Paul Iacono: "Fame" Star's TV Projects

Adorable actor/singer/dancer Paul Iacono co-stars in the upcoming re-imagining of the ultra popular 1980 film "Fame" but he is also delving into TV. We got the scoop at our exclusive interview.

TeenTelevision: Have you done any other projects since Fame, or do you have anything else coming out this year?

Paul: I do. I just shot a pilot for MTV, called "Hard Times." MTV is trying to reformat their programming and bring back scripted television because, for the last decade or so, they've pigeonholed themselves into the reality show business and everyone is over that. Apparently, the percentage of pilots being made went up by about 60% this year, which is an amazing fact. I would like to sing that from the rooftops. People are over all of this reality stuff.

So, MTV is coming out with two or three scripted programs that are smart, funny, witty and not mindless stuff. Seth Grahame-Smith, who just wrote the New York Times bestseller, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and his creative partner, David Katzenberg, son of Jeffrey Katzenberg, one of the heads of DreamWorks, conceived this pilot, and it's "The Wonder Years" for the Superbad generation. The twist is that I play RJ Burger, who is the loser in high school that can't get laid. We all know that guy, all too well. It's the big homecoming game of the year and his basketball shorts fall down in front of the entire student body, and it is revealed that he has a massive penis. The show is all about his rise in confidence and popularity, due to this new talent of his. It sounds like one big penis joke, but it's actually some of the smartest writing I've seen in awhile.

TeenTelevision: Do you know when that will air?

Paul: It's looking like we're going to premiere in September. We don't officially know yet but it's looking good.