Jem overview by taraljc

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the Jem! overview. Hopefully, this will give you all the background you need on May's small fandom offering, Jem!

The bulk of the material in this fandom overview is excerpted from Truly Outrageous Jem Primer, which also includes a complete episode guide, guided analysis by "Roxy" to episodes and characters, links to and more.

JEM began as a series of 7 minute segments, sandwiched between ROBOTIX and MONSTER TRUCKS in the weekly first-run syndicated animated anthology series SUPER SATURDAY. The idea was to create a series aimed at girls that had enough action that the boys wouldn't switch channels, while waiting for the next "boy" cartoon to come on, while the girls would get hooked and buy the dolls. While the two "boys" series died a quick, merciful deaths, JEM became a hit and 65 episodes were produced before Mattel introduced a rock star Barbie in the wake of Jem's success, the JEM toy line was discontinued by Hasbro in 1987, with the final first-run JEM episode airing in the spring of 1988.

In a time when there were few action/adventure series aimed at girls (Filmation's SHE-RA: PRINCESS OF POWER, which was launched with a March 1985 theatrical release, being a notable exception), JEM was unique. While designed as a vehicle to sell dolls, the series has achieved cult status as an entire generations of girls were hooked by the love "triangle" of Jerrica, Jem, and Rio, and the music videos which were integrated into each episode. While the soap opera aspects loom large, the series as also packed with action and suspense. The series cast of recurring Starlight Girls (Deirdre, Ashley, Ba Nee, and Krissie) created by Marx, gave young viewers characters to identify with. While JEM was a powerful wish-fulfillment fantasy, the characters lived in as close to the "real" world as the writers could make it, with real issues and real problems, which was a huge draw to older viewers in high school and college.

	JERRICA BENTON/JEM is the eldest daughter of Emmett and Jacqui Benton. After her father's death, she received a pair of earrings which act as remote projector for her father's holographic super-computer Synergy. Using the earrings to disguise herself as the pink-haired Jem, Jerrica launched a band called Jem and the Holograms in order to regain control of her father's music company, and keep the Starlight Foundation afloat. Jerrica is uncomfortable with keeping her identity a secret from Rio, but as time goes on, is more afraid of the possibility of losing him, should he learn the truth. She has difficulty maintaining distinct borders between her life as Jerrica and her masquerade as Jem, most often forgetting herself with Rio, who is confused and flustered by his attraction to "Jem." When he attempts to distance himself from Jem, Jerrica as Jem pleads with him to stay, blurring the lines between her two identities, while as Jerrica offering tacit approval of his relationship with "Jem" (Beginning, Starbright, The Music Awards). While her younger sister Kimber is outgoing and extroverted, Jerrica has trouble loosening up. However, Jerrica is steadfast, loyal, and her friends and family respect and admire her for her hard work and maturity in running both Starlight Music and the Starlight House Home for Foster Girls. Jerrica has difficulty delegating responsibility, but constantly relies on foster sisters Aja and Shana, and boyfriend Rio for help in running Starlight (Beginning, Glitter and Gold, Starbright). She is young, smart, driven, and a very capable businesswoman in her own right, signing acts such as the Fifth Avenue Boys to the Starlight label (Glitter and Gold), and pursing new acts such as The Stingers to expand the business (The Stingers Hit Town). Jerrica struggles with her dual identity, often feeling irrational jealousy toward her alter-ego (Glitter and Gold, The Stingers Hit Town, Midsummer Night's Madness). She subconsciously compartmentalises her life, allowing herself to be carefree, open, and spontaneous only while disguised as Jem. Unfortunately, this means Jerrica herself is often perceived as stuck-up, and a control freak, even by those closest to her. After regaining control of the family business, she attempts to end her career as Jem, but quickly realises that she needs the revenue generated by Jem and the Holograms to support the Starlight Foundation (Starbright). She and Phyllis "Pizzazz" Gabor keep up a steady rivalry between the Holograms and Misfits, on Jerrica's part stemming from her hatred of Eric Raymond, as well as her innate competitive streak (Glitter and Gold). Jerrica was very close to her mother, Jacqui, and was deeply scarred by Jacqui's death in a plane crash in the 1970s. While at first she was jealous of the attention her mother and father paid to foster girls Shana and Aja, she soon formed a very close-knit bond with both girls (Out of the Past). This bond often eclipses her flesh-and-blood relationship with younger sister Kimber, of whom Jerrica is over-protective and often treats like a child, inadvertently encouraging Kimber's acting out (The Bands Break Up, Hollywood Jem). While the sisters are mutually frustrated by their often adversarial relationship, they also care about one another very deeply. Even so, Jerrica at times is blind to how deeply affected Kimber was by their father's death, and her ignorance can come across as insensitivity (Father's Day). Jerrica loves Rio very much, but since beginning her double-life as Jem, their relationship has become strained. Their relationship began as teenagers when Rio first moved next door to the original Starlight House, and they often take one another for granted, seemingly only voicing the depth of their feelings to one another when the relationship is threatened. When Rory "Riot" Llewelyn of the Stingers sets his sights on Jem, Jerrica is confused by the feelings his attentions stir in her, and she appears to find his attentions to Jem flattering enough to sometimes encourage his advances (The Stingers Hit Town, The Day the Music Died). While she finds his arrogance and cruelty unattractive, once she learns of his background and his relationship with his parents, she finds herself drawn to him as a person, rather than merely as a convenient ego-booting escape from the emotional minefield that is her relationship with Rio (Riot's Hope).
	KIMBER BENTON is Jerrica's younger sister. The youngest of the Holograms, Kimber has been playing and composing music since she was a child (Scandal). It was her father's hope that she would follow in her mother Jacqui's footsteps, and pursue a career in the music industry. Treated like the "baby" by Jerrica, and foster-sisters Aja and Shana, Kimber often acts irresponsibly and rashly. She is jealous of the attention Jerrica receives as Jem, and almost tells Rio about Jerrica's masquerade (Kimber's Rebellion) out of pettiness. However, the Benton sisters love each other dearly, and Kimber is not as childish as Jerrica sometimes believes her to be. After a falling out with her sisters, Kimber left the Holograms and briefly teamed up with Stormer of the Misfits (The Bands Break Up). The two forged a genuine friendship that withstood pressure from both the Holograms and the Misfits to tear the two girls apart. Faced with such opposition, it only strengthened their bond. After playing local clubs such as The Scene, the two signed with promoter Dave Daniels to cut a record. However, Daniels was in league with Eric Raymond, who hoped to use Kimber's contract to gain control of her shares of Starlight Music. Kimber and Stormer delivered the record, "Back to back", despite Eric's attempts at sabotage, and remained friends even after returning to their respective rock bands (Britrock, Journey to Shangri-La). Kimber is young, romantic, and falls in and out of relationships constantly, often dating several people at the same time (Glitter and Gold, Hollywood Jem). Throughout the course of the series, she maintains on-again off-again relationships with Jeff Wright and Sean Harrison (Starbright, World Hunger Shindig, Scandal, Hollywood Jem). After almost marrying stunt man Jeff Wright, she realised she was much too young to settle down. Eric Raymond sees Kimber as an easy path to control of Starlight Music, trying several times to temp her to sign with him (Kimber's Rebellion, The Bands Break Up, The Day the Music Died). When Riot and Jem disappeared, she briefly joined The Misfits, but returned to her own group when Riot returned (The Day the Music Died). Kimber was affected very deeply by the death of her father, Emmett Benton. While Jerrica seems to deal with the pain of her parents deaths by burying herself in her work, Kimber in unable to switch her feelings off with such ease. Emmett was very supportive of Kimber as a child, and her music is in many ways a tribute to his memory. Of the Benton sisters, Kimber is the one who most often goes to Synergy for advice and comfort, allowing the super computer to stand in for her mother Jacqui, even before she knew that Synergy had been based on Jacqui's recordings (Scandal, Out of the Past).
	AJA LEITH was the first foster girl to whom the Bentons opened their home, and while Jerrica was at first jealous of the attention her parents showered on the new girl, she and Aja soon became fast friends, despite how much more comfortable neighbour Rio Pachecho seemed with the tomboyish Aja. Aja, Jerrica and Shana were deeply affected by Jacqui Benton's death in a plane crash. Aja feared that Emmett Benton would send the foster girls away to new foster homes, but Emmett assured her and Shana that they would never abandon them (Out of the Past). Aja is fiercely loyal to Jerrica, but is also the first one to take Jerrica to task for keeping Rio in the dark regarding her dual identity. Kimber once wrote in her diary that Aja was "so cold [...] she wondered if she had any feelings at all." Aja can read Chinese, although it's never made clear which of her parents or grandparents were Chinese, and if they spoke Mandarin or Cantonese. She was very excited that the Holograms were invited to play in China, and while they were in Beijing, she made a point of visiting a museum and was very interested in her heritage (Adventure in China). Aja met drummer Craig Phillips in a music store where Craig was practising. She invited him to take part in the Holograms auditions for a new drummer, unaware that he only joined the contest in order to be close to her. The two fell in love, despite harbouring secrets. Aja was unaware that his younger sister Mary Phillips is a member of the rival band the Misfits, and is devastated when she mistakenly believes Craig and Stormer are married rather than siblings. However, the two patch things up despite both of their short tempers and remain devoted to one another (The Talent Search, Britrock.
	SHANA ELMSFORD is the second foster girl to move into the original Starlight House. Shana had a hard time fitting in despite Jacqui Benton's request to Jerrica to try and make the new girl feel at home. However, despite a rocky start, Jerrica, Shana and Aja soon formed a close bond (Out of the Past). In addition to playing both the drums and bass guitar, Shana is a talented amateur fashion designer who is immediately taken under the wing of Danielle DuVoisin who encourages her protege to design professionally. It was on board Danielle's yacht that Shana first met director Anthony Julian (Disaster). The two began seeing each other, and Shana wears a gold locket containing his photo (Mardi Gras). Shana is less sure of her own abilities than the other Holograms, particularly her abilities as a designer. Roxy preys on her insecurities when Shana is chosen as a contestant in an international fashion design contest in Venice. However, winning the contest for designing both the Holograms and the Misfits entries gives Shana an added boost of confidence (In Stitches). She briefly leaves the Holograms to design fashions for Liz Stratton for a mini-series. During that period she believed Aja, Jerrica and Kimber were glad to see her go, misinterpreting their support for her design career as a desire to see her leave the band. However when the actor proves impossible to work with, at Anthony's urging she rejoins the band playing bass guitar while Raya Alonso takes over on drums (Talent Search). Shana can be timid where her own talent is concerned, but she is fiercely protective of Jerrica and the other Holograms, and is a force to be reckoned with when she believes they are threatened, easily taking on the Misfits single-handedly when necessary (Island of Deception). She has a special bond with Danielle's protogé Regine Cesaire and bears a special grudge against Riot and the Stingers for their treatment of the young designer (Straight from the Heart). Of the Starlight Girls, she is particularly close to Ashley, to whom she is teaching the principles of fashion design (In Stitches). She and Anthony are devoted to each other, and she has never strayed from his side, despite being pursued by other men (Mardi Gras).
	CARMEN "RAYA" ALONSO is the only daughter in a family full of boys, and is doted on by her father, who indulged her passion for the drums despite her mother's misgivings. When Mr Alonso heard about the Starlight Talent Search, he drove Raya to the auditions, and spoke with Jem personally to try and convince her to give his daughter a chance. Raya doesn't suffer from stage fright, but is very self-conscious and why in personal situations. However, she is capable of standing up for herself, particularly when her friends and loved ones are threatened. During the Talent Search, she and Craig Phillips became friends, with Craig acting protective towards her much the same way he does his own sister, Mary (Talent Search). Raya was very nervous the first time she went on Harriet Horn's celebrity rock talk show (Scandal). Raya was raised to be very respectful of her heritage, and is excited when the Holograms travel to Mexico to shoot a music video in some newly discovered Aztec ruins. She also had a very friendly relationship with their guide, Luis (Aztec Enchantment).
	PHYLLIS "PIZZAZZ" GABOR is the lead singer (and occasional guitarist) in the Misfits. After her parents' divorce, she and her father Harvey Gabor grew apart. Pizzazz became spoiled as instead of affection from her remaining parent, she received money. She acted out to try and gain her father's attention, and he bought her whatever she wanted to keep her from complaining. However, she would prefer to simply have his love, rather than his money. She is deeply hurt when he befriends Kimber Benton after refusing to spend Father's Day with Pizzazz (Father's Day). She hates being called Phyllis, preferring instead the moniker Pizzazz (Beginning). She had a relationship with Sean Harrison, who at the time was playing a club in London. She had not seen him for a year when the Misfits crashed Miss Sally Brand's World Hunger Shindig, and Pizzazz attempted to renew their relationship, but Sean rejected her in favour of Kimber Benton, beginning an ongoing rivalry with the younger Benton (World Hunger Shindig, Scandal, Hot Time In Hawaii, Father's Day). Pizzazz generally treats Roxy and Stormer as minions, expecting (and usually receiving) their unconditional loyalty and support. She does not care about money per se, but craves the power, fame, and adulation she believes to be her due (Starbright). She allows groupie Clash to hang with the band because Clash's hero-worship flatters her ego, and Clash is more willing than Stormer to take part in Pizzazz and Roxy's schemes (Starbright). However, when Clash considers herself one of the Misfits, Pizzazz immediately shuts her down, informing her that you're either born a Misfit, or you're not (Father's Day). Pizzazz has no qualms about using the threat of expulsion from the band to manipulate Stormer (The Talent Search). When Stormer and Roxy leave the band, Pizzazz is convinced that they will come crawling back because they are nothing without the Misfits. However, while Roxy does return of her own volition, Pizzazz must woo Stormer back with promises of equal partnership and to be treated with respect, a promise Pizzazz makes half-heartedly (The Bands Break Up, Roxy Rumbles). At first adverse to the idea of adding a new Misfit, Pizzazz immediately bonds with Jetta, who threatens briefly to supplant Roxy at Pizzazz' right hand (Talent Show). Pizzazz treats manager Eric Raymond as an employee, and the two usually one another with a mixture of tolerance and contempt although in Eric's case, never to Pizzazz' face if he can avoid it. Pizzazz fully expects Eric to clean up her messes, which, for the most part, he does up until he buys out Harvey Garbor's half of Misfits Music. Pizzazz becomes infatuated with Riot, who does not return her interest. Eric forces Pizzazz to choose between the Misfits and Riot, and Pizzazz chooses Riot, causing the Misfits to briefly disband. However, at Riot's behest, Pizzazz begs forgiveness and the band reforms as more of a partnership than ever before (The Stingers Hit Town).
	ROXANNE "ROXY" PELLIGRINI is originally from Philadelphia. No one there ever believe she'd amount to much of anything. She enjoys causing trouble, even when that trouble borders on dangerous, such as setting off a sting of explosive charges on the set of Starbright in retaliation for Kimber flirting with stunt man Jeff Wright, on whom Roxy had set her sights (Starbright). Unlike Stormer, who is often reluctant when it comes to genuinely dangerous or hurtful stunts, Roxy eagerly follows Pizzazz's lead, often coming up with schemes on her own such as calling Shana to taunt her and undermine her confidence when she is chosen for Tony Cossini's fashion contest (In Stitches). Once Clash enters the picture, Roxy welcomes the groupie into the inner circle with few reservations, and Clash often takes Stormer's place as Roxy's cohort (Starbright). Roxy relishes her position as Pizzazz' right hand, and feels threatened when Eric suggests they add a fourth Misfit (Talent Show). She and Jetta are at first at each others' throats (Britrock), however by the time Stingers come to town, she and Jetta seem to have reached a state of mutual tolerance and even faint affection (The Stingers Hit Town). Functionally illiterate, Roxy got by (with Stormer's help) until her illiteracy was revealed when the Misfits were invited to introduce a segment of a video programme and Roxy flubbed reading her lines off the teleprompter. Shamed and angered, Roxy briefly left the band and when she found a winning state lottery ticket. However, she blew most of the money on a make-over, new car, and day carnival in an attempt to show up Jem and the Holograms for spoiling her homecoming (Roxy Rumbles).
	MARY "STORMER" PHILLIPS is the youngest of the Misfits. Focused on making music more than just mayhem, Stormer was at first timid, shy, and allowed Roxy and Pizzazz to bully her. Her greatest fear was to be kicked out of the group, because she truly believed she was nothing without them. Pizzazz and even Roxy had no qualms about exploiting that fear. However, Stormer slowly learned to stand her ground. Stormer is the first Misfit to leave the band (The Bands Break Up). After Pizzazz, Jetta, and Roxy belittle her and her music in a practice session, Stormer finally looses her cool and storms out. Although Pizzazz assumes the tantrum will blow over, both the Misfits and the Holograms are shocked when Stormer and Kimber begin playing at a local club called "The Scene." Over the course of more than a month, the two become close friends, and gather a following in the Los Angeles area. When Stormer helps Kimber and Jerrica keep Eric Raymond from using Kimber's solo career to take over Starlight Music, Jerrica offer Stormer a position as a sixth Hologram. However, at Roxy and Jetta's urging, Pizzazz and the Misfits ask her back. Recognising that the Misfits need her more than Jerrica does, Stormer returns to the group. However, she insists that she be treated as a partner and that the other Misfits will have to listen to what she has to say as well. She and Kimber maintain their friendship (Britrock, Journey to Shangri-La). Mary is very close to her older brother, Craig Phillips, who is protective to the point of being over-protective where the Misfits treatment of his sister are concerned (Talent Search, Britrock). Of the Misfits, Stormer is closest to Roxy, and the only Misfit who knew that Roxy was illiterate (Roxy Rumbles). When Roxy walks out on the group, it's Stormer and Jetta who trail her, to try and bring her back. And when Ba Nee finds her father, it's Stormer who brings the Misfits to Starlight mansion for the girl's farewell party, and is most likely the instigator of the Misfit-Hologram truce called for the occasion (A Father Should Be). Love is not easy for Stormer, and she is flattered and swept off her feet when a hermit named Angus Bean asks her if she believes in love at first sight (Island of Deception). Although Angus is never seen again, he is the only man other than Craig in Stormer's life. Although she spends a great deal of time at the Gabor mansion with the Misfits, Stormer lives in a small bungalow (Talent Search, Stingers Hit Town). When Craig comes to Los Angeles to visit her, he stays at her house. After her brief solo career, Stormer is treated as more than just an equal partner, but in many ways the heart and centre of the band. When Pizzazz falls head-over-heels for Riot, Roxy and Jetta join Stormer at her house until Pizzazz returns to them and asks to be let back into the group (Stingers Hit Town).
	SHEILA "JETTA" BURNS came to the United States as sax player for a band called the Tinkerbillys. However, she quickly allowed herself to be recruited by the Misfits, dazzled by Pizzazz's wealth and a chance to join a popular American rock band. In addition to her skills as a saxophone player, she's also an accomplished pickpocket, lifting Eric's wallet with ease. She takes to the Misfits/Holograms feud right away, hiring street thugs to trash the Alonso family's nursery, in an effort to force Raya to go to Eric Raymond and reveal Jem's secret identity. However, she is found out when Raya recognises the orchid in her hair as having come from her father's nursery. Jetta quickly susses out the Misfit pecking order, and she and Roxy take an immediate dislike to one another as they vie for the top spot at Pizzazz' right hand (Talent Search). However, although Roxy is hostile towards Jetta and protests a four-way split, the band jells as a team. Jetta follows Pizzazz' lead when it comes to picking on Stormer (The Bands Break Up). However by the time Roxy leaves the band, Jetta is just as worried as Stormer and the two team up to follow Roxy despite Pizzazz's assurances that Roxy has nowhere else to go and will return to the Misfits (Roxy Rumbles). When Pizzazz becomes obsessed with Riot, Jetta, Roxy, and Stormer are disgusted by her behaviour, allowing Rapture to make a fool of her, and mooning over Riot like a lovesick girl. They confront her and walk out on her, despite the fact that Pizzazz is the Misfits (The Stingers Hit Town).Jetta lies constantly. To the press, to her friends, any time she mentions where she came from or what connections she has, chances are, she's trying to palm herself off as better than she is. Particularly when to comes to taking advantage of naive Americans who see all English accents--even working-class London ones--as "posh." Whether it's her close personal relationship with the Royal Family, or her own parents lands and fortunes, Jetta has a habit of engaging in hyperbole to try and make herself seem important in the other Misfits eyes, particularly Pizzazz'. While Stormer buys it hook, line, and sinker, and Roxy thinks Jetta is nothing but a fraud, Pizzazz seems amused and willing to be convinced. However, during a trip to England during which the entire Burns family are used as pawns in an attempt by Mason Hawthorne's uncle to kill his nephew and inherit his estate, Jetta is caught out in her lies regarding her background (Britrock).
	RORY "RIOT" LLEWELYN grew up on US Army bases all over the world. Born with a love of music encouraged by his mother, who taught him to play the piano and bought him his first guitar, Riot's love of music was looked down upon by his father, who did not want any son of his to become a "hippy" musician. In an attempt to please his father, Riot joined the army, but went AWOL in West Germany to play guitar in a rock band called Nirvana. After being dishonourably discharged, Riot returned to Los Angeles to visit his mother, and was disowned by his father. Working odd jobs to save enough money for the plane fare, Riot returned to Germany to rejoin Nirvana. When he had a falling out with the band's leader, Riot and keyboardist Minx left the band and, with Rapture, formed the Stingers. After busking across Europe, the band made their American debut at Le Klub Kool (Riot's Hope). Both Jerrica Benton and Eric Raymond offered the Stingers a contract, but when Eric offered Riot 50% of his label, Riot accepted, and Misfits Music became Stinger Sound (The Stingers Hit Town). Riot is arrogant, egocentric, and sees himself as perfect. Therefore, it seems only logical that Jem, whom he sees as the perfect woman, should fall for him. Unaware that she is Jerrica Benton and therefore involved with Rio Pacheco, Riot cannot understand why Jem continues to resist his advances when Rio is clearly not available. Riot uses his charm and charisma to manipulate people he sees as beneath him. Both Kimber and Jerrica are smitten by him, but are able to recognise his faults. Pizzazz, on the other hand, is completely smitten, and determined to have him, particularly once he sets his sights on Jem. Riot has no interest in Pizzazz, but treats her with cool indifference, or placating her like the child she acts in his presence (The Stingers Hit Town). However, the Holograms and Misfits remain immune to his charms and are fed up with his effect on Jem and Pizzazz respectively (The Stingers Hit Town, Midsummer Night Madness, The Day the Music Died). Riot is very close to his fellow band members, acting towards Minx and Rapture as fond older brother, or generous benefactor. He takes his role as half-owner of Stinger Sound seriously, attending marketing meetings, and having an active voice in his career. He enjoys games, and has a cat-like attention span, capable of becoming bored with his new playthings quickly (Straight from the Heart).
	INGRID "MINX" KRUGER is beautiful, and knows it. Originally from Germany, she has contempt for the "crass" Americans she meets, but relishes the glamour, money, and high profile life style she can achieve as a rock star in America (The Stingers Hit Town). Minx first met Riot when he began attending gigs in Germany, and he eventually became a guitar player in Nirvana, the band in which she played keyboards. When Riot clashed with the band's leader, Jerry, Minx and Riot set out on their own. Busking across Europe, they met Rapture and formed The Stingers (Riot's Hope). Minx worships Riot and believes he is without fault (The Stingers Hit Town, The Day the Music Died). When Riot and Jem disappeared, she briefly joined The Misfits, but returned to her own group when Riot returned (The Day the Music Died) Minx cares about three things: The Stingers, keyboards, and Minx. She built her custom keyboard from scratch, and is obsessed with getting the best sound possible out of her equipment. She alone is the only person who Techrat seems to allow to be in his presence (That Old Houdini Magic). When Riot decides he must have Jem, Minx decides that Jem's road manager and unofficial boyfriend Rio is fair game. Minx adores the chase, and is both frustrated and thrilled to find someone who seems immune to her charms (The Stingers Hit Town, Midsummer Night's Madness, The Day The Music Died). After nearly drowning and being rescued by Rio, Minx attempts to change and do good. However, her over-zealous efforts alienate her from both the Stingers and the Holograms, and she quickly reverts to her old self (Change of Heart).
	PHOEBE "RAPTURE" ASHE is the guitarist for the Stingers. A devotee of New Age philosophy, she is little more than a con artist and shyster who delights in manipulating others (The Stingers Hit Town, Midsummer Night's Madness, That Old Houdini Magic), particularly Pizzazz. She is devoted to Riot, and believes they are destined to be together (The Day the Music Died). When Riot and Jem disappeared, she briefly joined The Misfits, but returned to her own group when Riot returned (The Day the Music Died). Although the Stingers are a success and she could want for nothing, Rapture appears to be obsessed with money. While Minx and Riot chase Rio and Jem, Rapture has no love interest other than cold hard cash. She defrauded an entire Greek village while pretending to be the Oracle of Delphi, and was only saved by Riot's quick thinking (Midsummer Night's Madness). Rapture has a great deal of knowledge about stage magician Harry Houdini, including intimate details about his life. She attempted to pass herself off as a medium channeling Houdini's spirit in order to hoodwink Mrs Farnsworth into donating her fortune to Rapture's bogus charity, but almost drowned in the process. She was rescued by Astral, who prompted her to admit her hoax to the public (That Old Houdini Magic).
	RIO PACHECO grew up next door to Starlight House, moving in when Jerrica Benton was 10. He worked as a roadie and engineer for Emmettt Benton, and was close friends with tomboy Aja as well. He and Jerrica began seeing one another in high school (Out of the Past). Since he and Jerrica had been in a relationship for years and he does not wish to hurt her, he attempts to resist Jem's advances, going so far as to try and quit his job as Jem and the Holograms road manager. However, Jerrica begs him in both identities to stay, stating she cannot go on without him. Rio has issues with secrecy and lying which are never fully explained, but it is those issues which make Jerrica reluctant to reveal her masquerade to her long-time boyfriend for fear that he will feel betrayed and made a fool. Rio has a hair-trigger temper, and is disgusted when he discovers Kimber made the same date twice with two different men. He attacks her verbally, which sparks a fight between him and Jerrica, who decides based on his behaviour that she cannot reveal her secret (Glitter and Gold). Although extremely jealous at the time Jem spends with other men such as Johnny Deacon, Red Johnny Mack, and particularly Riot, Rio does not seem to equate his own behaviour—seeing both Jerrica and Jem romantically simultaneously—with being unfaithful. he is even more confused in Greece when he meets a stranger and immediately is drawn to her, unaware that she is Jerrica in disguise (Midsummer Night Madness). After saving her life, Rio develops a tentative friendship with Minx, bonding over his desire to build a synthesiser. However, when Minx builds it for him, they argue and she goes back to the Stingers (Change of Heart).
	ERIC RAYMOND was hired by Emmettt Benton to see to the day-to-day running of Starlight Music. He and a teen-aged Jerrica Benton flirted, and she used him to try and make Rio Pacheco jealous. After Benton's death, Raymond inherited half of Starlight Music and unsatisfied, took complete control of the company. During his brief tenure as CEO of Starlight, he signed the Misfits, embezzled shamelessly, and in effect ran the company into the ground (Beginning, Starbright). When Jerrica Benton regained control of the business, he appropriated several boxes of Starlight Music property, and was unaware that one of them contained the master recordings of one of Jacqui Benton's final live performances (Out of the Past). He directed The Misfits Hit it Big, run a film studio (Starbright), run two music companies, and his fortunes have yo-yoed, going from wealthy to destitute, mainly due to his relationship with the Misfits (Rock Fashion Book). In an effort to remove himself from the position of being under Pizzazz's thumb, he bought out Harvey Gabor's shares of Misfits Music with the intention of renaming it Raymond Records. He then immediately offers Rory "Riot" Llewelyn half of the company, which is renamed Stinger Sound, in order to ensure the Stingers sign with his label (The Stingers Hit Town). However, despite his live-hate co-dependant relationship with Pizzazz, he cannot seem to rid himself of her completely. Their lives continue to come in constant contact, a fact he sometimes bemoans, and other times blesses as it offers him new opportunities to make it big (or go broke). He often treats Pizzazz like a wild and wayward daughter, with a mixture of genuine fondness and barely disguised contempt. And he perfectly happy to continue to manipulate her, if he can get something out of it. Eric a schemer, a liar, and a manipulator out to amass money and power any way he can. However, he draws the line at murder, and even warns the Holograms when Lexa, the Regent of Mordavia, planted a bomb onstage set to go off during the Holograms command performance (The Princess and the Singer). he usually hires people such as Zipper or his pet genius, Techrat, to do his dirty work, rather than getting his own hands dirty. However, Eric also seems to have genuine admiration and respect for Techrat, referring to him as a genius (The Music Awards). Eric is obsessed with regaining control of Starlight Music, and has a rivalry with Jerrica Benton that has long since passed from professional into personal, bordering on genuine hatred on both sides (Out of the Past). He has tried gaining control of Starlight through Kimber Benton by offering her a solo recording contract, appealing to her vanity, and then finally by outright trickery through promoter Dave Daniels offering her a contract designed to force her to forfeit her Starlight Music shares if she and Stormer failed to produce a hit album (The Bands Break Up).
	SYNERGY is a supercomputer designed and built by Emmettt Benton. She is capable of creating complex, life-like holograms including the "Jem" hologram which Jerrica Benton uses to disguise herself. Synergy was originally designed to be used as the ultimate entertainment machine, but Benton quickly realised her potential to be misused as a weapon. Upon his death, two remote projects in the form of earrings were delivered to Jerrica Benton, along with instructions to reveal herself to the Benton sisters and their foster sisters (The Beginning). Synergy's voice and projected likeness were based on Emmettt Benton's late wife Jacqui Benton, and she tries to provide Emmettt's daughters with the same love and counsel a mother would (Out of the Past, Scandal). As a machine, Synergy is vulnerable to jamming signals, power loss, theft, and the constant danger of discovery. She relies on Jerrica and her sisters to keep her safe, and in return, is at their beck and call. No one outside the Benton family and Raya know of her existence, save for the President of the United States (Talent Search, The Presidential Dilemma). Eric Raymond has seen photographs of Synergy, but is unaware of what the computer can do, or where it is (Beginning).
	VIVIEN "VIDEO" MONTGOMERY is a videographer introduced to Jem by Anthony Julian. She wanted to produced a documentary about the feature film "Starbright" produced by Howard Sands, and was vital in exposing Eric Raymond's incompetence as a producer and the Misfits attempts to halt production on the film by sabotage (Starbright). Video is often shadowed by her cousin Constance Montgomery, who goes by the name "Clash". The two grew up together in the midwestern town of Mulberry, and were always fierce rivals. Video returned to Mulberry to celebrate Father's Day by making a video of children's tributes to their fathers (Father's Day). While most of Jem and the Hologram's music videos were directed by Anthony Julian, Video directed a music video shot on location in Mexico at a Mayan Temple as part of an international video contest and a second video promoting friendship as part of a contest sponsored by philanthropist Richard (Aztec Enchantment, Danse Time).
	CONSTANCE "CLASH" MONTGOMERY grew up in the picturesque Midwestern town of Mulberry, spoiled and doted on by her father, and constantly competing for attention with her cousin Vivien "Video" Montgomery (Father's Day). Clash is the Misfits biggest fan, finally meeting up with her idols on the set of Starbright. Flattered by her ardent worship, Pizzazz allows Clash to hang out with them. An often more willing participant in the Misfits' trouble-making schemes than Stormer, she is quickly accepted by Pizzazz and Roxy into their inner circle. Often employing Clash as a spy, Pizzazz puts the younger girl's talents as a mistress of disguise to use in her schemes (Starbright, One Jem Too Many). Clash told her friends and family that she is a member of the Misfits, and was humiliated and shamed when Pizzazz publicly denounced her, stating that one is either born a Misfit, or one is not (Father's Day). Clash sees herself as her cousin Video's superior in every way, and sets out to prove it during an international music video competition. She convinces Eric Raymond and the Misfits to allow her to shoot a music video, planning on using her cousin's chosen location of newly discovered Aztec ruins in Mexico. However, when their helicopter crashes on the way to the site, they must hike to the pyramid. They end up at the wrong pyramid and film their video "Welcome To The Jungle" plagued with avalanches and animal attacks (Aztec Enchantment). In an attempt to prove to Pizzazz and the Misfits that she is worthy to become the fifth Misfit, Clash disguised herself as a film student named Sarah who wants to film a behind the stage look at Jem and The Holograms on tour. Secretly, however, Clash is planning on filming the Holograms at their worst and compiling those clips into an embarrassing music video. Aja openly opposes allowing "Sarah" access to the shoot, however her objections are overruled by Jerrica. During the course of the shoot, Clash is chagrined to discover that unlike the Misfits, the Holograms treat "Sarah" with kindness. However, out of loyalty to the Misfits, she attempts to go through with her scheme, only to be foiled by her cousin Video and Starlight girl Krissie, who substitute a tape of embarrassing clips of the Misfits. (Video Wars).
	GISELLE "DANSE" DVORAK is the daughter of a famous Yugoslavian ballerina (Homeland Heartland). Danse grew up a foster girl. She offers her thanks by volunteering at Haven House, a shelter/half-way house for runaways (The Music Awards). Dancing is her life and her livelihood and her identity (Danse Time). Introduced to Jem and the Holograms by Video when they are looking for something special for upcoming shows. Danse agreed to work with them and asked them to perform at a benefit for Haven House. When they backed out on her in deference to the music awards, though, she masked her disappointment and only quietly agreed that they must do what they must (The Music Awards). Sweet-natured and devoted to her humanitarian effort with the House, Danse was injured during the taping of a music video for the Xanthos Foundation's video charity contest. The serious damage to her leg threw her ability to ever dance again into doubt and she collapsed in on herself, losing her sense of identity and lashing out at anyone who attempts to help her. It was only through the relentlessness of a blind young man named Cisco that she managed to find the will to fight her way back, heal, and dance again (Danse Time). She travelled with Jem and the Holograms to Yugoslavia to find her family (Homeland Heartland).
	LINDSEY PIERCE is the hottest video deejay in town. She introduced Jem and the Holograms to director Anthony Julian, and often tips Jerrica Benton off to new bands (The Stingers Hit Town). As a rock journalist at VTV, she regularly covers the local Los Angeles rock scene, and invited Kimber and Stormer on her programme to promote their duo act (The Bands Break Up).
	COMTESSE DANIELLE DuVOISIN is a close personal friend of producer Howard Sands. The lively, sophisticated French fashion designer frequently takes young designers such as Shana Elmsford and Regine Cesaire under her wing.
	REGINE CESAIRE is a promising young designer for the French island Martinique. A protege of Danielle DuVoisin, she is introduced to the Holograms and is thrilled to meet fellow designer Shana. However, when the Holograms find her Island-inspired designers too avant garde for their tastes, she allows herself to be wooed away by Riot and the Stingers. She briefly has an affair with Japanese designer Yaki Tori, who is also a close friend of the Stingers However, when it becomes clear that she is nothing more than a flavour of the month to Riot, she returns to the Holograms, who give in and decide to wear her designs at their next concert (Straight from the Heart).
	MAEVE "ASTRAL" ELDRITCH is a stage magician and illusionist who also moonlights, debunking frauds and charlatans. When Rapture attempted to defraud a vulnerable matron by passing herself off as the reincarnation of Houdini, Astral made it her personal mission to prove Rapture was nothing but a liar and thief (That Old Houdini Magic).

There are two distinct segments of Jem fandom, which often cross over. The first is the doll-collecting community, which consists primarily of women and gay men in their 20s and 30s. The second are fans of the Sundow animated series. While most doll collectors are also fans of the TV series, not all fans of the series collect the dolls, or even played with them as children when the series was still in production. Because the series ran in syndication on USA Network well into the 1990s, and have subsequently been partially released on DVD, there in an entire generation of fans who weren't yet born when the dolls were in stores.

Jem fandom online also centres around doll collecting, but there are small pockets of TV series fans who engage in fan fiction--both as wrietrs and readers. In the 1990s, the TrulyOutrageousJem mailing list was the primary form for fans of the TV series to meet, while JemandFriends.com was a forum for primarily doll collectors. The posting of fan fiction being banned on TOJ (since creator Christy Marx was a member), however Leslie's Jem Fanfic Archive was created to archive fiction posted by TOJ list members. This archive, which was taken over by Mooncat in June 1997, was primary archive for the fandom until Fanfiction.net was launched, and Mooncat X took both the Jem Fan Fiction Archive and Jem Adult Fan Fiction archives down in May 2003 while she moved to a new domain. However, the sites have yet to be re-launched. In the interim, Jem fan fiction can be found on the web at:

fan fiction
FanFiction.net
I Like Your Style
Taffeta's Jem Fan Fiction
Zero Talent Studios
Jewel's World
Teenangel Outsiders

mailing lists
Misfits Music
Misfits Mania
Kimber & Stormer
Jemfans
Totally Jem Club
Only the Beginning
Glitter 'n Gold
Jem's Starlight Mansion
Jem Truly Outrageous
Jem Fanfiction
JemFanfiction
JemNC17

livejournal communitues
Starlight Music
Jem-a-Holics
Jem Fans
80s Cartoons
80s Child

While the premise of the series (and the fact that it was aimed squarely at tweens and teens) does mean the fiction is beset by dozens of Mary Sues (avoid any story beginning with "a new Starlight girl..." etc.) and has more active RPGs than fanfic archives, there are some excellent stories which expand on the existing universe in the same tone as the original series, as well as stand-alones and series which take the candy-coloured 1980s pop series into the 21st century, or at the very least, inject more of the reality of the mid to late 1980s into the premise. The series mix of adventure and romance still appeals to old and new fans alike, and this coupled with the recent release on DVD of the first 2/3rds of the series, means the fandom has had a slow but steady growth over the last 5 years, up to and including an annual fan-run convention: JemCon.

A great deal of the fiction attempts ot mirror the strucure of the series, placing equal focus on adventure within the music industry, as relationships (both platonic and erotic) between the characters. In terms of romance (both het and slash) canon 'ships that remain popular in fiction are Jerrica/Rio, Jem/Riot, Shana/Anthony, Kimber/Sean, and Aja/Craig. However unconventional 'ships abound, including Stormer/Kimber, Astral/Riot, Stormer/Riot, and even Jerrica/Eric. Also in the last 4 years, there has been a significant rise in femmeslash in the fandom, focused mainly on the Misfits, and primarily posted to saffic by a small cadre of female Jem fans. The most popular slash pairings are Kimber and Stormer (based on the episode "The Bands Break Up"), followed closely by Pizzazz and Roxy, Stormer and Roxy, Pizzazz and Jetta.



(and my Jem stuff can be found here...)

Comments

[fisher-queen.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I remember this show. I knew there were doll collectors out there and I even tried to DL some episodes a few years back for nostalgia's sake but I didn't realize there was fanfic activity too!

[twigged.livejournal.com]

Very nice overview, thank you!

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Hahah, Jem was my guilty pleasure as an 80's teen. I felt I was way too old for it (16 or so), but I saw the occasional episode. What struck me about it was the "girls together" atmosphere, which was hardly ever seen in mainstream pop culture. So yeah, I watched it and pretended I didn't. Went back to my X and New York Dolls records.

[gardendoor.livejournal.com]

Oh my god! I'd forgotten how awesome and unrepentantly '80s this show was! I'm very curious to see what you rec...

[therentgirls.livejournal.com]

At last! Not only do I love Jem! but there are several of us who have always thought that the theme song was a perfect anthem for fangirls everywhere. I'm so looking forward to your recs. (Dare we hope for some Rio/Riot?)

[tinrat.livejournal.com]

I was distrustful of the apparent premise; blonde, white-bread popular girls vs "misfits".

This was also the era of Barbie flying around in a pink space-shuttle.

If this show had any value (and alot of you seem to think so) I was not primed to see it.

Here's hoping somebody does something with Galaxy Rangers.