What happened to Coco at end of S1? - Fame (1982) Discussion

[–] tyrannosaurusrexxx 19 years ago

Yeah, I just finished watching the 1st season too. Where is she?

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[–] nunocat2002 19 years ago

I think there was something to do with money or something.... I was wondering that too. I just can't remember what it was anymore. She is in the 2nd season.

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[–] JanetBroo 19 years ago

The reason she wasn't in the end of season 1 and some episodes of season 2 was because she had to go back to The real High School of Performing Arts to finish her education.

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[–] marctyler01 18 years ago

Sorta of ...
The way I recall it ...

She is missing from a couple of episodes at the end of Season 1, because she indeed had to go back to the real 'High School of Performing Arts' and sit some final exams

In Season 2, she is also missing from a few episodes (at the end of the Season) ... she missed the famous 'Not in Kansas Anymore' Wizard of Oz Episode ... because I believe, a chance to study under a famous acting coach presented itself ... so she took time off to do the course

And rumor has it ... she left the series mid-Season 3 ... because she was advised to not stay and be type cast ... (again just a rumor - dont know for sure)
Oddly enough -- I feel she was somewhat typecast ... its only been the last handful of years her TV career seems to have propelled ahead again ... althou, I imagine she has been doing a lot of stage stuff (?)

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[–] prbsnoop1974 18 years ago

Good!! I forgot (or was too young to realise) how ANNOYING Coco is - she's so self righteous, I want Julie to punch her

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[–] Isaac5855 18 years ago

I've never heard the real story, but I just assumed that Erica Gimpel, who played Coco, got fired because she was boring and the fans didn't connect with the character. She was probably unfairly judged against Irene Cara, who played Coco in the movie, but it doesn't change the fact that she was a bad actress who added nothing to the show.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] tpcorless 18 years ago

I don't agree that she was fired. I loved Erica and I connected with her character.

I've heard that Erica was offered a role in the mini-series North and South and that's why she left. Also, it could have been due to the fact that the show had been cancelled after Season Two on NBC, and her agent thought that the show might not last in syndication. Of course, it became a hit. It's too bad she left but I think she was on the show when it was at its peak.

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[–] tobaths 18 years ago

What happened was that Fame was cancelled by NBC. With that cancellation, everyone's contract was void. Then the show was picked up for syndication, MGM had to re-sign and re-negotiate everyone's contract. This loophole allowed Lori Singer to leave Fame and do "Footloose". Don't know what happened with Erica, but my sense is that she wanted to leave as well. But I think the producers asked her to stay for a few episodes and get a proper send-off. Coco was such an integral part of the show, the producers couldn't have her just disappear.

Seeng how Lori left the show, Erica must of agreed. And if she was fired, like some had suggested, I don't think she would have returned for an episode in season 4, or for the last episode. Getting fired creates bad feelings, I don't think there would be enough money to convince Erica to come back, if she was fired.

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[–] marctyler01 18 years ago

I answered this a few replys up ... it was well documented that she missed the Season 1 Episodes to sit her exams.
She missed a few in Season 2 (at the end of the Season) to study under an acting coach ...
Contracts (as you say) wouldnt have been void until Season 2 was over ...
I have always been of the understanding, she was advised to leave in Season 3 so as to not be type cast (but I think by the time she left she was already typecast as Coco) ... while she's done alot of work lately ... it seemed to be far and few between after leaving Fame
I also dont believe for a minute that Erica was fired ... her leaving left a huge void that wasnt filled until Nia joined the show ... Erica sang and danced in just about every episode ... why would they fire her ?? Admittingly, knowing she was going, it was odd that they didnt prepare by doing a mid-season replacement like in Season 5 ... Poor Valerie's workload certainly increased in the later stages of Season 3

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[–] Isaac5855 18 years ago

Why would they fire her? Possibly because her talents as an actress, singer, and dancer were mediocre at best?

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[–] tonytv 18 years ago

Ok Last time to say..Erica was not fired from Fame. NBC cancelled Fame at the end of season 2, and with that everyone's contracts were void.

Then MGM picked up the series for syndication, so everyone had to be re-signed to a new contract. Lori Singer didn't want to re-sign, and went off and did Footloose.

Allegedly Erica also did not want to re-sign, she wanted to move on to other things. But the producers convinced her to return for just a few episodes, so they could write out the character properly. Which they did. The 8th episode in season three was her last.

Although strangely, after episode 8, she continues to appear in the opening credits for the entire third season! Though she returns for one episode in season 4, and the final episode in season 6.

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[–] prettyD2368 14 years ago

Even if you think she was mediocre, the show was better with her on it.

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