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Friday, August 12, 2016

Jem Reviewed: Episode 21 - Old Meets New

We watched last week as Jem and the Holograms worked together with the Misfits to survive on the Island of Deception.  Now that they've been rescued and they've gotten the sea salt out of their hair, it's time for the next installment of Jem Reviewed.





It's time for
Episode 21:  Old Meets New.  And after today we're just five episodes away from the season one finale!  Isn't that exciting?

It looks as though the Holograms are performing at another benefit concert - this time fighting against intellectual poverty.  So, basically, they're performing to stop stupidity and ignorance?  Works for me. 



Jem and the Holograms have a special performance in mind...and given that Jem is dressed like Laverne from "Laverne and Shirley", I'm guessing they plan on performing a classic song - well, one that exists in the Jem world, anyway.  Jem talks about how rock and roll first appeared in the 1950s, and how the song they were about to perform was written in 1954 - right around the time that Bill Haley and his Comets were recording "Rock Around The Clock".



The song is "Rock and Roll Is Forever", and I have to say, for a song that technically doesn't exist, the girls did a great job of making it 50s style.  Back in the 1980s, 1950s nostalgia was coming back in vogue, so there was quite a lot of interest in the decade that gave us rock and roll music, "Leave it to Beaver", and "I Love Lucy".



Unfortunately, not everybody in the audience is appreciative of Jem's version.  There's a man in the crowd who boos them, tells them that they suck, and that they ruined a classic tune before being escorted out of the stadium by security.  Kimber is annoyed, and wonders who he is.  I'm surprised that they haven't accused the Misfits of planting him in the audience!



It appears as though our angry fan isn't finished venting yet.  Somehow he manages to sneak past security and makes his way into Jem's dressing room!  Boy, I guess security at these concerts was lax compared to what they're like now!  Anyway, the man's name is Bobby Bailey, and Jem instantly recognizes the name.  He was the frontman for the band Bobby Bailey and the Tornadoes, and the song "Rock and Roll Forever" was originally performed by them!  Well, I guess if anyone has a right to tell a band that they butchered his song, Bobby Bailey is that guy.  Too bad Don McLean didn't give Madonna that same treatment when she butchered "American Pie".

Everyone seems impressed by Bobby being there once he revealed who he was...well, everyone except Kimber.  Kimber is unimpressed by Bobby Bailey, and the way she treats him, it's like she thinks he's a has-been.  She even wonders what good a guitar is if it can't be plugged into an amplifier.  Wow, who died and made you Queen Bitch, Kimber? 

Fortunately, Bobby doesn't kill the red-haired keyboard player.  He may want to, but he has good control of his emotions.  But he does offer to take the band to the place where he wrote the song, as well as the guitar that he wrote the song on.  At least three of the four Holograms would appreciate it.



The place happens to be an old dilapidated apartment building in the middle of Los Angeles.  It sort of looks like New York's SoHo District in which old warehouses and factories were converted into living spaces and lofts.  The building is where Bobby Bailey lives, and inside is a treasure trove of music memorabilia.  It's actually the same building where Bobby Bailey and the Tornadoes recorded their debut album!  Inside is the guitar that Bobby used when his band recorded their album.  There are several gold records hanging on the wall which showed the success of Bobby Bailey and the Tornadoes over the years.  You could tell that even though the limelight has faded, and Bobby Bailey has been retired for many years, he still holds that period very close to his heart.



Outside the building though are four people who definitely don't hold memories that near and dear.  Eric, Pizzazz, Roxy, and Stormer are in the neighbourhood, and Eric seems to be having fun destroying random buildings in the area, which causes Stormer to remark that Eric has some really weird hobbies.  Preach it, Stormer.

So, why is Eric knocking down all of these buildings?  Well, he wants to build a factory that produces vinyl records, and he convinces the Misfits to help by promising them that the first records printed at the factory will be theirs, and that he would use the money the factory generates to further promote their music.  It's just too bad that this was the year 1986, and vinyl sales were starting to plummet in favour of cassette tapes and compact discs.   But let's not spoil Eric's fun.  Besides, he has a bigger issue to worry about.  There's one more building standing in the way of Eric's vinyl cash cow, and it happens to be the same building that Bobby Bailey lives in.  There's our conflict.

And despite the fact that there are people inside the building, Eric aims his wrecking ball directly at Bobby's apartment.  I don't even think Miley Cyrus would want to get in front of that ball...of course, this episode aired six years before Miley was even born, so that's a moot point.



Thankfully, Pizzazz's "Gimme Gimme Gimme" attitude takes over, and when she gets her hands on the controls, the wrecking ball misses the building and takes out a fire escape and a telephone pole, giving Jem and the Holograms and Bobby Bailey enough of a warning to escape the building.  Bobby cusses Eric out (well, without profanity as this is a kids' show), and vows that Eric will not destroy his home. 



But, luckily for Bobby, Eric and the Misfits are held up by the most kickass meter maid/police officer ever who gives Eric so many tickets that I fear that Pizzazz's father will have to float him a loan.  Again.  So, I guess we can call it a win for Bobby Bailey - for now.

Of course, Eric and his wrecking ball caused a lot of damage to Bobby's building.  Jem, Kimber, Aja, and Shana agree to help him with the repairs, which again I have to state is awfully nice of them given that Bobby went all Simon Cowell on their asses not long ago.  But maybe Bobby is starting to see that maybe Jem and the Holograms aren't bad people after all.



Well, at least he can say that about Jem, Aja, and Shana.  There continues to be no love lost between Bobby and Kimber, as their ridiculous Old vs. New arguments continue to build up steam.  Say, I bet that's where the title of the episode comes from!  Of course, before the argument gets another chance to erupt out of control, a huge truck pulls up in front of the building, and before our lovely cop can issue a citation for noise pollution, the Misfits are already performing another song.



Okay, so in context, "Jack, Take a Hike" is a rather mean song.  At least when it's used as a public service announcement for the people who live in Bobby's neighbourhood.  The Misfits play so loud they actually make people's potted plants explode!  Though, I suppose the song does have a positive meaning to it.  If Pizzazz was singing about Kimber's infatuation with Nick Mann - who was a real creep to begin with - the song would be absolutely perfect.  Here though, it just makes the Misfits seem petty and Bobby Bailey more angry and determined to stop Eric Raymond once and for all.  



It's just too bad that Eric already has a plan to remove Bobby and the rest of the building's residents once and for all.  On his yacht (I guess this means that he's recovered from his near ruin a few episodes ago), he enlists the help of two nasty looking goons named Torch and Mickey to cause some damage to the building so that it will be condemned.  That way, Bobby will have no choice but to leave.  It all seems so ridiculous given that Eric is more or less funding a project will become obsolete by 1990 anyway, but hey, what did he know back then?

Right off the bat, Eric's henchmen get to work, and I'm actually impressed.  They seem much more coherent than Zipper could ever hope to be.  They sneak inside the building in an effort to cause some major damage, and one way they decide to do this is by messing with the plumbing.  They unscrew a few pipes and water comes cascading into the basement.  Okay, maybe doing that would cause a little bit of mold to form, but that's not exactly a quick way to get everyone out.



The other one gets the idea to climb up a hydro pole and use a pair of wire cutters to cut the power to the whole block.  Okay, so the building loses electricity for...what, 24 hours?  Again, I fail to see how something like that would scare people away.  Maybe these guys aren't so great after all.



Meanwhile, Jem and the Holograms are walking down the same sidewalk as the one where one of Eric's goons are working, and they seem to be performing an impromptu roast of Eric and the Misfits as the walk down the street...which I have to admit is kind of funny.



What isn't funny is that the man up above snips the power cable at the same moment that they are passing by, and the live wire threatens to roast Bobby Bailey.  Literally!



Thanks to some quick thinking by Kimber, she manages to push Bobby out of the way as the wire falls on the sidewalk.  Neither Bobby or Kimber are injured, but it seems to be a catalyst for how the rest of the episode is going to go, as Bobby is grateful to Kimber for saving his life, and Kimber is glad that he is okay.



But I don't think Eric's partner in crime wants to stick around because I get the feeling that if he's caught by Jem and the Holograms, he'll really get fried.  Unfortunately, our Holograms are a little too slow to catch up with him, but they know exactly who is responsible for what just happened, and they decide to fight fire with fire.

And do you want to know who leads the charge in all of this?  If you said Aja, you're WRONG!



It seems as though the near death experience that Bobby Bailey went through has really sparked something in Kimber, as she spent most of the day at the public library!  And believe it or not, she wasn't reading "Sweet Valley High" novels the whole time!  She was actually doing some research in regards to city bylaws and found something interesting that she could possibly use to save Bobby's building from getting torn down by Eric Raymond.  Of course, Jerrica and Aja can't help but poke fun at Kimber, with Aja worrying about her spending so much time at the library and Jerrica wondering if Kimber is feeling ill. 

If this doesn't make it obvious that Kimber is the red-haired black sheep of the band, I don't know what else to do to convince you.



Despite the fact that her own bandmates seem to have little confidence in her, Kimber presents Bobby with her trump card.  It seems as though Bobby Bailey's building was once zoned as a residential area.  In fact, I would argue that it IS a residential area now.  The point is that according to Los Angeles law (at least back in 1986), it was against the law to build a factory in a residential zone.  I guess that makes sense, given that pollution from the factories could cause health problems for everyone.  Whatever the case, Bobby seems to think that this means victory for him.



In fact, Jem and the Holograms make it a personal mission to board Eric's yacht and tell him exactly what they discovered...to which I sigh in disbelief and smack myself in the head hard.  Not only has Jem refilled her stupid pill prescription, but she apparently has shared her medication with Aja, Kimber, and Shana.  Seriously, when you have a trump card, you NEVER SHOW YOUR HAND!  It's the first rule of playing Poker!  Heaven help them if you ever see them on Fremont Street in Las Vegas!



You see, because the Holograms showed their hand, the newly wealthy Eric has decided that the best way to counteract their claim is to buy off a city councilman Carl Sanford - a politician who apparently was made out of the same modeling clay that Eric Raymond was built from.



After a hefty cash bribe is given, our slimy politician would do anything to make Eric happy...even if it means that he abuses his power by rescinding the residential zone status from Bobby's neighbourhood, giving Eric full control to build his soon to be outdated vinyl factory.  Eric, if you had just waited until 2016 when vinyl was making a comeback, you might have had a better argument!



Whatever the case, when the news hits the airwaves, Bobby Bailey is understandably pissed off, and he has all but given up hope.  Jem, Aja, and Shana try their best to console the man, but Kimber is sort of lost in thought, and runs off.  Again, the Holograms seem to think that Kimber is a space case, but in this episode, I really think that - and I'm kicking myself for admitting this - I think that Kimber's the only one who seems to really be fighting for Bobby.



Of course, Jem has her own idea to preserve the building.  At least in video form.  And in order to do that, she needs help from her old pal, Video.  Since Jem believes that Eric will likely tear down the building despite any attempts to slow him down, Jem thinks that by filming a live documentary on television depicting the rich history of the building as well as Bobby Bailey's contribution to rock and roll will make a great human interest piece, as well as a final goodbye to the building.  Part of me wonders how Jem even got the clearance to even get a few minutes of live airtime, but then it dawns on me that Video is friends with Lindsey Pearce, and it all makes sense. 



To Jem's credit, she does a fantastic job of recalling the rich history behind the building.  I only wish I had a sound clip available of Jem's speech because it really is powerful.  At a nearby shopping mall, a group of people are watching Jem's live broadcast at an electronics store, and a father and son have a discussion about the rock music scene and they wonder if they can do anything to save the building.  You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say this was a last ditch attempt for Jem to rally the troops to physically stop Eric from tearing down the building.  Though, given that Eric and the Misfits have heavy machinery capable of reducing a ten story building into a ten foot pile of rubble, I wonder if they thought this plan through.



It doesn't matter because Bobby Bailey, Jem, Shana, and Aja all form a human chain in front of the building telling Eric that if he is going to knock down the building, he'll have to take them all out too.  Eric hesitates at first - but once he sees a larger crowd of people forming outside - a crowd that includes our father and son from the shopping mall - he decides to go ahead with the demolition anyway.  I guess in Eric's case, he only is allowed to save the Holograms once.



But just before Eric and the Misfits can get charged with attempted murder, Kimber and another man appear out of nowhere with Kimber shoving a piece of paper in their faces.  At first I'm thinking that it might be a restraining order, but it turns out to be something even better.  Kimber decides to let her new friend, Mr. Wellington, explain.



Mr. Wellington is a man that Kimber met while she was coming up with ways to save the building.  He's the head of the city's historical society, and when Kimber told him about Bobby's building, he was fascinated by the story and came through for Kimber with the ultimate Ace in the hole.  Because Bobby's building was a recording studio which saw the debuts of several artists (as well as the birthplace of Rock and Roll in Los Angeles), he deems it to be a significant piece of history.  When buildings are designated as significant to history, they are declared historical landmarks.  And when a building is declared a landmark, it CANNOT BE KNOCKED DOWN! Never thought I'd say this, but Kimber is outrageously smart.  And she saved Bobby's home - and a piece of valuable music history - from being destroyed by Eric Raymond all by herself. 



SO, WHY IS BOBBY HUGGING JEM?!?  She did nothing but film a documentary and gather a huge crowd together!  If you're gonna hug someone, hug Kimber!



There!  That's better!  And, I think it's important to note that the lesson of this episode is that you can never be too old or too young to make a difference and learn valuable lessons.  Bobby and Kimber certainly learned that lesson very well.  



And as we close off this episode, we get to hear something new.  We hear a collaboration of old meeting new as Jem and the Holograms partner up with Bobby Bailey for a collaborative effort called "Let's Not Forget The Past".  I don't know who does Bobby Bailey's singing voice, but it's quite good, and blends well with Britta Phillips' near perfect vocals.  It really is a great way to close off the episode.  I'll be completely honest.  This may very well be one of my favourite episodes of the show so far.  Yeah, it's a plot that's been done to the death...but having Kimber and Bobby start off as antagonists only to become friends in the end was a nice story. 



I think this is one of the few episodes of the show where I was actually a Kimber fan.  She still grates on my nerves most of the time, but I love how she was used here. 

And for today's edition of Jem Trivia, I'll tell you a bit about Shana's voice actress.  She's played by Cindy McGee, who also voiced Lela and Krissie.  She also appeared in "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo".  But she seems to have retired from the public eye as her last credit was in 1990.




Coming up next week, Jem competes in the Indianapolis 500.  Oh dear...

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

August 9, 1944

It's time for another Tuesday Timeline entry - and given what has been happening in my area as of late, this edition seems timely.  And here's another small clue.  The accent colour I've chosen for today is related to today's subject.  That's all I'll leave you with for the time being.

But for now, let's have a look at some of the other happenings that took place on the 9th day of August.

48 B.C. - Julius Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and flees to Egypt

1173 - Construction begins on the Leaning Tower of Pisa

1483 - The Sistine Chapel in Rome opens to the public

1842 - The Webster-Ashburton Treaty is signed; thus establishing the border between the United States and Canada at the Rocky Mountains

1892 - The patent for the two-way telegraph is granted to Thomas Edison

1930 - Cartoon character Betty Boop makes her official debut in "Dizzy Dishes"

1935 - Soap opera actress Beverlee McKinsey (d. 2008) is born in McAlester, Oklahoma

1942 - The Quit India Movement is launched following the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi by British forces in Bombay

1945 - An atomic bomb is dropped in Nagasaki, Japan during World War II, killing at least 35,000 people instantly

1963 - Singer/actress Whitney Houston (d. 2012) is born in Newark, New Jersey

1965 - Singapore becomes the first and only country to become an independent nation unwillingly following its expulsion from Malaysia

1969 - Actress Sharon Tate, heiress Abigail Folger, actor Wojciech Frykowski, hairstylist Jay Sebring, and teenager Steven Parent are murdered by followers of Charles Manson

1974 - Richard Nixon resigns as President of the United States following the Watergate Scandal; Gerald Ford immediately takes over the presidency

1995 - Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia dies at the age of 53

2003 - Actor/choreographer Gregory Hines passes away at age 57

2008 - Actor/comedian Bernie Mac dies of a heart attack at the age of 50

2012 - Actor/director Al Freeman Jr. dies at the age of 78

2014 - African-American teenager Michael Brown is shot and killed in Ferguson, Missouri by a police officer, leading to months of tension and frustration within the community

2015 - Football player and sportscaster Frank Gifford passes away a week before his 85th birthday

And, celebrating a birthday today are the following people; Shirlee Busbee, David Steinberg, Sam Elliott, Barbara Delinsky, John Varley, Jonathan Kellerman, James Naughtie, Roberta Tovey, Melanie Griffith, Kurtis Blow, Michael Kors, Brad Gilbert, Hoda Kotb, Deion Sanders, McG, Gillian Anderson, Eric Bana, Chris Cuomo, Thomas Lennon, Derek Fisher, Jessica Capshaw, Aled Haydn Jones, Rhona Mitra, Audrey Tautou, Charlie David, Ashley Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Lucy Dixon, and Alice Barlow.

Okay, so what date have we chosen for today?



Well, we're going to go back 72 years in time to August 9, 1944.

Now, I did mention that this blog entry is rather timely.  The reason why this is the case is because of the fact that my area is experiencing a drought at this time.

I don't know how dry it is in your neck of the woods, but the last heavy rainfall that my area had was exactly one month ago on July 9.  Since then, it's been dry as a bone.

This unfortunately has caused my area to be on a water conservation notice, which means that we are only allowed to use water as we need it.  In case you're wondering why the lawns in my area are a sickly shade of brown, that's the reason why.  Though I'll admit that my lawn doesn't look nearly as bad as some of the ones in towns further away than me.

Now, some of the dangers that are associated with droughts include crops failing, food prices going up, and water levels plummeting.  But perhaps the most dangerous concern to worry about are wildfires.



I don't believe that my area is under a burn ban notice yet, but if this dry weather continues, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we are.  When it comes down to wildfires, you can't be too careful.  All you would need to do is look up the devastating effects wildfires have had on California and Australia to see how dangerous they can be. 

In some cases, these wildfires start by way of nature - usually from lightning striking in a dry area, and in most cases, you can't really stop those fires from happening.  But we also know that fires can start by way of careless campers forgetting to put out campfires, or people deliberately setting fires for kicks, or people throwing lit cigarette butts in an area.  Those fires can be prevented.

And in 1944, a popular mascot began appearing on posters to let us know that forest fires could be prevented.  A mascot that was predominately brown.



How many of you remember seeing those commercials starring Smokey the Bear?  We've all seen at least one or two.  He's the friendly bear with the ranger hat who is very diligent on fire safety.  I still remember the slogan he used to utter with his big, booming voice.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!

It's a message that has been going strong for the last 72 years - though the slogan was later changed to "ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES!" in the new millennium. 



And it was on this date in 1944 that the very first poster starring Smokey the Bear first made its appearance!  Check out the artwork for this poster!  It's simple, but it gets the point across.

But I bet you didn't know how Smokey the Bear first became the mascot, or why a mascot was even needed in the first place. 

Well, you have to keep in mind the time period in which Smokey the Bear was first introduced.  1944 was at the tail end of World War II, and as we well know, it was a war that became more intense and deadlier with each passing year.  With more and more men being deployed to various nations all over Europe and Asia during the war, it meant less and less manpower back in Canada and the United States.

As a result of this, wildfires that had sprouted up all along the West Coast of North America burned out of control and caused hundreds of acres to become destroyed.  Several people were also forced out of their homes due to the heat of the flames and the thickness of the smoke.  As if that wasn't bad enough, Japan actually tried to use fire balloons as a weapon to set several acres of forest in Washington, Oregon, and California ablaze to further wreak havoc - though only 10% of the balloons they released actually made it into the United States.

Initially, the United States government used characters from the Disney motion picture "Bambi" - with permission from Walt Disney - to promote the cause of preventing forest fires, but Disney had only granted use of the characters for one year, meaning that the government had to come up with a new spokesanimal to lead the charge.

Hence the reason for the creation of Smokey the Bear.  And here's some trivia for you.  The name "Smokey" came from the name of a fireman named "Smokey" Joe Martin, who was burned so badly in a fire in New York City in 1922 that he actually lost his sight.

The first Smokey poster was illustrated by Albert Staehle, and in 1947, Smokey's official slogan debuted.

Smokey the Bear certainly made an impact on the world.  The same year he was introduced in print media, toy company Knickerbocker Bears began manufacturing stuffed toys which proved to be a big hit.  



And in 1950, the living embodiment of Smokey the Bear was introduced to the world.  Originally named Hotfoot Teddy, the bear was rescued after being caught in the Capitan Gap fire - a wildfire that burned 17,000 acres in the Lincoln National Forest.  The bear cub tried to climb up a tree to safety but suffered burns on his paws and hind legs.  He would spend the next 26 years at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. until November 9, 1976, when he passed away.  But it's interesting to note the impact that the Smokey the Bear image had on people.  When the real life Smokey the Bear was still alive, he reportedly received up to 13,000 fan letters a week!  He received so much mail that the United States Postal Service gave him his own zip code!  Now that's how you know you've made it in this world!



These days, Smokey the Bear commercials and imagery is still very much present, and the legacy of Smokey the Bear continues to live on.  And considering how hot and dry this summer has been, I think we all need to take heed of his advice for preventing forest fires.

Monday, August 08, 2016

Remembrance Day...

Today's entry is going to be a little bit different.

I say this because I will be writing a personal tale that unfortunately doesn't have a very happy ending.  That said, this is something that I want to do because I feel that people can get a lot out of it, and if one person can take what I say because of it, then that will have made all the difference.

You know, this American election is getting incredibly hard to stomach and is growing uglier and uglier each day.  Sometimes I feel like I am watching a really bad movie or a "Saturday Night Live" sketch whenever any election coverage comes on - and yet, it's all real, all happening in real time.  And I think the uncertainty is what scares us the most.

I'm sure that you all have heard about the latest happenings that seem to be surrounding the Republican nomination for the presidential race.  It's bad enough that he felt the need to make snarky and belittling comments towards the parents of a Muslim-American soldier who was killed in battle - but then to make callous remarks about how he always wanted a Purple Heart on top of that?

I mean, does he even understand the real meaning of what the word "sacrifice" is?  Get real, Mr. Trump.

A Purple Heart is not a fashion accessory that you can pair up with a pink bandana and blue jelly bracelets.  It is a medal of valour that soldiers receive because they were injured or killed while serving their country in hopes of protecting the freedom that so many nations enjoy today.

And don't even get me started on his comments towards the Khan family.  Maybe this is just my thoughts (and believe me, they probably won't even be valid to some of you as I am not American and I cannot vote in the 2016 election) - but I feel as though any person who makes a mockery of veterans and soldiers - and by extension, their loved ones - is unfit to lead an entire nation of people. 

To me, veterans should never be mocked or abused or treated as if they are beneath another person.  They should be honoured and respected and treated with dignity because if not for them, our lives as we know it could be so different.

And this goes for all veterans of the armed forces - whether they served in a war or stayed behind to defend their homeland.

Kind of like my cousin Craig did.

I don't really have too many stories to tell about Craig.  Craig's dad was my Uncle Clarke, and sadly, Clarke passed away a few years before I was born, so I never really got the chance to know him.  But Craig was one of Clarke's children, and he was thirteen when I was born. 

I probably met him for the first time when I was a baby, but the one time I really remember meeting him was when he came down for a visit with his brother - my cousin Tyler - around 1988 or 1989.  At that time, I was only seven, and I don't really remember what we talked about, but I do remember it being fun to have them around.  Growing up in a house with sisters, I did wish for a brother so that I wasn't completely surrounded with estrogen!  But knowing that I had older cousins who were male sort of made me feel a little better, even though they lived far away.  



Craig served for the Canadian Airborne Regiment for many years, and when he wasn't in a remote part of the world as part of his training and missions, he was back home in Canada.  And he came and visited quite a few times in between that time.  I think the last time I saw him was in 2004, but he still stayed close to my father, his mother, and his brothers and sisters as he tried to navigate through life.

That's why it hit the entire family hard...when my cousin Craig died early Saturday morning.  Even though I had only met my first cousin a few times, it's still hard to deal with the death of a family member.  I can't even imagine what his immediate family is going through right now, as they must be absolutely devastated, and I hope that they are supporting each other during this difficult time.

It won't bring back Craig, but at the very least, I hope they know that they aren't alone and that every branch of the family is grieving his loss. 




In memory of my cousin, Craig

1968-2016

Friday, August 05, 2016

Jem Reviewed: Episode 20 - Island of Deception

You might have missed last week's Jem Reviewed, as you were all likely hunting Pokemon, but just to recap, Kimber's exact double was a princess and blah blah blah.  Not my favourite episode.  Let's go ahead with the next one, and hope it doesn't suck as much as last week.



We're already at Episode 20:  Island of Deception.  Sounds mysterious.



It appears as though we won't be going to the island of deception just yet.  Instead, we'll be watching a scene in which Jem and the Holograms are boarding a luxurious cruise ship called the "Bahama Queen".  It seems as though they are going to St. Thomas.  The reason why they are going isn't exactly explained, but I would hazard a guess that it has something to do with a music video shoot or a concert or something music related.  With Rio going along, it has to be - because we all know that if Rio was going to get hot and heavy with Jem/Jerrica, there's no way that Kimber, Aja, and Shana would be there.

There won't be any Starlight Girls on this cruise either, much to Ashley's disappointment.  Girl, you just went on a free vacation to Italy eight episodes ago - one that you probably shouldn't have survived.  Shut your mouth.



Guess who also happens to be going on this cruise?  If you guessed Eric and the Misfits, you get a gold star!  And as Eric is breaking his back carrying the luggage of all of the Misfits, Pizzazz, Roxy, and Stormer are discussing Jem, and why she and the Holograms have boarded this ship.  Pizzazz seems to think that they are there as part of a rock promotion, and she thinks that it is her right to try and intervene.  Gee, Pizzazz, feeling paranoid?

So, the ship departs and crashes into an iceberg and...no, wait.  That's Titanic.  Actually the ship departs, and the Holograms talk about how they are only on the ship a couple of days, so they should enjoy it while they can.  And Jem decides that she wants to be Jerrica for a little while so that she can spend the whole afternoon with Rio.  You know, given that she's too afraid to tell Rio who she really is, does it really matter who she dresses as?  



What follows is a boring montage with Rio and Jerrica kissing, staring out into the sea, kissing some more, hugging...yeah, that iceberg can come out of hiding any time now.

Instead, Rio tells Jerrica that Captain Warren has invited all of them to have dinner with him at the ship's banquet hall.  Jerrica politely declines the invitation saying that she has to rest, but Jem will definitely be in attendance.  Rio kisses Jerrica, tells her he'll see her later, and Jerrica turns into a 12-year-old who just met Bon Jovi. 



You know, one thing I will at least say about Jem and the Holograms is that they do know how to dress for dinner.  These days, pop tarts would dress in skimpy outfits that leave nothing to the imagination, but all four of them look absolutely stunning.  You might want to savour this moment because this is really one of the only times this episode they look this good. 

Turns out there's a reason why the captain invited them on board.  His daughter is a Jem fan, and reportedly plastered Jem posters all over the captain's quarters!  Can we say obsessed fan much?  But Jem and the others don't mind that much.  They're actually quite flattered.



At least they seem to be showing more class than the Misfits.  All three Misfits are dressed in loud garish colours and are complaining about everything from the food to the decor.  Yeah, even the captain must be really annoyed by the fracas because he actually coerces Jem and the Holograms to get up on stage and sing a song so that they could enjoy some real entertainment!  Wow, the captain has sass!  I kind of like it!



I also kind of like the song that Jem and the Holograms perform for the people in the banquet hall.  The song "Set Your Sails" is appropriate for a cruise ship setting.  I mean, you wouldn't expect them to sing "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett.  But what really makes the video pop is the cinematography and animation.  Using a pirate ship as the main setting is kind of genius, and whoever sketched this video out did so beautifully.  It's not quite on my list of favourites, but it's a good tune.



After dinner, Jem and the Holograms decide that they want to turn in, but Jem wants to spend a little extra time with Rio.  We can only imagine what she has in mind for him.  But before Jem can fantasize about undressing Rio to his Speedos, they are interrupted by some creepy looking crew member of the ship named Krebbs who tells the band that the captain's birthday is today and he was wondering if they would help plan a surprise for them.  Now, you'd think that because they just had dinner with the captain that he might have let them know this, but they decide to go ahead with the plan anyway because the plot dictates it and it must be so.



The plan involves the band hiding in a lifeboat attached to the ship until the captain comes.  When he arrives, the band will pop out and sing Happy Birthday to the captain.  Sounds nice.



Except that our creepy crew member was bought off by the Misfits so that they could have some fun with the Holograms.  And how do they plan on having fun?  By pushing the buttons next to the lifeboat to send it off the ship with the Holograms still inside of it!  Stormer tells Pizzazz that maybe she shouldn't fool around with the equipment, but Pizzazz tells Stormer to shut her foreshadowing mouth and not to interrupt her fun.  Pizzazz manages to move the lifeboat out into the open water using crane technology, and Jem and the Holograms believe this is their cue to start singing Happy Birthday.



At least that is until Pizzazz hits a few too many buttons and sends the boat tilting towards the edge.  Which wouldn't be so bad except Roxy was standing too close to the boat, and she too is dragged in.  Pizzazz tries to physically pull the boat back to the ship, but Pizzazz quickly realizes that the lifeboat weighs a lot more than her and she nearly falls off the edge too.  And Stormer is such a cream puff that she can't possibly hold onto Pizzazz.



So, as a result, all seven women end up falling into the ocean.  I sure hope those dresses weren't expensive.  To make matters worse, Stormer suddenly realizes that she can't swim and falls underneath the water's surface, causing Jem to respond by diving in after her in an attempt to save her life.



But remember how Jem's earrings shorted out when she fell in that pool at the marine park?  The same thing happens here.  So when Jem rescues Stormer, Stormer actually sees Jerrica instead!  Jerrica manages to change back to Jem once she pulls Stormer to safety, but this makes Jem panic, as she may have exposed her secret to Stormer!



The next morning, the Holograms awake on a deserted island.  Their clothes are in tatters, they have no shoes - but surprisingly, their hair and makeup is on point.  All four are lucky to be alive, and presumably, the Misfits survived the ordeal as well because Jem tells the others about Stormer seeing Jerrica underwater.  The others tell Jem to make a hologram of Jerrica so that the other Misfits don't get suspicious, but Jem seems to have another idea of how to buy them some time.



Meanwhile, the Misfits - who are looking just as beat up as the Holograms, are their usual charming selves, and they proceed to insult the Holograms, who waste no time in insulting them back.  At least, that is until Stormer asks about Jerrica and where she is. 



Jem explains that Jerrica likely went ahead into the jungle by herself to find help, and points to an arrow made out of sticks to prove it.  Immediately Pizzazz and Roxy scoff at the idea until Jem reminds them that Jerrica was a girl scout and knows how to survive in the wilderness.

THAT'S YOUR PLAN, JEM?!?  Jerrica was a girl scout?  I mean, I know you all nearly drowned in the ocean, but come on!!!

The Misfits immediately want to run into the jungle to force Jerrica out of hiding, but the Holograms tell them that it is impossible based on the fact that it is too dangerous to split up and that if they want to survive, they will have to work together.  Well, there's that...plus Jerrica is standing just four feet away from them in the guise of Jem.



Aja tells the group that they already have a good start.  She managed to retrieve a first aid kit from the lifeboat they were on and points out that the stuff inside will help them survive for a little while, though they need to worry about finding food and shelter, since they don't know exactly how long they will be stranded on the island, and Jeff Probst isn't around to help the girls vote each other off the island.  After all, this episode aired fourteen years before the first "Survivor". 



Reluctantly, the Misfits agree that working with the Holograms will increase their survival rate by 100%, so they begrudgingly help out.  Stormer helps Aja and Shana pick fruit from the nearby trees.  Jem and Roxy work on building a shelter together.  And Kimber and Pizzazz manage to catch a gigantic fish together without any fishing pole, net, or lure whatsoever.  I tell you, when Kimber and Pizzazz aren't trying to compete with each other for men, they actually seem to get along with each other.  It's so...bizarre.  Pizzazz even boasts that she can gut and clean the fish all by herself.  Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.



Though we do get a glimpse of how dangerous this island can possibly be as Stormer is watched by what appears to be a wild boar or a warthog, who thinks that they can make a Misfit or a Hologram their next meal.  Though, with Pizzazz on their team, I have a feeling that they might end up having bacon for lunch...for the next twelve days.



As night falls, the girls dine on fresh fruit, fish, and all sorts of other delicious treats that just happen to be there even though if this were real life, their journey would more than likely be much more complicated and that two of the seven would have likely expired by now.  But since nobody is allowed to die on this show except for Jerrica and Kimber's father, we have to assume that all seven stay alive.  And even though they seem to be in good spirits with a fire going, a nice shelter, and jewelry made out of tropical wildflowers, the Misfits talk about how it takes a lot to survive.



This, of course, leads straight into a song that solidifies why I enjoy Misfits music for the most part.  Okay, so ignoring the spelling mistake (alot should be spelled like a lot), the song "It Takes A Lot To Survive" is absolutely brilliant.  The single itself has an infectious chorus and an action packed video.  Whoever storyboarded this video did a great job.  And you know, I don't even think the Holograms minded the performance because before you know it, all the girls are fast asleep underneath their little grass hut.  Could it be that being stranded on a deserted island could squash the feud between the two groups once and for all?



Well, this episode is called the "Island of Deception", right?  And when Jem, Kimber, Aja, and Shana wake up the following morning, the Misfits are gone...as well as all of their survival gear.  Seems like the Misfits deceived them once more.  Though Jem realizes that the Misfits have put themselves in a lot of danger when they went out on their own, so they decide to find them before the Misfits end up dead.  Because let's face it, Stormer's the only one who really has any common sense of the three of them.

Speaking of which, Stormer seems to be exhibiting some of that common sense as she tells Pizzazz and Roxy that what they did was a mistake and that they should turn back.  Naturally, Pizzazz and Roxy don't agree with Stormer, and decide that they will continue on their quest to find the elusive Jerrica, thinking that she may have found a way off the island.

The bad news is they don't find Jerrica.  The worse news is that they find a family of angry warthogs who come stampeding towards them.  Pizzazz and Roxy manage to climb a tree to safety, but Stormer slips and falls, and is in danger of being mauled by a group of Bebop wannabes.



Have no fear!  Super Jem is here!  And even though they happen to be on a deserted island, Synergy can still communicate with Jem, and Jem projects a hologram of a few gigantic elephants to scare the warthogs away so that they can save Stormer. 



Now, my question is...if Jem can communicate with Synergy to project holograms, then WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST USE SYNERGY TO PROJECT AN S.O.S. SIGNAL TO GET THEM OFF THE BLOODY ISLAND IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?  That would have been a much better plan than "Oh, Jerrica's a girl scout and she's gone into the jungle to find help" strategy.  Seriously, if this really were "Survivor", her ass would've been voted out first.



Oh, that's right.  There needs to be an excuse for the Holograms and Misfits to continue working together.  Otherwise, we would miss scenes of Stormer swatting a spider away that landed on Kimber, or Jem saving Roxy from being attacked by a swarm of insects.



And we certainly would miss the scene in which the seven girls come across a giant waterfall where they decide to go for a swim and wash their hair.  Yeah, I'm sure having clean hair is more of a priority than drinking the water to stay alive, but hey...it was the 1980s.  It was a weird time.



Ah, but this scene sets the stage for the catalyst of the episode.  See, Aja nearly gets bitten by a water snake that is slithering nearby, and the other girls are too far away to help her.  So, Jem decides that she will project a Jerrica hologram to save Aja from kicking the bucket.  The Jerrica hologram runs into a dense patch of forest which sends the Misfits running after it - which in turn sends the Holograms right after them!  After a wild chase around the side of a mountain, they end up at what appears to be an abandoned cabin.  Strange, what's a cabin doing in the middle of this "deserted island"?  Certainly, nobody else could be on this island, could there?



Apparently whoever lives here has some very primitive equipment including one of those old school record players that I believe are called victrolas.  I actually learned that term from playing "Maniac Mansion" in my youth.  One of the girls touches the victrola which starts the record that is sitting in it and...

...OH MY GOD!  IT'S A ZULU WARRIOR!  Oh, now they've done it!  They have angered the gods, and now they will pay with their lives...and...



...oh, wait.  Pizzazz, Roxy, and Stormer beat him up.  Nevermind.  I guess the fact that our Zulu warrior was wearing tennis shoes kind of gave him away.



Turns out that our evil beast is a friendly chap named Angus Bean.  Based on the accent, I'm guessing he's either from Australia, New Zealand, or the school of really bad accents.  Instantly, he seems to develop feelings for Stormer, who responds that for her, love isn't easy.  Kimber reiterates that love isn't easy for anyone.  And I get the feeling that we're supposed to have a song here, but this episode only has two songs - which we've heard.

Ah, time for some Jem Trivia.  According to Mary Skrenes, who wrote this episode, there was supposed to be a third song inserted called "Love's Not Easy", and it was a Jem and the Holograms song.  For whatever reason, the song was cut, but don't worry.  It makes an appearance MUCH LATER in the series.



For now, we come to learn that Angus Bean was shipwrecked on the island for quite a long time, and he decided that he would take a break from civilization.  I hear you, Bean.  The way 2016 has been, I'd want to take a break myself!  But when the girls discover that he has a radio in his possession, Jem seems to think that they can use it to contact the coast guard, or their cruise ship, or Domino's Pizza...anyone who might be able to help them out.  Angus isn't sure if the radio even works, but tells Jem that she's welcome to try.  I am guessing that Angus must have been stranded on the island for a while if he doesn't recognize Jem or the Misfits.



It takes a long time.  A VERY LONG TIME for Jem to even make contact.  But somehow she manages to get in touch with the coast guard who makes it a mission to contact the Bahama Queen to come and get them.  The Holograms and Misfits are saved!

And as the girls see the cruise ship approaching, Rio and Eric are just as relieved to know that they are alive and well...though Rio is concerned that Jerrica isn't with them.  



Of course, quick thinking Jem summons a hologram of Jerrica, and then switches places with her, making Jerrica easier to hug.  I don't know...I think it would have been hysterical had Rio run up to hug Jerrica only for him to run right through her, crash into a palm tree and get knocked unconscious by a coconut.  But this is Jem I'm watching - not "Gilligan's Island".

So, Jerrica and Rio reunite, and a lifeboat is sent out (wouldn't it be funny if it was the same boat they fell out of), to escort everyone home - including Angus Bean.  Too bad this is his only appearance.  It would have been nice to have seen Stormer get the guy and have Roxy and Pizzazz seethe with jealousy.



Kimber and Stormer seem to entertain the idea of coming up with a permanent truce between the two bands, but Pizzazz and Roxy argue against it, which causes Aja and Shana to snap back at them.  The final scene is Jerrica and Rio kissing while the rest of the girls try to kill each other.  How sweet.

All in all, I like the fact that the Misfits and Holograms could put their differences aside when all of them were in danger.  And I think another reason this episode worked was the fact that Eric and Rio took a backseat.  I almost think that the male characters of this show sort of bring it down!



Coming up next week, the Holograms work with a legendary rock and roll crooner to save a building loaded with history.  Can they do it?