Ovation Invites Viewers to a "Fame-Athon" This March

Landmark Dance and Music Series Fame to Premiere in March on Ovation Along with a Watch-to-Win Contest with Luxury Cultural Trips as Grand Prizes

SANTA MONICA – February 16, 2011   Before Glee... before American Idol... before So You Think You Can Dance... there was Fame... and it’s going to live forever as Ovation, the network devoted to arts culture, brings the landmark dance and music drama series back to an audience of loyal fans  and to a brand new generation of viewers, beginning  March 21st.  The premiere is being paired with an exciting watch-to-win contest for  a chance to win luxury trips to culturally vibrant cities from around the globe.

Fame, which aired from 1982 to 1987, is based upon the 1980 Oscar®-winning film and centers on the ups, downs and struggles of aspiring theatrical students and their teachers at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts.  Cast members include Debbie Allen and Gene Anthony Ray, from the original film, and Cynthia Gibb.  The series also launched the careers of such stars as Lori Singer, Harold Perrineau and Jasmine Guy and won numerous Emmy® awards including “Best Choreography” for Debbie Allen and Golden Globe®Awards for “Best TV Series Comedy/Musical” and “Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Series” for Allen. An updated version of Fame was produced as a film in 2009.

Ovation will begin its 48-episode “Fame-athon” by airing seasons four and five of the series, which is highlighted by appearances by Janet Jackson, as well as Nia Peeples and Erica Gimpel, and such guest stars as Milton Berle, Don Cheadle and Nancy Cartwright. The one- hour series will premiere on Ovation on Monday, March 21st and will feature two consecutive episodes from 6:00pm to 8:00pm ET each weekday night with repeats airing throughout the weekend.

"Glee and all the shows today that inspire young performers -- Fame was the 'godmother' of them all.  Thank you, Debbie Allen!  It's amazing how many of the same elements are there - the romances, the rivalries, the 'impromptu' performances.   Plus there's the hair, the leg warmers, and the turned-up collars.  Whether it's a trip down memory lane, or a fresh treat, I dare viewers to watch and not get sucked in," said Kris Slava, SVP Programming for Ovation.

To coincide with the premiere of Fame, Ovation will launch a special watch-to-win sweepstakes.  Viewers can register at www.ovationtv.com/Fame then watch every night for two secret clues each episode and enter them on the website.  The sweepstakes runs from March 21 to April 1 with daily prizes and a grand prize each week.  The daily prizes include iPads with the grand prizes allowing two lucky winners to choose between five destinations -- Argentina, Bali, St. Petersburg, Tokyo or Verona, Italy -- for the cultural trip of a lifetime!  For all the details, see www.ovationtv.com/Fame.

For the complete programming schedule for Fame, please visit www.ovationtv.com.