. 10 years later.
The cast performed 7 sell out shows in Tel Aviv to over 48000 people.
The cast performed 7 sell out shows in Tel Aviv to over 48000 people.
I particularly like the narrations between the songs as the kids explore Israel and help celebrate the Countries 35th Birthday.
I particularly like the narrations between the songs as the kids explore Israel and help celebrate the Countries 35th Birthday.
Also it was interesting to here Gene talk, he states he’s 20 but in the series he always seemed so much older, to me. Just the way he’s talking here makes me realise how young they were and how much pressure the cast was under, so I’m not surprised some of them had their problems later on. Gene did perform “Lay Back And Be Cool” during the original U.K. concerts but for whatever reason this was cut out of those episodes and the video so it’s nice to see it here.
Also it was interesting to here Gene talk, he states he’s 20 but in the series he always seemed so much older, to me. Just the way he’s talking here makes me realise how young they were and how much pressure the cast was under, so I’m not surprised some of them had their problems later on. Gene did perform “Lay Back And Be Cool” during the original U.K. concerts but for whatever reason this was cut out of those episodes and the video so it’s nice to see it here.
I’m a little confused as the Israeli Concert Programme lists the cast as: Debbie, Valerie, Gene, Carlo, Lee and Lori however we get Erica instead of Lori. This concert takes place after the 2nd U.K. tour which Erica left after her fights with Debbie but she’s back in the show now so presumably they patched up their differences. Lori left the U.K. tour to fly back to America to start work on Footloose.
I’m a little confused as the Israeli Concert Programme lists the cast as: Debbie, Valerie, Gene, Carlo, Lee and Lori however we get Erica instead of Lori. This concert takes place after the 2nd U.K. tour which Erica left after her fights with Debbie but she’s back in the show now so presumably they patched up their differences. Lori left the U.K. tour to fly back to America to start work on Footloose.
It is so good to see Val perform live and she chose probably the best song she sang in Season 2 “Just When I Really Needed You”. Although to me it looks like she messes her little speech up and quickly goes into the song.
It is so good to see Val perform live and she chose probably the best song she sang in Season 2 “Just When I Really Needed You”. Although to me it looks like she messes her little speech up and quickly goes into the song.
The start of “Friday Night” sounds different here than in the U.K. concert and don’t get me started on Carlo’s moustache! What was he thinking?
The start of “Friday Night” sounds different here than in the U.K. concert and don’t get me started on Carlo’s moustache! What was he thinking?
I’m not really keen on Debbie’s version of “Memory”, I’m not convinced it’s in the right key for her and it sounds a little screechy. Debbie's hair looks so much different during the concert to the scenes in Israel, where her curls seem so much tighter and her hair shorter.
I’m not really keen on Debbie’s version of “Memory”, I’m not convinced it’s in the right key for her and it sounds a little screechy. Debbie's hair looks so much different during the concert to the scenes in Israel, where her curls seem so much tighter and her hair shorter.
“Starmaker”, again is excellent, although at the beginning Val and Erica seem to sing the same line. I don’t know if that was Erica being confused because she’d sung that line when Val wasn’t there or if they in fact decided to have both of them sing it.
“Starmaker”, again is excellent, although at the beginning Val and Erica seem to sing the same line. I don’t know if that was Erica being confused because she’d sung that line when Val wasn’t there or if they in fact decided to have both of them sing it.
The ballad medley as always is lovely and it’s nice to hear the variation of it which now includes “Beautiful Dreamer” for Val, although I so wish she’d have done “I was Only Trying To Help” instead as that is so much a better song. I believe Eartha sang Erica’s part on “I Still Believe in Me” during the U.K. leg of the tour when Erica wasn’t there although I’ve never actually heard that but would be very interested to.
The ballad medley as always is lovely and it’s nice to hear the variation of it which now includes “Beautiful Dreamer” for Val, although I so wish she’d have done “I was Only Trying To Help” instead as that is so much a better song. I believe Eartha sang Erica’s part on “I Still Believe in Me” during the U.K. leg of the tour when Erica wasn’t there although I’ve never actually heard that but would be very interested to.
Then at the end while “Fame” is playing Gene has stripped down to his animal print underwear! That boy loves to take his clothes off!
Then at the end while “Fame” is playing Gene has stripped down to his animal print underwear! That boy loves to take his clothes off!
While looking through an old copy of the Fame magazine I re-read a review of the second tour. In addition to what I've already written there are some performances that we've never seen in the specials.
While looking through an old copy of the Fame magazine I re-read a review of the second tour. In addition to what I've already written there are some performances that we've never seen in the specials.
When Debbie introduced the Waters backing singers they performed "Step Up To The Mike".
When Debbie introduced the Waters backing singers they performed "Step Up To The Mike".
In act 2 Carlo sang a song called "Sail Away" and Debbie and the dancers performed "It's Raining Men".
In act 2 Carlo sang a song called "Sail Away" and Debbie and the dancers performed "It's Raining Men".
I wished they'd have put these performances into this episode instead of repeating "Starmaker", "Friday Night" and the instrumental dance routine that they'd already broadcast in the U.K. concerts.
I wished they'd have put these performances into this episode instead of repeating "Starmaker", "Friday Night" and the instrumental dance routine that they'd already broadcast in the U.K. concerts.
Michael Hoey states in his behind the scenes book that this episode hadn't been as successful as the other concert specials and states that a local crew were used to film it and general opinion was that this didn;t have the same production values as the other shows.
Michael Hoey states in his behind the scenes book that this episode hadn't been as successful as the other concert specials and states that a local crew were used to film it and general opinion was that this didn;t have the same production values as the other shows.
Episode Pictures
Episode Pictures
Production Number & Filming Schedule
Production Number & Filming Schedule
Production Number 2774
Production Number 2774
Executive Producer William Blinn.
Executive Producers: Charles Koppleman & Martin Bandier
Air Dates
Air Dates
Original air date in U.S.A 05th November 1983
Original air date in U.K. The Children's Channel Autumn 1992
Original air date in The Netherlands 03rd March 1984
Original air date in Italy 21st August 1986
Original air date in Belgium 28th April 1988
Original air date in France 25th January 1989
Watch Episode
Watch Episode
Production Credits
Production Credits
Directed by Yossi Zemach
Concert Staged and Choreographed by Debbie Allen
Guest Stars & Dancers
Guest Stars & Dancers
The Waters: Julia, Luther, Maxine, and Oren.
The Fame Dancers: Derrick Brice, Michael DeLorenzo, Cameron English, Forrest Gardner, Kimberlee Layton, Joni Palmer, Marguerite Pomerhn, Eartha D. Robinson, Allysia Sneed and Bronwyn Thomas.
Songs
Songs
"Higher Ground"
"Higher Ground"
Performed by Debbie, Erica, Carlo, Valerie & Gene.
Performed by Debbie, Erica, Carlo, Valerie & Gene.
Written by Stevie Wonder.
Written by Stevie Wonder.
"Murphy's Blues"
"Murphy's Blues"
Performed by Lee Curreri.
Performed by Lee Curreri.
Written by Lee Curreri .
Written by Lee Curreri .
"Lay Back & Be Cool"
"Lay Back & Be Cool"
Performed by Gene Anthony Ray
Performed by Gene Anthony Ray
Written by Enid Levine
Written by Enid Levine
"Just When I Really Needed You" Performed by Valerie Landsburg
"Just When I Really Needed You" Performed by Valerie Landsburg
Written by Barry Fasman & Steve Sperry.
Written by Barry Fasman & Steve Sperry.
"Friday Night" Performed by Carlo Imperato
"Friday Night" Performed by Carlo Imperato
Written by Billy Falcon
Written by Billy Falcon
"Memory"
"Memory"
Performed by Debbie Allen
Performed by Debbie Allen
Written by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Written by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Starmaker" Performed by Debbie, Lee, Erica, Carlo, Valerie & Gene.
"Starmaker" Performed by Debbie, Lee, Erica, Carlo, Valerie & Gene.
Written by Carole Bayer Sager Bruce Roberts.
Written by Carole Bayer Sager Bruce Roberts.
Ballad Medley
Ballad Medley
"A Special Place"
"A Special Place"
Performed by Debbie
Performed by Debbie
Written by Sue Sheridan & William Goldstein
Written by Sue Sheridan & William Goldstein
"Beautiful Dreamer"
"Beautiful Dreamer"
Performed by Valerie
Performed by Valerie
Written by Paul Jabara & Jay Asher
Written by Paul Jabara & Jay Asher
"I Still Believe In Me"
"I Still Believe In Me"
Performed by Erica & Debbie
Performed by Erica & Debbie
Written by Gary Portnoy & Sue Sheridan
Written by Gary Portnoy & Sue Sheridan
"The Secret"
"The Secret"
Performed by Carlo & Gene
Performed by Carlo & Gene
Written by Barry Fasman & Steve Sperry
Written by Barry Fasman & Steve Sperry
"Be My Music"
"Be My Music"
Performed by The Whole Cast
Performed by The Whole Cast
Written by Lee Curreri & Ethan Hurt
Written by Lee Curreri & Ethan Hurt
U.S. TV Guide
U.S. TV Guide
Italian TV Listing Ad
Italian TV Listing Ad
Dutch TV Listing
Dutch TV Listing
Concert Ticket
Concert Ticket
Trivia
Trivia
International Dubbed Episode Versions
International Dubbed Episode Versions
Italian
Italian
LINKS
LINKS
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