MGM Television to remake 80s drama school saga Fame

MGM is teaming up with former dancer-turned-TV mogul Nigel Lythgoe to remake 1980s ‘classic’ drama school series Fame.

Lythgoe best known these days as executive producer of American Idol, is to re-imagine Fame which chronicled the lives of talented students paying their dues on the road to success.

“In my lifetime, I’ve discovered a great many incredibly talented individuals,” said Nigel Lythgoe. “Some have achieved stardom. Simultaneously, I’ve seen many dreams shattered, egos destroyed and lives changed forever. The end destination may well be fame and fortune, but the road to stardom is littered with broken hearts. I look forward to stripping away the glitter and glamour and revealing the true mixture of passion, humanity, exhaustion and sacrifice that these richly talented individuals endure on their road to Fame.”

Produced under the new MGM TV group banner, Fame will strive to embody the spirit of the original film and series the company say. Set in today’s unprecedented access to the world of celebrity the new series will expose the gritty struggle, heartache and pain endured in the search for stardom and the often lofty price paid for success.

“This is a great opportunity for MGM to partner with world-class producer Nigel Lythgoe, whose unmatched experience with telling the true stories of talented people striving for success will set Fame apart, ” said Roma Khanna, President Television and Digital, MGM.

“We are excited to work with Nigel, Charles and the team to identify a talented writer to create the new Fame; one that reflects the struggles and joys unique to the multitude of aspiring talent today.”

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information,

Nigel Lythgoe began his career as a dancer, appearing in many television series in the late 60s and early 1970s. He later turned to instructor as a television choreographer working on shows such as ATV’s The Muppet Show and several variety series. He became a household name when he returned to the other side of the camera as a judge first on the UK’s Popstars, and later Pop Idol before taking the latter series to America.

Fame was remade as a big screen movie in 2009, but proved to be an unsuccessful reboot cashing in on the popularity of recent Fame-style films such as High School Musical. ITV also tried to cash-in on the success of the HSM franchise with their poorly received Britannia High in 2008.