MGM & Nigel Lythgoe to Re-Imagine Fame

LOS ANGELES: MGM Television and Nigel Lythgoe are bringing back the classic 1980s film and series Fame as a brand-new scripted series.

Lythgoe, executive producer of American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and others, will serve as executive producer on the project, alongside Kary McHoul, the president of Nigel Lythgoe Productions (NLP); Charles Segars, the creator of National Treasure and the founder of Segars Media; and Chad Gutstein. The show will be produced under the MGM TV group banner.

The re-imagined series will embody the spirit of the original film and series, exposing the struggle, heartache and hope involved in the search for stardom.

“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, the president of television and digital at 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.”

“In my lifetime, I’ve discovered a great many incredibly talented individuals," commented 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 glamor and revealing the true mixture of passion, humanity, exhaustion and sacrifice that these richly talented individuals endure on their road to fame.”