Fame: The Musical is a singing and dance contest in Ireland, produced by Screentime ShinAwiL for RTÉ. The audition and Fame Bootcamp stages were filmed around Ireland and in London.
The shows aim was to find actors for the parts of "Nick" and "Serena" for the highly successful stage production of Fame. On 13 June 2010 it was announced that Ben Morris would play the part of Nick and Jessica Cervi would play the part of Serena in the Irish tour of Fame.
Personnel Judges Judge NoteRobert C KellyProducer of Fame seeking an actor & actress to play Nick & SerenaErica GimpelPresent for the live shows only. Starred in the subsequent TV seriesSimon DelaneyIrish television and theatre directorJacinta WhyteJudge for the auditions and final only. Vocal coach Live Show 6 Host Derek Mooney
The Show
Results summary Colour key: Indicates that the contestant did not perform and was immune from the vote Contestant was safe. Contestant was in the bottom two and had to sing again in the final duet Contestant was in the bottom two and was immediately eliminated (no judges' vote) Contestant Live Show 1 Live Show 2 Live Show 3 Live Show 4 Live Show 5 Live Show 6 Semi-Final Final Jessica Cervi Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Serena Ben Morris Safe Safe Bottom two Safe Safe Safe Nick Séan Carey Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Runners Up Sarah O'Conner Bottom two Bottom two Safe Safe Bottom two Safe Roísín Magee Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Bottom two Eliminated (Semi-final) Michael Joseph Conleth Kane Caoimhe Garvey Hollie O'Donoghue Stuart Pollock Drew Millar Final Duet No judges' vote or final duet; public votes alone decide who is eliminated and who ultimately wins Simon's vote to save Erica's vote to save Robert's vote to save Eliminated Drew 1 of 3 votes Philomena 0 of 3 votes Stuart 1 of 3 votes Hollie 0 of 2 votes Caoimhe 0 of 2 votes Conleth 1 of 3 votes
Episode 1 Judges Robert C Kelly, Simon Delaney and Jacinta Whyte travel around Ireland looking for the next "Nick" and "Serena". 53 were chosen to go on to the Fame Bootcamp.
Episode 2 A group of young singers, actors and dancers attend The Fame Bootcamp. The three judges choose 12 to go forward for the live shows. Stuart Pollock, Ben Morris, Michael Joseph, Conleth Kane, Drew Millar and Séan Carey will battle it out for the role of "Nick", while Jessica Cervi, Philomena Fitzpatrick, Sarah O'Connor, Caoimhe Garvey, Hollie O'Donoghue and Susan Hall will audition for the role of "Serena". Susan Hall turn down the opportunity to audition for the role at the last minute leaving the 6th and final contestant to be revealed on the night of the first Live show.
Live Show 1 Erica Gimpel replaced Jacinta Whyte and joined Simon and Robert for the live shows as a judge at the Helix. As Susan Hall dropped out in episode 2 the judges choose Róisín Magee to replace her. Theme: Songs from musicals Group performances: Fame and Starmaker (led by Drew) + Contestants' performances on the first live show Performer Order Song Musical Result Róisín Magee 1 "Maybe This Time" Cabaret Safe Stuart Pollock 2 Lady's Choice Hairspray Safe Drew Millar 3 Empty Chairs and Empty Table Les Misérables Eliminated Jessica Cervi 4 I Can Hear The Bells Hairspray Safe Ben Morris 5 Who I'd Be Shrek the Musical Safe Sarah O'Connor 6 Don't Rain on My Parade Funny Girl Bottom two + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Sarah & Drew Let's Play A Love Scene Drew Judges' vote to save Gimpel: Sarah O'Connor - thought that Sarah had performed better Delaney: Drew Millar - avoided being parochial Kelly: Sarah O'Connor - thought it would be unfair to keep Drew in a competition that he couldn't win.
Live Show 2 Michael Joseph, Conleth Kane, Séan Carey, Philomena Fitzpatrick, Caoimhe Garvey and Hollie O'Donoghue all take to the stage for the first time. Theme: Songs from musicals Group performances: Fame and Starmaker (lead by Philomena ) + Contestants' performances on the second live show Performer Order Song Musical Result Conleth Kane 1 The Winner Takes It All Mamma Mia! Bottom two Caoimhe Garvey 2 Let's Hear It for the Boy Footloose Safe Hollie O'Donoghue 3 Astonishing Little Women Safe Séan Carey 4 Ain't That a Kick in the Head? Fools Rush In Safe Michael Joseph 5 Somewhere West Side Story Safe Philomena Fitzpatrick 6 The Diva's Lament (Whatever Happened To My Part?) Monty Python's Spamalot Eliminated + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Philomena & Conleth Let's Play A Love Scene Philomena Judges' vote to save Kelly: Conleth Kane - based it on the whole rehearsals and live shows but ultimately on the final duet Gimpel: Conleth Kane - already stated she had had issues with Philomena's pitching Delaney; Conleth Kane - based it on the final duet
Live Show 3
Group performances:Circle of Life (The Lion King) and Starmaker (lead by Stuart.) + Contestants' performances on the third live show Performer Order Song Result Hollie O'Donoghue 1 Never Forget You Safe Sarah O'Connor 2 Chasing Cars Bottom two Michael Joseph 3 Viva la Vida Safe Stuart Pollock 4 Shine Eliminated Séan Carey 5 Fight for this Love Safe Caoimhe Garvey 6 Put Your Records On Safe Conleth Kane 7 Broken Strings Safe Jessica Cervi 8 Cry Me Out Safe Ben Morris 9 Breakeven Safe Róisín Magee 10 Rain on Your Parade Safe + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Stuart & Sarah Let's Play A Love Scene Stuart As the results were called out by Derek Mooney mistakenly saved Stuart only to have stop the show the let the audience know that he had made a mistake and that Conleth had been saved by the public vote. Judges' vote to save Kelly: Stuart Pollock - gave no reason Gimpel: Sarah O'Conner - gave no reason Delaney: Sarah O'Conner - gave no reason
Live Show 4 Group performances: One Voice (Barry Manilow) and Starmaker (lead by Hollie). + Contestants' performances on the fourth live show Performer Order Song Musical Result Michael Joseph 1 Cabaret Cabarat Safe Róisín Magee 2 I Cain't Say No Oklahoma! Safe Conleth Kane 3 Some Enchanted Evening South Pacific Safe Hollie O'Donoghue 4 Wherever He Ain't Mack & Mabel Eliminated Caoimhe Garvey 5 There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This Sweet Charity Safe Ben Morris 6 If I Loved You Carousel Bottom two Sarah O'Conner 7 My Funny Valentine Babes in Arms Safe Séan Carey 8 Miracle of Miracles Fiddler on the Roof Safe Jessica Cervi 9 Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Show Boat Safe + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Ben & Hollie Let's Play A Love Scene Hollie Judges' vote to save Gimpel: Ben Morris - stated that Ben "put his heart on the stage" Delaney: Ben Morris - stated that it was a difficult choice Kelly: was not required to vote as the judges reached a majority verdict but commended both contestants.
Live Show 5 Group performance: "A Star Is Born" and "Starmaker" (lead by Caoimhe) + Contestants' performances on the fifth live show Performer Order Song Result Conleth Kane 1 Dancin' Fool Bottom two Jessica Cervi 2 At Last Safe Caoimhe Garvey 3 Sway Eliminated Michael Joseph 4 Secret Love Safe Sarah O'Connor 5 Nobody Does It Like Me Safe Séan Carey 6 The Lady Is a Tramp Safe Róisín Magee 7 Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries Safe Ben Morris 8 Cry Me a River Safe + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Conleth & Caoimhe Let's Play A Love Scene Caoimhe Judges' vote to save Delaney : Conleth Kane - gave no reason Kelly : Conleth Kane - gave no reason Gimpel: was not required to vote as the verdict was already declared but said that Caoimhe could hold her head high for getting this far
Live Show 6 Theme: Judges Choice Group performance: Starmaker (lead by Conleth) Vocal coach: Jancinta Whyte. + Contestants' performances on the sixth live show Performer Order Song Introduced by Result Séan Carey 1 Footloose Simon Safe Ben Morris 2 Home Erica Safe Róisín Magee 3 As Long as He Needs Me Robert Safe Conleth Kane 4 Maria Erica Eliminated Sarah O'Connor 5 Defying Gravity Simon Bottom two Jessica Cervi 6 When You Got It, Flaunt It Erica Safe Michael Joseph 7 The Impossible Dream Robert Safe + Final duet details Performers Song Eliminated Conleth & Sarah Let's Play A Love Scene Conleth Judges' vote to save Gimpel: Sarah O'Connor - said Conleth grew right throughout the series Kelly: Conleth Kane - said he had always praised both Conleth and Sarah Delaney: Sarah O'Connor - stated it was "an impossible choice" and there was nothing between them
Semi-final Theme: Contestants Choice Group performance: One Night Only and Starmaker (lead by Michael & Roísín) Vocal Coach: Erica Gimpel + Contestants' performances on the semi-final Performer Order Song Result Ben Morris 1 Somebody to Love Safe Róisín Magee 2 Out Here on My Own Eliminated Michael Joseph 3 Come What May Eliminated Sarah O'Connor 4Memory Safe Jessica Cervi 5 And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going Safe Séan Carey 6 This is the Moment Safe Two acts were eliminated from the semi-final (one boy & one girl) and for the first time in the series, there was no final duet. The three remaining girls were brought out first and Róisín Magee was voted out by public vote. Then the three remaining boys were brought out and Michael Joseph was voted out by the public. After the announcements, Róisín and Michael bid farewell by leading a group performance of "Starmaker".
Final Jacinta Whyte returned and joined Robert, Erica and Simon for the final show. Themes: Westend Duet; Contestants favorite performance Group performances; Group 1 (Eliminated Contestants) - "Don't Stop Believin'" Group 2 (Finalists) - "The Time of My Life" Duet performances: Noel Sullivan with Sarah O'Conner/Jessica Cervi Susan McFadden with Séan Carey/Ben Morris + Contestants' performances on the final show Performer First Song Second song Result Sarah O'Connor Don't Rain on My Parade (Week 1) Suddenly, Seymour (duet with Noel) Runner-Up Ben Morris Can You Feel the Love Tonight (duet with Susan) Cry Me a River (Week 5) Nick Jessica Cervi You're the One that I Want (duet with Noel) At Last (Week 5) Serena Séan Carey Fight for this Love (Week 3) Smile (duet with Susan) Runner-Up All the finalists returned to the stage and Derek Mooney announced Ben & Jessica as the winners of the parts of Nick & Serena respectively. Ben & Jessica then closed the series with a performance of Let's Play A Love Scene.
Reception The Evening Herald gave the show 3 out of 5 stars stating "The show has been criticised for putting the vote to the public, hence turning what should be a talent contest into a popularity contest. However, there's no doubt that the biggest voices in the competition made it to the final last night. Yes, it was cheesy and over-sentimental, but Fame: The Musical was the type of show that many tuned into in spite of themselves".
Audience figures were below that of previous RTÉ reality talent shows, however the final was watched by over 500,000 viewers.
Finalists
Twelve contestants made it through the audition rounds and performed during the live shows.
The Boys
Finalist Age* From Status Ben Morris 23 Tallaght, Dublin Nick Séan Carey 18 Dunshaughlin, County Meath Runner-up Michael Joseph 26 Waterford Third Place Conleth Kane26 Lurgan, County ArmaghEliminated (Week 6) Stuart Pollock20 Rathgar, DublinEliminated (Week 3) Drew Millar22 Glasgow, ScotlandEliminated (Week 1)
* at the start of the series
The Girls
Finalist Age* From Status Jessica Cervi19 East Wall, DublinSerena Sarah O'Connor 20 Lucan, DublinRunner-up Róisín Magee24 Newry, County Down Third Place Caoimhe Garvey19 Tralee, County KerryEliminated (Week 5) Hollie O'Donoghue21 LimerickEliminated (Week 4) Philomena Fitzpatrick 22 Ballybrack, DublinEliminated (Week 2) Susan HallWithdrew
* at the start of the series
See also You're a Star The All Ireland Talent Show Popstars
References