"Jem" (1985) TV series 1985-1988

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

6 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Music | Romance | Sport

Plot:

Jerrica Benton is secretly the leader of the glamorous and exciting music group, Jem and the Holograms.

Plot Keywords:

Hologram | Misfit | Earring | Identity | Insecurity

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Samantha Newark	...	Jem / ... (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Cathianne Blore	...	Aja Leith / ... (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Cindy McGee	...	Chrissie / ... (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Britta Phillips	...	Jem (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Ellen Bernfeld	...	Pizzazz (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Patricia Alice Albrecht	...	Anne / ... (61 episodes, 1985-1988)
Bobbie Block	...	Roxanne Pelligrini / ... (61 episodes, 1985-1988)
Michael Sheehan	...	Rio Pacheco (54 episodes, 1985-1988)
Susan Blu	...	Lindsay Pierce / ... (47 episodes, 1985-1988)
Linda Dangcil	...	Carmen Alonso / ... (33 episodes, 1987-1988)
Louise Dorsey	...	Jetta / ... (30 episodes, 1987-1988)
Charles Adler	...	Additional voices / ... (29 episodes, 1985-1988)

(more)

Series Writing credits
Christy Marx		(23 episodes, 1985-1988)
Roger Slifer		(7 episodes, 1986-1988)
Mary Skrenes		(5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Beth Bornstein		(4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Merwin		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Sandy Fries		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ellen Guon		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Marv Wolfman		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jina Bacaar		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Buzz Dixon		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Misty Stewart-Taggart		(2 episodes, 1987)
David Wise		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Produced by
Joe Bacal	....	executive producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Tom Griffin	....	executive producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Margaret Loesch	....	executive producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Marija Miletic Dail	....	producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Roger Slifer	....	co-producer / associate producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Gwen Wetzler	....	supervising producer / producer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Will Meugniot	....	producer (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Dan Thompson	....	producer (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jim Duffy	....	supervising producer / producer (26 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Original Music by
Robert J. Walsh		(65 episodes, 1985-1988)

Series Film Editing by
Al Breitenbach		(44 episodes, 1985-1988)

Series Art Direction by
Bill DuBay		(26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Gary Hoffman		(21 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Production Management
Jim Graziano	....	director of production (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Beth Gunn	....	production manager (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Lee Gunther	....	executive in charge of production (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Carole Weitzman	....	senior production manager / production manager (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Eric Early	....	post-production supervisor (53 episodes, 1986-1988)
Steven Heth	....	post-production supervisor (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Sean Sullivan	....	post-production supervisor (5 episodes, 1985)

Series Art Department
Elaine Hultgren	....	storyboard director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Vincenzo Trippetti	....	storyboard director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Glenn V. Vilppu	....	storyboard director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Vicky Jenson	....	storyboard director (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Mike Vosburg	....	storyboard director (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Debra Pugh	....	storyboard director (44 episodes, 1985-1988)
Yi-Chi Chin	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gregg Davidson	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Warren Greenwood	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Rick Hoberg	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Larry Houston	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Chris Jenkyns	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Boyd Kirkland	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Doug Lefler	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
William Recinos	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lenord Robinson	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Linda Rowley	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Hanna Strauss	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Keith Tucker	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Wendell Washer	....	storyboard director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Will Meugniot	....	storyboard director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Mario Piluso	....	storyboard director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Barb Rausch	....	storyboard director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Dave Simons	....	storyboard director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Jan Helsel	....	storyboard director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Judie Martin	....	storyboard director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Liza Sharp	....	storyboard director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Janice Stocks	....	storyboard director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Romeo Tanghal	....	storyboard director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Bayouth	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1985)
Hak Ficq	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1985)
Gary Graham	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1985)
Jeff Purves	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1985)
Dan St. Pierre	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Nancie Pollitt	....	dialogue recording engineer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
John Detra	....	sound effects editor (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Al Breitenbach	....	sound effects editor (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Matt Cope	....	sound effects editor (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jacquie Freeman Ross	....	dubbing supervisor (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Warren Taylor	....	sound effects editor (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Peter Tomaszewicz	....	sound effects editor (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Efraim Reuveni	....	sound effects editor (7 episodes, 1986)
Richard C. Allen	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Jim Blodgett	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Michael L. DePatie	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Karen Doulac	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Ron Fedele	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Michael Tomack	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1985)
Roy Braverman	....	sound designer / special musical/dream sound effects (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Paula Lafond	....	model designer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Carol Kieffer Police	....	layout artist (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Robert Schaefer	....	background designer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Dennis Venizelos	....	background designer (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Linda Rowley	....	model designer (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Del Barras	....	model designer (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jan Helsel	....	layout artist (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Koch	....	model designer (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lonnie Lloyd	....	layout artist (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Steve Lubin	....	model designer (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Barbara Ann Nelson	....	layout artist (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ivaylo Vaklinov	....	model designer (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jesse Santos	....	layout artist (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Glenn V. Vilppu	....	layout artist (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Judie Martin	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Darrell McNeil	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Charles Payne	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Barb Rausch	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Liza Sharp	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Janice Stocks	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Romeo Tanghal	....	model designer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Deborah Zak	....	layout artist (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Alex Diaz	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1985)
Gemma Maver	....	animation coordinator (5 episodes, 1985)
Debra Pugh	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1985)
Stephanie Pyren-Fortel	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1985)
Ira Turek	....	layout artist (5 episodes, 1985)

Series Editorial Department
Sarah Swiskow	....	telecine supervisor (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Steven C. Brown	....	supervising editor (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Andrew Golov	....	telecine supervisor (14 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Music Department
Anne Bryant	....	music arranger (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Robert J. Walsh	....	conductor (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Peter Collier	....	music editor (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Ellen Bernfeld	....	singing voice: Patricia Alice Albrecht (unknown episodes)
Gordon Grody	....	singing voice: Townsend Coleman (unknown episodes)
Britta Phillips	....	singing voice: Samantha Newark (unknown episodes)
Vicki Sue Robinson	....	singing voice: Kath Soucie (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Jay Bacal	....	creative director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Wally Burr	....	voice director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Bob Kirk	....	sequence director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Ray Lee	....	supervising director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Will Meugniot	....	main title creator (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Margaret Nichols	....	sequence director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Karen Peterson	....	sequence director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Tom Ray	....	sequence director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Robert Shellhorn	....	sequence director (65 episodes, 1985-1988)
Rudy Cataldi	....	sequence director (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Gemma Maver	....	production associate (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
David Perry	....	production assistant (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Debra Pugh	....	fashion designer (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Roger Slifer	....	story editor (60 episodes, 1986-1988)
Maddy Aaronson	....	talent coordinator (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Stephanie Graziano	....	production coordinator (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Christy Marx	....	story editor (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Stan Phillips	....	sequence director (39 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brad Case	....	sequence director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Joan Case	....	sequence director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Gerry Chiniquy	....	sequence director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Bob Matz	....	sequence director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Chuck Downs	....	sequence director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Danielle Dubay	....	production assistant (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Freeman	....	sequence director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Milton Gray	....	sequence director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Treat	....	sequence director (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Charles Hill	....	production associate (19 episodes, 1985-1987)
Warren Batchelder	....	sequence director (5 episodes, 1985)
Bill Exter	....	sequence director (5 episodes, 1985)
John Gibbs	....	supervising director (5 episodes, 1985)
Al Kouzel	....	sequence director (5 episodes, 1985)
Terry Lennon	....	supervising director (5 episodes, 1985)
Norm McCabe	....	sequence director (5 episodes, 1985)

Production Companies

• Sunbow Productions
• Marvel Productions
• Hasbro
• Toei Animation Company

Distributors

• Claster Television (1985-1988) (USA) (TV)
• AB Droits Audiovisuels
• Family Home Entertainment (FHE) (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Rhino Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Verenigde Arbeiders Radio Amateurs (VARA) (1986-1988) (Netherlands) (TV)

Other Companies

• Starwild Music Inc.  music
• Vitello Productions  post-production services (1987) (as Vitello & Associates)
• Wildstar Music Inc.  music
• XAM! Productions  layouts (1985)
• XAM! Productions  storyboards (1987)

Also Known As:

Jem and the Holograms (USA) (alternative title)
Jem: The Movie (UK) (DVD title)

Runtime:

30 min (65 episodes) | Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-Y7 | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Sunbow Productions

Trivia:

The show's title and main character where originally going to be named "M," but "Jem" was chosen to avoid copyright problems with MTV.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "The Case of the Missing Master Tape" (Season 3), Jem and the Holograms get a ransom note. The first line quite obviously reads "In search of good times," but the girls read out loud and then repeat "In search of good tunes."

Quotes:

[the misfits are eating after Kimber has been attacked by a shark]
Pizzazz: This food is delicious! What is it?
Zipper: Well, I figured since the Holograms were having shark...
[Misfits look disgusted and run off]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Shear Genius: In the Dark (#2.1)" (2008)

Best Cartoon Out Of The Eighties

This show had it all ! Great music, great characters, great stories and and great effects even for a cartoon. I don't know of a real recording manager could have really balanced being a singer, manager, foster mother and a private life, but this series made it look possible. Synergy, the Jem Earrings and the theoretical hologram technology was another thing that made the series a hit as Jerica never realized the full power of what she could do.The female characters did look a bit thin and anorexic, but they were made to look like the dolls the series endorsed. The characters mostly didn't have the animation of the G.I.JOE cartoon, but it more than made up with it with the lively music and cartoon videos. I loved Jem, even probably have dated Jerica or Kimber if they were real. The Misfits were the band you loved to hate. In real life, they might have been accused of using drugs or witchcraft. Eric Raymond was the only character I could live without; his role as the opportunistic and unethical business man became too far-fetched and unlikely as his stereotype became stretched and stretched. Eventually, he made J.R. Ewing look like Tony Nelson as a cowboy. All together, all these characters sometimes seemed like they really existed in another reality along with G.I.JOE and the Marvel and D.C. characters.Unfortunately,the series had reached it's end with the Stingers; their appearance just didn't fit the series. It was a sure sign the series was at an end. The only chance to see this again is the dream of a live-action movie with Jem played by her true-life counterpart, Britta Phillips.