Series synopsis
Jem is an American animation sci-fi & fantasy kids television series that premiered on Syndication on October 6, 1985. It ended on May 2, 1988. It was created by Christy Marx. It stars Samantha Newark, Townsend Coleman, Cathianne Blore and Britta Phillips.
Using a holographic computer she inherited from her father, Jerrica Benton turns herself and her pals into pop-music group Jem and the Holograms.
Premise
Using a holographic computer she inherited from her father, Jerrica Benton turns herself and her pals into pop-music group Jem and the Holograms.
Premise: Truly Outrageous!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Samantha Newark as Jem / Jerrica Benton (voice)
- Townsend Coleman as Riot (voice)
- Cathianne Blore as Kimber Benton / Aja Leith (voice)
- Britta Phillips as Jem (singing voice)
- Cindy McGee as Shana Elmsford (voice)
- Michael Sheehan as Rio Pacheco (voice)
- Patricia Alice Albrecht as Pizzazz (voice)
- Susan Blu as Stormer (voice)
Supporting cast
- Marlene Aragon as Synergy (voice)
- Linda Dangcil as Raya (voice)
- Charlie Adler as Eric Raymond (voice)
- Ellen Bernfeld as Pizzazz (singing voice)
Guest cast
- Samantha Paris as Roxy (voice)
- Bobbie Block as Delaree (voice)
- Neil Ross as Howard Sands (voice)
- T.K. Carter as Anthony Julian (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 75 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 15 | October 6, 1985 | March 15, 1987 |
| Season 2 | 21 | July 5, 1986 | January 12, 1988 |
| Season 3 | 39 | September 21, 1987 | May 2, 1988 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Beginning Music executive Jerrica Benton discovers a computer that transforms her into a rock star named Jem to save her father's charitable foundation from his old partner Eric. Featured songs: "Outta My Way" – The Misfits, "Only the Beginning" – Jem and The Holograms, "Winning Is Everything" – The Misfits Other songs: "Broken Glass" – The Limp Lizards |
October 6, 1985 |
| 2 |
The Challenge When Starlight House is burnt down, Jerrica and the Holograms go to Howard Sands, who offered the mansion in the battle of the bands contest. Jem and the Holograms put on a concert for him and explain what happened. He agrees to let the Starlight girls live in his mansion until the contest is over. This makes the Misfits angry so Eric sends Zipper to the mansion to plant a bomb to get Jem and the Holograms out. When they are invited to a yacht party, the Misfits crash and cause a ruckus, sending the yacht spinning out of control. Featured songs: "Like a Dream" – Jem and The Holograms, "Click/Clash" – Jem and The Holograms/The Misfits, "Makin' Mischief" – The Misfits |
October 13, 1985 |
| 3 |
Fire! Jem and the Holograms are in Paris to film their first music video when Kimber grows jealous of the attention Jem receives there and questions her place in the band. Featured songs: "Twilight in Paris", "Gettin' Down to Business", "I Got My Eye on You" – all by Jem and The Holograms |
October 20, 1985 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Starbright (1): Falling Star Jem stars in Howard Sands' new movie, part of the prize she and the Holograms won in the Battle of the Bands. But Pizzazz convinces her father to buy the movie studio making the film and give ownership to Eric who quickly seizes control of the film and adds the Misfits to the cast. Eric places the focus of the film on the Misfits and Jem and the Holograms are relegated to supporting roles. Finally fed up with the Misfits' disruptive behavior, Jem and the Holograms, along with Video, quit the movie. But Jerrica receives shocking news about Starlight Girl Ba Nee, who has been diagnosed with a rare optical condition that will leave her blind within a matter of months. |
July 5, 1986 |
| 2 |
Starbright (2): Colliding Stars Horrified at the news of Ba Nee's impending blindness, Jerrica learns from her doctor that there is an experimental laser surgical procedure that could save Ba Nee's vision. However, the cost of the surgery is a staggering $250,000. Having canceled all their tour dates to star in the movie, Aja hits on the idea to divert funds from Starlight Music to cover the cost. But when they arrive there, they find the building closed down and without power. Joanie, the business manager of Starlight Music, tells the group that Eric has drained huge sums of money from Starlight Music to promote the Misfits' movie. Left with no other option, Jem and the Holograms are forced to return to the movie. Eric's demands push the group to their limits once again, especially when Jem nearly falls from a set display suspended several dozen feet in the air. Video records the accident hoping to use it to shut down the movie's production, but Jem pleads with her not to, because of Ba Nee's surgery. |
July 12, 1986 |
| 3 |
Starbright (3): Rising Star During a dangerous motorcycle scene for the movie, Kimber is caught in the middle of a series of explosions set off by Roxy and Clash, and is almost killed. Infuriated, Jem and the Holograms quit the production permanently, along with most of the crew who witnessed the accident. Jem rallies the crew to continue the movie, but with a new plot and title: Starbright, while the Misfits' demanding behavior finally causes what remains of the original crew to walk off the set. Meanwhile, a disguised Clash sneaks onto the set of Starbright to spy on the cast and crew, only to be exposed by Georgia, the makeup artist who had recently quit the movie as well. Clash steals the tape of Jem's accident, but Jem and the cast manage to recover it after a lengthy car chase. Starbright proves to be a box office smash, while the Misfits Movie bombs quickly. The Holograms' first share in the box office proceeds go to pay for Ba Nee's surgery, which is a complete success. |
July 19, 1986 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Talent Search (1) Problems affect Jem & The Holograms when Shana leaves to pursue a fashion career. The Holograms decide to host a Talent Search to find a new drummer. News of this spreads like fire which also catches the attention of The Misfits. The Misfits decide to upstage the Talent Search by adding a new Misfit: a hot-tempered saxophone player from England named Jetta. After so many disastrous auditions, the Holograms choose two finalists: A shy, but talented young woman named Carmen Alonzo (nicknamed Raya by her father) and a keen drummer named Craig Phillips. Soon, Raya accidentally discovers Jem's real identity and Eric Raymond attempts to bribe Raya into revealing Jem's identity. |
September 21, 1987 |
| 2 |
The Talent Search (2) The Misfits discover that the other semi-finalist Craig is Stormer's brother. Eric then decides to use Craig to find out Jem's real identity. When he decides to stand up to Eric, Jetta swipes money from Eric's wallet which she uses to hire a gang to destroy Raya's fathers nursery so that Raya will go to Eric to get the money where she will reveal Jem's identity. The plan backfires when Raya spots Jetta wearing one of her father's orchids in her hair. Raya lashes out at Jetta, Eric and the Misfits and vows never to reveal Jem's secret to the likes of them. Craig turns up a moment later, threatening Eric to pay restitution to the Alonzo Family for destroying their nursery, and also the Misfits for them threatening to throw Stormer out of the group. After the Talent Search, the winner is announced and Shana returns to the Holograms. |
September 22, 1987 |
| 3 |
Scandal The Holograms, the Misfits, and Shawn Harrison (the British teen idol Kimber met in The World Hunger Shindig, and has asked her to write a song for him to perform) are all in Venice Beach. The Holograms are supposed to go on Harriet Horne's show, which is a famous celebrity gossip show. While the Holograms think they are not much to gossip about, Jetta steals Kimber's diary and publishes it. Tabloids twist the story, saying Kimber is in love with Shawn and he has no feelings for her. Kimber must be strong and stand up to the scandal to come out of it on top. |
September 23, 1987 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Syndication |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 6, 1985 |
| Last aired | May 2, 1988 |
| Runtime | 7 minutes |
| Status | ended |