Fame

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An American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show is based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. With a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although fictional, it was based heavily on the actual Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. Most interior scenes were filmed in Hollywood, California, and in all seasons but the third, several exterior scenes were shot on location in New York City. The popularity of the series, particularly in the UK, led to several hit records and live concert tours by the cast. Despite its success, very few of the actors maintained high-profile careers after the series was cancelled. A number of the cast members were seen again briefly in Bring Back...Fame, a reunion special made for British television in 2008.

Filmmaking

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Screenplay
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Acting
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Cinematography
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Production
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Directing
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Concept
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Story
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Dialogue
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Characters
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Pacing
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Musical Score
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Attributes

Entertaining
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Uniqueness
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How Much I Like It
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Twists
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Artistry
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Fun
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Cliche
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Cheesy
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Broad Appeal
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Cerebral
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Emotional
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Discussion Worthy
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Genres

Comedy
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Drama
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Suspense
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Action
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Mystery
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Thriller
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Horror
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Adventure
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Romance
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Science Fiction
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Fantasy
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Animation
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Maturity

Family Friendly
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Positive Message
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Thematically Mature
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Intense
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Sexuality
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Nudity
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Violence
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Gore
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Crude
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Profanity
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Scary
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Substance Use
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Creators and Cast

Creators

Cast

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Episodes

Season 1

16 episodes

S1 E1 · Metamorphosis

This fun and footloose series begins when Julie tries her best to fit in at the New York School for the Performing Arts, with a little bit of help from Doris and Montgomery.

S1 E2 · Passing Grade

Coco and Lydia vie for a part in a show. Danny wants to meet Johnny Carson and becomes a waiter.

S1 E3 · Tomorrow's Farewell

The School Board orders the School of the Arts to have a Gym because of the mandatory P.E. class that students have to take. It takes a dance off between Lydia's class and a bunch of football players for the school board to see her point. Meanwhile, Leroy tries to save his brother Willard from a life of crime.

S1 E4 · Alone in a Crowd

Bruno is afraid of performing in public.

S1 E5 · To Soar and Never Falter

Bruno is in love with a dance major named Kathleen Murphy. When he is to write a piece of music for her, she performs for him and gets injured. It turns out that she has Multiple Sclerosis, and Miss Grant employs Leroy to help out Bruno. Unknowingly, the gang is helping Kathy to keep her audition.

S1 E6 · The Sell-Out

When Bruno's uncle buys him a new synthesizer, Bruno gets a job to buy new music. He is doing a song for his aunt, sho just had a baby. Meanwhile, Julie wonders why Coco is suddenly so rude to her while they are doing a very important number together.

S1 E7 · The Strike

The School Of The Arts is plagued by a teachers' strike. Coco is upset because she wasn't chosen for the part of Desdemona in the schools musical version of ""Othello"". Once the teachers go on strike though she decides that instead of being angry, and not be apart of the production, she organizes everything so that the show can go on without Miss Grant's help. Bruno feels he needs to have Mr. Shorofsky's opinion on the music for the show because he thinks it should have a different tempo and style to it. Because of the strike he can't get Mr. Shorofsky's opinion and goes with his instinct, which turns out to be for the best. Once Leroy was cast for the part of Othello, he was having problems speaking the way the script was written. So he asks for Miss Sherwood's help to make him speak the way Shakespeare was meant to be spoken, even from someone from the Bronx.

S1 E8 · Street Kid

Doris, while pretending to be a hooker, meets a real hooker named Tracy, and tries to help her out.

S1 E9 · But Seriously, Folks

Danny's father does not agree with his choice of being a comedian.

S1 E10 · Come One, Come All

A big star, Melinda MacNeil, is in town and everyone goes ga-ga, except Monty.

S1 E11 · The Crazies

Doris learns that sometimes honest is not always the best policy. When Shorofsky is hospitalized, Bruno realizes that he is important to his life.

S1 E12 · Exposé

When Julie gets replaced by a mannequin in a production number, she feels unimportant until a reporter threatens to do an expose on her.

S1 E13 · A Musical Bridge

Monty tries to get Bruno to cash in on his songwriting abilities.

S1 E14 · A Big Finish

Miss Sherwood and the gang find two talented bums living in the basement.

S1 E15 · Reunions

Leroy wants his mother to come in for parents' day.

S1 E16 · A Special Place

Budget cutbacks prompts the School Board to fire one of the dance school's teachers.

Season 2

23 episodes

S2 E1 · And the Winner Is...

Bruno's script is chosen to be produced by the school and he is given the chance to be a voice in the audition process. Unfortunately he can't make up his mind who is better and if someone isn't as good he (with his soft heart) feels the need to let the person try again, to give them that extra chance to get it right. All his friends are excited that he can choose who will star in it, because of course, they want it to be them. Things start to heat up after everyone finds out that Bruno cast himself in the lead. After which he enlists the help of Doris to teach him to ""act"". Doris begins to fall in love with Bruno.

S2 E2 · Your Own Song

Coco tries to get long with a learning disabled student.

S2 E3 · Feelings

Julie's dad is getting remarried, and Julie does not like it one bit. Also, Leroy tries out for a touring dance troupe.

S2 E4 · Class Act

A guest speaker to the school becomes sweet upon Lydia, and gives the kids an assignment so he can come back to see her. He takes her out but she's not impressed by his flashy lifestyle, and is even less so when he criticizes the work the kids do for the assignment, and is especially tough on Leroy. He also criticizes the education they receive at the school. Shorofsky teaches Bruno how to conduct.

S2 E5 · Teachers

When Bruno gets the chance to audition for Julliard, he finds himself caught between the desires of his father and Shorofsky. Shorofsky feels that Bruno isn't ready for Julliard yet. During the audition, Bruno chooses to play his mother's favorite song instead of the piece he originally chose, even though he knew it would destroy his chances of being accepted to Julliard.

S2 E6 · Beginnings

The kids suspect the ballet teacher is prejudiced against black students. They protest by stopping whatever they are doing and standing silent. It isn't til Miss Grant talks with this teacher that they know for sure that she feels black dancers don't have what it takes to be great. She is shown how wrong she's been during a performance by Stephanie. Bruno must escort a young musical prodigee around the school.

S2 E7 · Solo Song

Lydia teaches a blind substitute teacher to dance. Doris developes a crush on the substitute teacher, Jim Hamilton.

S2 E8 · Winners

Coco tries to impress a producer with an audition in a diner. She manages to get a screen test, and tells the gang it all went well. Later she comes clean and admits she was terrible. Doris tries to loose weight and be perfect (like Coco) and collapses in Miss Sherwood's class. In telling Doris the truth about her screen test, Coco manages to come to terms with herself.

S2 E9 · Words

Sherwood discovers that her favorite student has a father who censors the books she is given to read. Because he will be leaving soon, Coco's boyfriend pressures her to have sex with him.

S2 E10 · Childhood's End

No summary.

S2 E11 · Homecoming

Doris' draft dodging brother comes back and she tries to get him and her father to talk to each other. Lydia tries to sneak ballet moves into a jazz dance number when she discovers her old ballet teacher is coming to watch the performance.

S2 E12 · A Tough Act to Follow

No summary.

S2 E13 · Relationships

Doris falls in love with a singer she meets at a dance club where her, Bruno and Leroy go to observe the country western scene. They are looking to make a "unique" version of Romeo and Juliet for dance class. Bruno dates a 30 year old woman he meets at the same club. Sherwood meets someone through a dating service.

S2 E14 · Star Quality

Leroy befriends a boy who wants to be a dancer. After which, he learns that this boy's father was a rather famous dancer once. Leroy has to write a report for Sherwood and decides to write about the once famous dancer. Coco reacts to a small-time commercial actor who visits the school. She criticizes his ability as an actor.

S2 E15 · Sunshine Again

Shorofsky and Bruno both promise a show's dress rehearsal to different people. Doris is worried that her grandmother may move into her parents' home.

S2 E16 · Love is the Question

Troy Phillips falls in love with Julie. When they fall asleep studying, he tells everyone that they slept together but he didn't realize what he was telling everyone was being taken in the wrong way.(Inspiring Bruno's classic line, "You're supposed to be tutoring him on the joys of harmony, not sex!") A picture of Mr. Reardon is printed in a gossip tabloid magazine by a "so called" friend of Reardon's who will do anything to sell a story, even steal the photo from David.

S2 E17 · Blood, Sweat and Circuits

No summary.

S2 E18 · Friendship Day

Doris alienates her friends when she becomes obsessive over the planning of this year's "Friendship Day". Bruno's father and Julie's mother mistakenly believe that Bruno and Julie plan to have sex.

S2 E19 · Not in Kansas Anymore

Doris is auditioning to star in a show. She falls and bumps her head and has an elaborate dream sequence in which she is on a quest to become a star. The school campus is set up with a ""yellow brick road"" path ""Dottie"" must follow and encounters several interesting characters (her fellow classmates in costume) along the way. Debbie Allen (the dance instructor/choreographer) plays the ""good witch"" and Mrs. Sherwood is the ""wicked witch.""

S2 E20 · The Kids from Fame in Concert

This episode is comprised of excerpts from the Kids from Fame live concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

S2 E21 · Help From My Friends

No summary.

S2 E22 · Ending on a High Note

No summary.

S2 E23 · U.N. Week

No summary.

Season 3

24 episodes

S3 E1 · Gonna Learn How to Fly (1)

Changes abound with the start of the new school year: Bruno, with no means of funding his schooling after his father dies, is forced to drop out; Coco, Danny and Doris find out that even though her mother still lives in New York City, Julie is married and now living in Texas; new students Christopher Donlan, a dance major, and Holly Laird, a drama major, find difficulty in being accepted, most notably by their more seasoned competition, Leroy and Doris, and new vice-principal, Quentin Morloch, intends on ruling with an iron fist.

S3 E2 · Gonna Learn How to Fly (2)

Mr. Shorofsky finds Bruno a job as a waiter at "Caruso's," a coffee house where he is free to play his music. After settling their feud with a fist fight, Leroy works with Christopher to improve Chris' dancing skills after Miss Grant decides to downgrade him to a different class.

S3 E3 · Hail to the Chief

When Morloch and the rest of the school find out the President plans to attend the school's fundraiser performance, certain elements of the show are reevaluated, including a monologue by Danny, while Leroy refuses to perform, and Ms. Sherwood is considered a security risk by the Secret Service.

S3 E4 · The Kids from Fame in Israel

This episode features the cast of "Fame," billed as "The Kids from Fame," along with the season three regular dancers in a special concert performance taped while on tour in Tel Aviv, Israel. The concert features performances by the cast, of songs from the television series. The concert took place in an indoor stadium in Tel Aviv before a live capacity audience. Along with the concert, the cast from "Fame" are shown visiting historical landmarks within the city during the 35th birthday celebration of the nation.

S3 E5 · Knockout

When Christopher is challenged to a boxing match by Keach Howard, the last man he defeated, and refuses to fight, Keach beats up Dwight in an effort to make Donlan change his mind. Meanwhile, Leroy becomes a mentor to Billy Hall, a fellow dancer in Miss Grant's class in whom Leroy sees a lot of himself.

S3 E6 · Rules

Love is in the air as Bruno unwittingly falls for Lisa Connors, a student-teacher for Mr. Shorofsky, and Morloch expresses a romantic interest in Ms. Sherwood.

S3 E7 · Consequences

When Mr. Morloch announces that all students participating in any school production must have a minimum C average, Ms. Sherwood, despite Morloch's objections, assigns Leroy and Danny the responsibility of teacher, leaving Danny forced to make a tough decision when he suspects a friend has cheated.

S3 E8 · Break Dance

Danny enlists Christopher and Michael to coach rival gangs in a "break dance" competition. Meanwhile, Doris has trouble ridding herself of "Snake," a gang member who has a crush on her, and Coco, inspired by Bruno's life out of school, contemplates leaving the School of the Arts to pursue her career.

S3 E9 · Secrets

When Dwight shows up to school with severe bruises on his body, Danny appoints himself as Dwight's bodyguard when he, along with the rest of the school, believe Dwight is a victim of bullying. Meanwhile, Miss Grant is not pleased when rumored drug trafficking brings an undercover cop to the School of the Arts, posing as a dance student.

S3 E10 · Equals

Holly falls for Billy Christiansen, a new piano player who plays at "Caruso's." Upon getting ready to ask him out, she learns that he is a physically handicapped, wheelchair bound, paraplegic. Mr. Morloch tries to get Miss Grant to give his friend and former baseball star, "Lefty" Rogers, in pursuit of a career in recording jingles for television commercials, singing and dancing lessons.

S3 E11 · Fame Looks at Music '83

This special features the cast of "Fame," billed as "The Kids from Fame," along with the season three regular dancers in their first concert in the U.S. which takes a look back at popular music in the year 1983. The concert took place on December 27, 1983 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium before a live capacity audience. Among other musical performances, this particular episode featured a medley of songs from motion pictures and a special tribute to Michael Jackson.

S3 E12 · Appearances

While working on a scene together, Holly and Christopher are prompted by their friends to try going out with each other. Danny falls for Marya, a student hoping to be admitted into the School of the Arts.

S3 E13 · Bottle of Blues

When Doris' ex-boyfriend, Sandy Gordon, who was expelled for his drinking problem, is allowed readmission into the School of the Arts, she's overjoyed until she learns that he was hiding his continuing battle with alcoholism from her.

S3 E14 · Lisa's Song

When Doris tries to get her classmates to do a production of the reputedly haunted play, "The Gypsy Queen," she and Miss Grant are convinced that they have seen a ghost. While trying to obtain a better understanding of the occult, they discover that Mrs. Berg is a "spirit medium."

S3 E15 · A Way of Winning

When Morloch learns about Leroy's previous track success, he tries to persuade him to go for a college track scholarship, much to Lydia's dismay. Meanwhile, while doing character research for a role as an elderly woman in her acting class, Doris finds an older man falling for her.

S3 E16 · Stages

When Holly's mother moves in with her, she finds that her mom is getting in the way of things. Meanwhile, when Danny tries to hypnotize Leroy and Christopher, Mr. Morloch is inadvertently put under a post-hypnotic spell, leading Ms. Sherwood to have some fun with it.

S3 E17 · Sheer Will

When the kids discover that Danny has leukemia, Doris makes her biggest effort to convince him to listen to his doctor and fight the disease. Meanwhile, Lydia decides to show the kids how to make a non-dancer look good in a dance number.

S3 E18 · Catch a Falling Star

A former night club performer, and close friend to Leroy's uncle, Eddie Macon, is discovered by Ms. Sherwood hiding out in a closet in her classroom. Now homeless and alcohol dependent, Leroy and Mr. Reardon attempt to help him while casting him in a school production. Meanwhile, Holly helps Doris with make-up in an attempt to impress a boy she's interested in.

S3 E19 · A Friend in Need

Blind substitute teacher Jim Hamilton returns to the School of the Arts and expresses a romantic interest in Lydia.

S3 E20 · The Deal

Caruso's landlord threatens to turn the coffee house into a parking lot unless Bruno gets his young opera singer friend accepted into the School of the Arts. Meanwhile, Mr Shorofsky has a secret meeting with Mrs Berg.

S3 E21 · Home Again

A substitute teacher filling in for Ms. Sherwood tries to keep her past as a singer a secret, but Dwight remembers her from his childhood and is determined to find out why she stopped singing, enlisting Mr. Shorofsky's help when he learns the truth.

S3 E22 · Signs

While showing off for a girl in class, Christopher back flips and hits his head, resulting in a loss of his hearing, and a forced transfer to a school for deaf students. Meanwhile, Miss Grant and Mr. Shorofsky try mixing singers and dancers in the same production.

S3 E23 · Heritage

Mr. Shorofsky is disappointed with Doris rejecting her heritage when she turns down the opportunity to perform at a Holocaust Survivors benefit. Meanwhile, Lydia is hired to teach dance to a basketball team.

S3 E24 · The Home Front

With his father unemployed, Christopher is forced to take on the role of a parent to his young siblings, which ends up effecting his performance in school. Meanwhile, when the students fall behind in their efforts in class, Mr. Morloch holds a class on a Saturday.

Season 4

25 episodes

S4 E1 · Indian Summer

Doris and Danny console each other over sour flings; Love holds surprise for both Sherwood and Leroy; Holly sets her sights on an older man.

S4 E2 · Czech Mate

Christopher falls hard for a visiting Czech student; Leroy tries to avoid a new admirer; Doris runs for student-body president.

S4 E3 · Spontaneous Combustion

Staff and students fight back after Sherwood is accidentally injured by kids dancing in the hallway, and the board of education responds by issuing a directive placing a ban on all singing and dancing in non-designated areas.

S4 E4 · I Never Danced For My Father

Leroy's long-lost father shows up at the School of the Arts, and receives a chilly reception from his son. Meanwhile, Danny deals with father issues of his own as he tries to convince his father that his aspirations to become a comedian aren’t futile.

S4 E5 · The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll

No summary.

S4 E6 · Blizzard

A blizzard traps the staff and students in the school, provoking various problems, including a broken furnace and a prowler.

S4 E7 · The Monster That Devoured Las Vegas

An opening-night hex threatens Cassidy's directorial debut when Morloch inadvertently breaks a show-business dictum.

S4 E8 · The Return of Doctor Scorpio

Trevor Kane, a School of the Arts Alumnus and acting has-been, returns to the school to make an appearance in a play that Doris is directing in the hopes of revitalizing his career.

S4 E9 · The Ballad of Ray Claxton

A TV news feature on the school brings Nicole to the attention of a prisoner, and her to his talent as a songwriter.

S4 E10 · Nothing Personal

Christopher writes a less-than-rave review of Cleo's debut as a lead dancer; Nicole and Jesse look for romance in the personal ads.

S4 E11 · The Rivalry

Lydia has a dancing showdown with Holly's mother, who thinks Lydia and Holly lack the drive to succeed in show business.

S4 E12 · Dreams

After it comes to light that Jesse is an illegal alien, the staff and students at the School of the Arts band together and fight to keep him from being deported.

S4 E13 · Tomorrow's Children

Sherwood fights student apathy when Morloch institutes an ROTC program at the school and cancels a show to benefit the nuclear-freeze movement.

S4 E14 · The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll II

No summary.

S4 E15 · Take My Wife... Please

Drama teacher Trevor Kane discovers his ex-wife is the object of Chris' affections; Holly and Nicole try to help Cleo catch Leroy's attention.

S4 E16 · Parent's Week

Parents' Week causes problems for Nicole, who has a difficult time dealing with the pressure her parents are putting on her; Meanwhile, Danny's parents decide to get divorced.

S4 E17 · Danny De Bergerac

Danny falls for Nicole while trying to smooth things between her and Jesse; Morloch gets a second chance with his college sweetheart.

S4 E18 · Teamwork

Chris gets a break while performing with Danny then deserts his partner and finds competition from Leroy; Nicole and Holly room together.

S4 E19 · Coco Returns

A famous, retired director directs Coco in her first performance since returning to the School of the Arts to get a diploma.

S4 E20 · Wishes

Sherwood temporarily becomes vice-principal while Morloch attends a conference; Doris has a dream date; and Leroy, three months behind on his rent, shoots for $10,000 on a game show.

S4 E21 · Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

After being mugged, Doris puts on a brave front around her family or friends, but secretly struggles with nightmares and flashbacks; Dwight tries to control his emotions for Holly.

S4 E22 · Reflections

Holly's despair over her parents' marriage causes her to become anorexic; Doris decides on a Hawaiian theme for the school's Prom.

S4 E23 · Who Am I, Really?

Nicole's biological mother returns and tries to involve herself in her daughter's life; voiceless Morloch enlists Chris' aid to make a speech.

S4 E24 · The Ol' Ball Game

Danny faces the problem of organizing his fellow students into a winning team after accepting a softball challenge issued by an old rival.

S4 E25 · School is Out

As Summer vacation approaches, Jesse, Cleo and Nicole reminisce after Cleo reveals that she will not be returning to the School of the Arts in the fall.

Season 5

24 episodes

S5 E1 · A Place to Belong

No summary.

S5 E2 · Leroy and the Kid

No summary.

S5 E3 · Bronco Bob Rides Again

No summary.

S5 E4 · Selling Out

No summary.

S5 E5 · White Light

No summary.

S5 E6 · Savage Streets

No summary.

S5 E7 · His Majesty Donlon

No summary.

S5 E8 · Broadway Danny Amatullo

No summary.

S5 E9 · Ebenezer Morloch

No summary.

S5 E10 · Choices

No summary.

S5 E11 · The First Time

No summary.

S5 E12 · A River to Cross

No summary.

S5 E13 · Such Good Friends

No summary.

S5 E14 · Holmes Sweet Holmes

No summary.

S5 E15 · Double Exposure

No summary.

S5 E16 · The Inheritance

No summary.

S5 E17 · The Comedian

No summary.

S5 E18 · Stage Fright

No summary.

S5 E19 · Self-Defense

No summary.

S5 E20 · W.S.O.A.

No summary.

S5 E21 · Contacts

No summary.

S5 E22 · To Tilt At Windmills

No summary.

S5 E23 · Losin' It

No summary.

S5 E24 · The Incident

No summary.

Season 6

24 episodes

S6 E1 · Back to Something New

No summary.

S6 E2 · The Last Dance

No summary.

S6 E3 · New Faces

No summary.

S6 E4 · Judgement Day

No summary.

S6 E5 · All-Talking, All-Singing, All-Dancing

No summary.

S6 E6 · Hold That Baby

No summary.

S6 E7 · A Different Drummer

No summary.

S6 E8 · Mr. Wacky's World

No summary.

S6 E9 · All I Want for Christmas

No summary.

S6 E10 · Fame and Fortune

No summary.

S6 E11 · Go Softly Into Morning

No summary.

S6 E12 · Love Kittens Go to High School

No summary.

S6 E13 · The Crimson Blade

No summary.

S6 E14 · Pros and Cons

No summary.

S6 E15 · The Big Contract

No summary.

S6 E16 · Stradi-Various

No summary.

S6 E17 · That Was the Weekend That Was

No summary.

S6 E18 · Ian's Girl

No summary.

S6 E19 · Best Buddies

No summary.

S6 E20 · The Lounge Singer Who Knew Too Much

No summary.

S6 E21 · Reggie and Rose

No summary.

S6 E22 · Of Cabbages and Kings

No summary.

S6 E23 · Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore

No summary.

S6 E24 · Baby, Remember My Name

No summary.