Company B
New member
Hey, here's part of an article I wrote for a mag, most of it is from my own Jem website, but edited, modified, & I added a few things.🙂
“THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE”
Madonna, Pat Benatar, Expose’, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, Sheila E., The Cover Girls, & Sweet Sensation .
When you think of these 80’s Divas, one phrase comes to mind …GIRL POWER!
Originally called "M", many thought it stood in comparison to 'Madonna & MTV', but later Hasbro was told they could not trademark a letter, so "Jem" came up.
"Jem" was a realistic cartoon series, that was based on the life of being an MTV Celebrity "Pop-Rock/ Dance" music star in the 1980's. The series was aired from 1985-1988. It was full of drama, action, scandals, music videos, & of course 80's "big" neon colored hair, wild make-up & outfits, - with a lil' bit of Sci-Fi.
Although intended for kids, ...some of the episodes & scenario's in this campy series were very well adult-themed, which made the series more interesting. It also appealed to both boys & girls. They dealt with death & family loss, drugs, love affairs, backstabbing, & the pressure of being a celebrity. But with all that aside, it also gave the viewer a positive outlook on life's
obstacle's.
Jerrica Benton, owner of Starlight Music, was the main character who had an "alter-ego", ...(the superstar: "JEM"), she would change into "Jem" through her holographic super-computer "Synergy". No one (including her Latin-lover boyfriend "Rio") knew about her two persona's except her all-girl back-up band "THE HOLOGRAMS", & then, the President of the United States.
(Poor Rio in love with both Jerrica & Jem, -without knowing they are one in the same!)
With Starlight Music, they support the Starlight House (their foster home for girls).
They we're accompanied by their beautiful all-girl rivals: "THE MISFITS" (my personal fav's). The Misfits, & their shady manager Eric Raymond, were the typical "bitchy-sleazy" group that was bent on seeing Jem & The Holograms be destroyed by any means necessary! Later in the series there was an addition of another band : "THE STINGERS"- (a guy lead singer ("Riot"), backed up by two sexy girls, ("Minx" & "Rapture").
The series also released a doll-line through Hasbro Toys Inc., all the dolls we're patened after the characters with "high-quality" 80's fashion's & accessories (including a poster, & a real cassette tape that had music from the TV show).
Jem was originally going to have an all-male band (ala’ Blondie), but Hasbro, playing it smart, made them all female.
Mattel quickly tried to copy & compete (as usual) by releasing "Barbie & The Rockers", but they just didn’t have that "magic" that Jem & Co had.
Although not on the Billboard charts, the Jem/Misfits Theme song, & music casettes that were sold with the dolls, went triple platinum selling over 3 million copies!
They also released an album "Jem & Friends", featuring music from the show, along with hits from real music artists of the time, including New Edition, The Jets, & others.
Capitol Records, & other companies were interested in releasing full-length albums of the groups featured on the show, but as tempting as it was, Hasbro resisited.
Hasbro, and Sunbow Entertainment, in association with MTV, & Marvel Productions, brought us the TV show, but the original concept, characters, & toy idea, came from the mind of Bill Sanders, and the storyline & development from Christy Marx (G.I. Joe/ Transformers). Christy was the head writer during the show and is responsible for breathing life into all the characters. Bill unfortunately passed away in 1990 due to AIDS complications, but did get to see his glamour-gals in all their glory. 🙂
Gay icon, dance-R&B singer Ari Gold, & disco-diva Vicki Sue Robinson (“Turn The Beat Around”), were among the many talented voice actors in the series.
The whole idea of Jem came to an end in 1988 for some rather tacky & dumb reasons. But the show was seen in re-runs in the U.S. till' the early 90's.
What would've become of it?
Fast-forward to 2004, where everything is influenced by the 80’s decade, it’s no wonder that “Jem” is getting a lot attention these days, even being featured in an episode of VH1’s; “I Love The 80’s: Strikes Back”. Rhino Home Video decided to release the complete 1st & 2nd seasons on DVD this past March, & due to the great sales, ‘Season 3- Part One’ will hit the shelves this September!
So come re-live the animated sensation with glamour, glitter, fashion, & fame, and grab your DVD copy today!
- Jeff X -
“THE GLAMOUROUS LIFE”
Madonna, Pat Benatar, Expose’, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, Sheila E., The Cover Girls, & Sweet Sensation .
When you think of these 80’s Divas, one phrase comes to mind …GIRL POWER!
Originally called "M", many thought it stood in comparison to 'Madonna & MTV', but later Hasbro was told they could not trademark a letter, so "Jem" came up.
"Jem" was a realistic cartoon series, that was based on the life of being an MTV Celebrity "Pop-Rock/ Dance" music star in the 1980's. The series was aired from 1985-1988. It was full of drama, action, scandals, music videos, & of course 80's "big" neon colored hair, wild make-up & outfits, - with a lil' bit of Sci-Fi.
Although intended for kids, ...some of the episodes & scenario's in this campy series were very well adult-themed, which made the series more interesting. It also appealed to both boys & girls. They dealt with death & family loss, drugs, love affairs, backstabbing, & the pressure of being a celebrity. But with all that aside, it also gave the viewer a positive outlook on life's
obstacle's.
Jerrica Benton, owner of Starlight Music, was the main character who had an "alter-ego", ...(the superstar: "JEM"), she would change into "Jem" through her holographic super-computer "Synergy". No one (including her Latin-lover boyfriend "Rio") knew about her two persona's except her all-girl back-up band "THE HOLOGRAMS", & then, the President of the United States.
(Poor Rio in love with both Jerrica & Jem, -without knowing they are one in the same!)
With Starlight Music, they support the Starlight House (their foster home for girls).
They we're accompanied by their beautiful all-girl rivals: "THE MISFITS" (my personal fav's). The Misfits, & their shady manager Eric Raymond, were the typical "bitchy-sleazy" group that was bent on seeing Jem & The Holograms be destroyed by any means necessary! Later in the series there was an addition of another band : "THE STINGERS"- (a guy lead singer ("Riot"), backed up by two sexy girls, ("Minx" & "Rapture").
The series also released a doll-line through Hasbro Toys Inc., all the dolls we're patened after the characters with "high-quality" 80's fashion's & accessories (including a poster, & a real cassette tape that had music from the TV show).
Jem was originally going to have an all-male band (ala’ Blondie), but Hasbro, playing it smart, made them all female.
Mattel quickly tried to copy & compete (as usual) by releasing "Barbie & The Rockers", but they just didn’t have that "magic" that Jem & Co had.
Although not on the Billboard charts, the Jem/Misfits Theme song, & music casettes that were sold with the dolls, went triple platinum selling over 3 million copies!
They also released an album "Jem & Friends", featuring music from the show, along with hits from real music artists of the time, including New Edition, The Jets, & others.
Capitol Records, & other companies were interested in releasing full-length albums of the groups featured on the show, but as tempting as it was, Hasbro resisited.
Hasbro, and Sunbow Entertainment, in association with MTV, & Marvel Productions, brought us the TV show, but the original concept, characters, & toy idea, came from the mind of Bill Sanders, and the storyline & development from Christy Marx (G.I. Joe/ Transformers). Christy was the head writer during the show and is responsible for breathing life into all the characters. Bill unfortunately passed away in 1990 due to AIDS complications, but did get to see his glamour-gals in all their glory. 🙂
Gay icon, dance-R&B singer Ari Gold, & disco-diva Vicki Sue Robinson (“Turn The Beat Around”), were among the many talented voice actors in the series.
The whole idea of Jem came to an end in 1988 for some rather tacky & dumb reasons. But the show was seen in re-runs in the U.S. till' the early 90's.
What would've become of it?
Fast-forward to 2004, where everything is influenced by the 80’s decade, it’s no wonder that “Jem” is getting a lot attention these days, even being featured in an episode of VH1’s; “I Love The 80’s: Strikes Back”. Rhino Home Video decided to release the complete 1st & 2nd seasons on DVD this past March, & due to the great sales, ‘Season 3- Part One’ will hit the shelves this September!
So come re-live the animated sensation with glamour, glitter, fashion, & fame, and grab your DVD copy today!
- Jeff X -
